PETER MOON Windows 8.1 hit the streets this month and there's a distinctly Apple-ish flavour on the release, with heavily reduced basic level pricing as well as a free companion iPad app sweetening the significance proposition.
As we noted 2-3 weeks ago, Win 8.1 is Microsoft's try to make peace with desktop users who never wanted a tablet operating-system foisted with them to begin with.
The reworked Start button isn't exactly what you're utilized to but it offers a recognisable launch point that anchors the interface. As well as maligned tiles can function a lot more like a collection of pinned favourites compared to go on it or let it sit entry way from the original Windows 8.
The real signal of Microsoft's contrition, though, could be the aggressive pricing from the base product. We picked up the full installer Home edition at merely $129, that's as cheap an OS while they have ever released. Apple has long sold its os at a fraction of Windows' cost.
True that Apple has got the luxury of developing serious dollars from hardware and Redmond needs to make its living out of software, however in the market industry an OS is an OS, as well as the relative pricing in the rivals has produced Windows look too expensive for a long time. Clearly the margin on this release is leaner than usual, signalling some willingness to challenge Apple on pricing. As a possible upgrade from version 8.0, the most recent release costs nothing.
Taking another leaf through the Apple tree, MS released an unexpected bonus together together with the operating system upgrade. Microsoft Remote Desktop can be an app for Mac desktop and iOS devices that supports impressively complete remote use of a Windows 8.1 machine. The thought is to turn every Mac and iPad in to a Windows machine, at the very least potentially, at least a few of the time. If there's enough bandwidth between the two machines, it works cleverly.
How cleverly? Running over a Mac, Remote Desktop may also access files on the local Mac machine. Microsoft Word running over a remote computer can open a file around the Mac, edit it, and save it returning to the Mac it originated in.
PONDERING THE POSSIBILITIES We're still pondering the options this breakthrough presents. And Remote Desktop can stream car stereo through the remote device too, one of several holy grails of remote computing.
Early adopters claim that the remote tool isn't yet rock solid, with many unable to connect in any respect. Our experience was superior but we're on notice not to count on it for critical business purposes yet.
If we had been wondering whether Microsoft is really engaged with all the Apple revolution, what's more, it announced the other day that Office for iPad is going to be delivered. There's no clear time frame with that project nevertheless it reinforces the fact even just in a Windows 8 world, Redmond acknowledges it must be fully briefed Apple's iOS platform.
Back at Windows 8.1, we discover there's an option to bypass the tiled interface and head straight for any more common desktop on boot up. We selected it right after hours of dalliance together with the more recent desktop, and we're glad we did. Maybe tiles are brilliant for tablets. Maybe we're just old-fashioned. Though the desktop is a better destination to get serious work done.
If you're wondering regardless if you are a tile person or possibly a desktop person, here's a great way to calculate. Check out the websites of Australian regulators ACMA and ACCC. The Communications and Media Authority has opted for a tiled, graphical website interface as well as the Competition and Consumer Commission an even more standard text-based approach. If you prefer the ACMA site, you're an all natural candidate for Windows 8. If, like us, you discover becoming informative and welcoming as the Berlin Wall, you'll be happier using the Win 8 desktop.
For us, the most interesting development in this edition is often a new procedure for information searching. Microsoft's Bing internet search engine is now deeply a part of the os, ready to search from system settings to local and cloud-stored documents for the wider web. Search "Beatles" and Bing generates a slick montage which may include songs from the iTunes library, a Wikipedia good reputation for this guitar rock band, news articles, photos and web links. It's the very first new popular trend looking in a number of years and we're predicting a good amount of fans.
As we noted 2-3 weeks ago, Win 8.1 is Microsoft's try to make peace with desktop users who never wanted a tablet operating-system foisted with them to begin with.
The reworked Start button isn't exactly what you're utilized to but it offers a recognisable launch point that anchors the interface. As well as maligned tiles can function a lot more like a collection of pinned favourites compared to go on it or let it sit entry way from the original Windows 8.
The real signal of Microsoft's contrition, though, could be the aggressive pricing from the base product. We picked up the full installer Home edition at merely $129, that's as cheap an OS while they have ever released. Apple has long sold its os at a fraction of Windows' cost.
True that Apple has got the luxury of developing serious dollars from hardware and Redmond needs to make its living out of software, however in the market industry an OS is an OS, as well as the relative pricing in the rivals has produced Windows look too expensive for a long time. Clearly the margin on this release is leaner than usual, signalling some willingness to challenge Apple on pricing. As a possible upgrade from version 8.0, the most recent release costs nothing.
Taking another leaf through the Apple tree, MS released an unexpected bonus together together with the operating system upgrade. Microsoft Remote Desktop can be an app for Mac desktop and iOS devices that supports impressively complete remote use of a Windows 8.1 machine. The thought is to turn every Mac and iPad in to a Windows machine, at the very least potentially, at least a few of the time. If there's enough bandwidth between the two machines, it works cleverly.
How cleverly? Running over a Mac, Remote Desktop may also access files on the local Mac machine. Microsoft Word running over a remote computer can open a file around the Mac, edit it, and save it returning to the Mac it originated in.
PONDERING THE POSSIBILITIES We're still pondering the options this breakthrough presents. And Remote Desktop can stream car stereo through the remote device too, one of several holy grails of remote computing.
Early adopters claim that the remote tool isn't yet rock solid, with many unable to connect in any respect. Our experience was superior but we're on notice not to count on it for critical business purposes yet.
If we had been wondering whether Microsoft is really engaged with all the Apple revolution, what's more, it announced the other day that Office for iPad is going to be delivered. There's no clear time frame with that project nevertheless it reinforces the fact even just in a Windows 8 world, Redmond acknowledges it must be fully briefed Apple's iOS platform.
Back at Windows 8.1, we discover there's an option to bypass the tiled interface and head straight for any more common desktop on boot up. We selected it right after hours of dalliance together with the more recent desktop, and we're glad we did. Maybe tiles are brilliant for tablets. Maybe we're just old-fashioned. Though the desktop is a better destination to get serious work done.
If you're wondering regardless if you are a tile person or possibly a desktop person, here's a great way to calculate. Check out the websites of Australian regulators ACMA and ACCC. The Communications and Media Authority has opted for a tiled, graphical website interface as well as the Competition and Consumer Commission an even more standard text-based approach. If you prefer the ACMA site, you're an all natural candidate for Windows 8. If, like us, you discover becoming informative and welcoming as the Berlin Wall, you'll be happier using the Win 8 desktop.
For us, the most interesting development in this edition is often a new procedure for information searching. Microsoft's Bing internet search engine is now deeply a part of the os, ready to search from system settings to local and cloud-stored documents for the wider web. Search "Beatles" and Bing generates a slick montage which may include songs from the iTunes library, a Wikipedia good reputation for this guitar rock band, news articles, photos and web links. It's the very first new popular trend looking in a number of years and we're predicting a good amount of fans.