Updated but still a building site

The upgrade to Windows 8.1 is free for users of Windows 8. that is accommodating towards enthusiasts like myself who bought 8 is Windows and have all its problems, thus accepted the new look and feel as "Windows". I will write this review mainly without comparisons with Windows 7 or earlier releases of Microsoft's operating system, because Windows 8 in spite of the (unfortunate chosen) name can not compare with previous revisions of Windows.

The upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1: 2 of 5 stars
Who has Windows 8, which is the simplest variant of the upgrade through the Windows Store. The upgrade package for Windows 8.1 is, however, may only be available if you have placed its Windows updates up to date. This problem I noticed at a total of two different computers. The upgrade wanted and did not want to show up first. Problem number two: Are certain programs installed, it may happen that the upgrade can not be installed. Exactly the problem I had. On the Internet I found to dozens of manuals and tools that I have all tried. Programs, system settings, monitor (eg. As virus scanners, firewalls or defrag third party programs) and for which an upgrade is impossible sometimes can not be completely uninstalled. Then only helps to reinstall Windows 8, followed by installing the latest Windows updates - in one case, all 2.5 GB - and finally, the upgrade to a 3.2 GB download further. On the other, fresh, updated Windows 8 installations functioned also upgrade using the Windows Store properly and even mostly without any prompts. It does not change average 4-5 GB of downloads per upgrade process! Moreover remained - without further information from the upgrade routine - get in a backup folder, the old Windows 8 installation, finishing as data corpse additional 8GB of storage. Who has little memory on your hard disk is available, is likely to upset about it rightly so, because you may usual way to check their own files simply delete them from the hard drive, which is why an information Währe been appropriate about. Overall, the upgrade is not really connected easily and with a lot of junk data.

Reinstallation and update routine of Windows 8.1: 4 of 5 stars
For me, anyway, this process was so cumbersome that I would rather be an ISO file of Windows 8.1 loaded on my main computer down, burned to DVD and installed it did. This is in effect a new installation, as you would carry out the purchase of Windows 8.1 and easier it is no longer possible basically. After selecting where Windows will be installed 8.1, no further questions are actually asked to the user during installation. So it's almost foolproof. The interior of the fresh Windows 8.1 installation is similar to the establishment of a smartphone. Who the one can, can also be the other. Anyone who wants can reduce the device to a few points and is done with a few clicks. Those who want, but can also set yourself every little thing. This is a feature for dankenswertes Hobby privacy advocates, because you mostly can thus Calling home from Windows 8 prohibit or at least limit. A star is still lost, because after installing the latest Windows updates, the updates for Windows 8 apps in the Windows Store will be displayed again without notice by the operating system.

Changing the System Language (only Windows 8.1 Pro): 3 of 5 stars
Changing the System Language will appear ridiculously easy at first. You go in the PC settings and has the possibility to add another voice packet to load there under the spot time and language down and determine the default. I did that and changed the language from English to German. After a reboot everything seemed settled. However, I noticed after the language change that the Apps of the new surface remained largely in English. Just for fun, I've uninstalled the apps and reloaded from the Windows Store and behold, now they were all in German. A few apps you can not uninstall, but fortunately the set of the system language dependent and thus have been automatically after the change in German available. A star is lost that Windows does not refer to this circumstance here. Second, I must deduct, because you can not choose the language to be installed app. The app is always loaded in the set at the time of installing the app system language down and stay even with any updates in this language. A language change is possible only by uninstalling the app, surrounded the system language to the desired and then the app installed new from the store. After all, to set the system language to relatively rare and therefore it remains for me at only two stars withdrawal. Depending on how important is one of convenience, you can also deduct a third star.

The new Apps interface under Windows 8.1: 3 of 5 stars
Basically, the apps are once very good at design. They are clearly arranged and offer me all controls in a uniform-clear arrangement. Initially confused with the Apps that there seems to have no access to any settings in the app. But once you have realized that in the Charms bar can also be found the settings of the actual app served under the Settings item, pleased about the unity that this entails. The third-party apps to use this presentation. Criticism has the effect put up with that most apps over the desktop version of a program has a limited feature set, the "Modern UI". Prominent examples? Internet Explorer supports the Windows 8 app no ​​extensions. Although Google Chrome supports plugins as an app, but not all work. (Example? The iCloud Plugin from Apple) TeamViewer has arge as app performance problems and limited functionality. The Facebook app that is available for users of Windows 8.1, has a severely limited functionality and big problems, so you automatically in the Web browser ends up good again is that the scope has to be taken to significantly Apps. Windows 8.1 has now re-integrated: A scanner app, an app using Windows 8.1, an alarm clock, a simple audio recorder and various Live Style Apps. The latter, however, and also existing "Labels" feature for the desktop are illusion in my eyes. After all, you want Windows 8 not need to use the desktop, and certainly not when you control via touch operation, but more on that later. And who is only because he used Windows 8.1 informed, suddenly on the Bing services? I contend the are likely to be few. In summary, it must be said: The functionality of the apps must be significantly increased.

The touch screen control: 2 of 5 stars
Unfortunately, the desktop is still very relevant. This is due to the fact that one does not come easy for certain functions within applications or absence of Windows 8.x app to the "desktop-app" around. The cleanup program CCleaner and the gaming platform Steam are very prominent examples: There is no Windows 8.x app from these programs. And unfortunately, the users of Microsoft Office 2013 or Microsoft Office 365 is itself bound to the desktop. The problem with it is the following: Windows 8 (and therefore Windows 8.1) has been mainly developed for use with a touch screen. Unfortunately, Microsoft has not thought this far enough. I use the touch screen as Dell S2340T which is not exactly small, with barely 500 not just a convenient choice, and with 23-inch screen sizes. And I have to say to anyone interested: The desktop and all programs that run on the desktop are not intended to control via touchscreen. Who about trying to move a window with the desktop interface by touch, should despair of this task when the touch detection spins, which can occasionally occur entirely. Even the exact highlight text in the desktop interface is simply impossible. If you happen to get caught right beginning: Congratulations! Only subsequent adjustment of marking is only possible at the end of the mark and only if you simultaneously holding down on the keyboard, the Shift key. The Simple touch screen compared to a mouse is extremely inaccurate, anyone who has ever navigated in the Device Manager via touchscreen, knows what I mean. To get back to the Select text: That's not even in the supposedly optimized for touch "Modern UI 'and their apps really better! Although there are markers at the beginning and at the end of a label, on which you can change the selection later, but that is compared with the simple use of the mouse so impractical that I always find myself in it again, would you prefer the mouse to Use, when I work on texts such as this review. In Internet Explorer it's even worse: There does flagging text only by mouse. In the app, however, the label is so often disturbed by hyperlinks and images, that yet again the Internet Explorer on the desktop restarts only to select text there to select text with the mouse. In defense of Internet Explorer as an app should be mentioned: Surfing the Internet works, as long as you want to select text, to be quite good, but unfortunately not as intuitive as using the mouse. I have a touch screen, but use it basically did not, even though the programs are easy to operate via touch. I'm just too lazy ... And I am an avid user of smartphones and surf so much. So it can not be due to the touchscreen control per se.

The control mouse: 5 of 5 stars
I know, with this vote, I lean very far out of the window after so many people complained about the loss of the Start menu and that's why Windows 8 have cursed. But let me explain: Clear sees the appearance of after touch, but so touch it is not! Of course, one has to overcome a certain learning curve for Windows 8 first of all. That I can not deny. But if you're not blocked here from the outset and be barred from the new controller, then you will be surprised by a relatively short time, how well Windows 8 is actually to control the mouse! The gesture has intus within maximum of 5 hours use one. Whether to open the Charms bar on the right or the opening of the bar with open Apps left. You move the cursor up in the corner and then a piece down. This works easier to lift than the arm and to dazzle the strips by wiping across the screen one. I for one use even doing it with the mouse, as the touch screen. It is simply a creature of habit and incidentally too lazy, so specially to raise the arm. in controlling the touchpad it would look like if the touchpad supports gestures. Only if you have only a touchpad without gestures except the touch screen, you would operate the touch screen directly. Operation with the mouse with a few shortcut keys remains gripe the most comfortable use of Windows 8. Only for me: Sometimes you can inadvertently the mouse inadvertently Show the Charms bar or the bar with the open apps, although you really want to close about a program. How do I find, get used to it and is just a little more cautious.

The start screen as a replacement for the Start menu: 4 of 5 stars
Again, probably requires some explanation. The Start menu has been around for Windows brought 95 one and the same problem: It was bloated with an increasing number of installed programs, more and more and eventually so great that Microsoft has incorporated the last resort, that one had now scroll within the on-screen Start menu, if you really had a lot of programs installed. Of course, you could start menu if you knew his order, reorder, so that even large amounts were arranged relatively clear of installed programs, but when you uninstall a program whose link was no longer on the site of the start menu, which by the installation routine was provided, then remained linking corpses. A solution therefore could not be. Outsource also the icons on the desktop (which also in Windows 8 is actually still possible!) Could not be a solution, clarity is different and at least one had to ensure first of all minimize all programs.

The Windows 8 Start screen here is another solution. Programs are installed and ready. You have to deal with it is almost never again. I uninstall the program, all links are gone. (At least when the setup routine has been written properly, but that is not a Windows gripe ...) Who does not want to use the search function, can determine which programs and apps should be at the front to find the home screen, and which are not. That goes with apps just like with desktop programs. If a program or an app uninstalls, it also disappears from the Home screen. No more link corpses! Next you can find programs by searching comfortable again, which since Windows Vista was the only truly viable solution for the crowded start menu for me. Here the home screen with its "favorisierbaren" programs and apps a step forward.

The search function in Windows 8.1: 4 of 5 stars
I was pleased to hear the unified control mechanism of apps on Windows 8. Unfortunately, the uniform control is no longer continue in the search box of Windows 8.1. While Windows 8 could still browse through the Charms bar even e-mail, you have to switch under Windows 8.1 in the Mail app, which I think is a step back. A good step, however, is the extension of the search in the Internet, so you can find some help on the use of a program. The preset "search everywhere" allows you to easily track down virtually every installed program and even walking with Star parameters, such as in CCleaner, when searching for "ccleaner / car / shutdown". Here you end up when you click on the result, although once in the Search view, but there you can see the app just like lead. (The parameters mean casually mentioned automatic clean followed by shutdown) If a program is not yet installed, you can relatively quickly find the search function and a download, which by the way with CCleaner again has a prominent example. Another plus for Windows 8.1 search.

Performance and compatibility: 5 of 5 stars
Here, Windows 8.1 should hide behind any other Windows. All programs respond quickly, even on my 5 year old PC. The boot time is incredibly short and even if I could not see any advantages or disadvantages in terms of graphics performance to Windows 8 just feels lousy quickly. One can Windows 8 will develop before full charge of all programs use, at least if you have not just right nasty boot time-killer, such as Steam integrated into the boot process. Also working the hard disk in the background while using has no appreciable activity on the responsiveness of Windows 8.1 from. It simply runs weasel nimbly. Compatibility I prefer like approach my games under Steam. Here you will find quite a few games that have left their marriages behind him and yet so far was all that I wanted to play. Also addition, I have found only very few programs that could seriously any trouble on Windows 8. Drivers for Windows 8 work 1: 1 under Windows 8.1 if it is not already there updates. At least in my (as I said> 5 years old) relates PC, I have had no problems.

Appreciation / Conclusion: 3.5 of 5 stars
Windows 8.1 has a few things that makes it in my opinion, very properly. Unfortunately, Microsoft has not gone consistently enough before. The touch control is more an excuse and stopgap, if you just did not have a mouse or a touchpad gestures capable at hand. The Apps are limited in terms of functionality. That's too bad, because if I do not just constantly jump the limitations, I am a firm user of apps instead of desktop programs. The Reason? They are clearer and thus less tiring for my eyes. The installation and the incorporation of updates must be urgently repaired. And just the text editor with the help of the touchscreen needs urgent overhaul. Therefore, I round off the final score on 3 out of 5 stars.