ATTENTION! This review refers to the full version and not to the update. Microsoft seems even after more than 15 years, Windows updates are still problems with a version of Windows Update to have. I recommend very clear to reinstall! (Addendum: It seems that many problems occur when updating to Windows 8.1 by incompatible system tools These are pre-installed by many manufacturers, especially in notebooks and Ultrabooks..)
Many new features of Windows 8.1 are aimed more at Business / Company-users from, but there are certainly also one or the other for home users:
HARDWARE: Windows 8.1 can connect directly and without any additional software with wireless printers now. It may also itself generate a Wi-Fi hotspot. Hybrid hard drives with SSD cache are now optimally supported: the so-called hinting protocol for hybrid hard drives (part of the specifications of the SATA 3.2 interface) allows Windows itself the optimal decisions for the SSD caching to take. Before this decision alone controller. This innovation ensures with appropriate hardware directly noticeably better performance. Even with SSD drives, there are innovations. The automatic maintenance schedule, which performs the defragment on conventional HDDs is now enabled for SSD. However, here TRIM commands are sent to the SSD - with these shares, the operating system of the SSD with which sectors contain unneeded data.
SETTINGS: The most often used settings can now be found in the simplified "PC Settings". But the familiar Control Panel is also fully available. The for home users rather annoying lockscreen (Lockscreen) can be disabled easily via the PC settings. Contrary to some reports, it is possible to work without a Microsoft account without further ado. Skype is already firmly integrated into the system, as Skydrive, the Microsoft cloud service.
DESKTOP: You might want to Modern UI Start Screen beautify (the tiles) with the desktop background image. The tiles can be arranged as desired, configure freely in three different major and remove with a click also the start screen. Newly installed applications land no longer directly on the home screen but in the category "All Apps". All in all, can be quite an attractive and practical arrangement of the own software to achieve. A Start button on the desktop is again available, it performs at Left click to Modern UI Start Screen, when right-clicking one has a very convenient access to system functions such as Task Manager, Device Manager, Disk Management, Control Panel, Shutdown / Log Off, etc. can by setting Also boot directly to the desktop. In Modern UI mode, the division of Apps can now set arbitrarily, you are no longer limited to 1/3 or 2/3.
PERFORMANCE: The boot, logon, logoff and shutdown have again become a little faster. With an SSD and full boat (not from Hibernate or Standby) appears to me just three seconds after pressing the start button of the desktop. The speed of copying large files since the release patches from 17.10.2013 on a level with Windows 7 and pack a little faster than Windows 8. files works much faster than on Windows 8, the unpacking on the other hand is a little slower. The Internet Explorer 11 is really extremely fast, which falls during normal browsing directly. The gaming performance (FPS) has felt the same as under Windows 7 or 8. There are reports the betas of all new games, such as Battlefield 4, provide significantly more FPS under 8.1. Compatibility issues, there were none.
TIPS FOR INSTALLATION:
- When installing first glance it looks as if you could only log in with a Microsoft account. In order to avoid that only two clicks are required: Underneath the input fields for the Microsoft account "Create New Account" button and "Without Microsoft login account" on the text next to it on the right click.
- If you prefer working with a Microsoft account, but do not always want to enter the password, proceed as follows: In the search dialog "netplwiz" enter, confirm and in the resulting dialog just the hook of "user must user name and password to enter" remove ,
- If you want to boot directly to the desktop, you must first create one via Modern UI start screen, select the Desktop. Then one achieved by right-clicking on the taskbar, click on "Properties" tab navigation. To always boot directly to the desktop, tick the box under "When logging instead of the Home Show the Desktop".
- In the same menu can be "desktop background on the Home" to enable and disable the Charm-bars for the desktop.
- Who (like me) would like to use the old function of the Start buttons, this can, for example, about the free, adware-free and easy to install tool "Classic Shell" do (google search for Classic Shell, first hit). I personally find more appealing Start8 from Stardock, which however is $ 5 (30-day free trial).
TIPS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Unless permitted by the spatial / personal circumstances: disable the input of the user ID and password. This saves time when you boot.
- Set up the Modern UI start screen to your personal preferences and some engage in it.
- The old operation of the start button to restore with Classic Shell or other software.
- Do not boot directly to the desktop, but to engage in the Modern UI start screen. To start browsers, games or apps directly after booting, that is very effective.
- Download the free "8GadgetPack" and thus get familiar from Windows 7 desktop gadgets such as clock and system load display again.
- About the free tool "Windows 8 System Power Shortcuts" new tiles for direct shutdown, log off and restart are generated. The tool can be deleted immediately after generation again.
WINDOWS 7:
Microsoft provides Mainstream Support (new feature and security updates) for Windows 7 SP1 until 01.13.2015, the extended support (security updates) goes up to the 14/01/2020.
If there were no compelling reasons for the change are present, it is still well served by Windows 7. However, the new UI and yet much better use of modern hardware has something.
Conclusion:
For me as a "desktop users" who has to work with his system and especially want to play, Windows 8.1 is definitely a good choice. It is visually complete and is more user friendly than Windows 8. The new hardware features are practical, the slightly better performance, saving time. On the start screen you have to really get involved a bit, but then you find him great. Especially right after boot it is also very efficient: One click and I'm where I want. In order to really work effectively on the desktop, you still need 3rd party tools. But these are now mature, and very easy to install. All in all, Windows 8.1, the Windows better. 8
UPDATES
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Switch from a Microsoft account to a local account:
Who has first logged on with a Microsoft account and want to change this, can also subsequently convert the Microsoft account to a local account. The following steps are necessary:
1. Sign in to Windows.
2. Change by "Windows key + I" to the settings
3. Then click "Change PC settings" At the bottom, select "Account", "My Account".
4. There is to read the word "disconnect" in the area under your user name and your email address. Click on it.
5. Confirm with the user password.
6. Follow the two dialogues.
After that is the account on your PC going.
If you want, the account can delete it completely. NOTE: Even with a local account need many apps and the Windows Store a registered Microsoft account! Select to delete the account on the Microsoft Windows and click on login. (Direct URL see comment from 23.11.2013) In the lower part "Close Account" button and confirm.