Introduction

Welcome to Windows 8 Bible. If you are familiar with Windows, you might know that the Windows operating system has existed for over two decades. In that time, the Windows OS has transformed in many ways as computer hardware has changed dramatically.

Windows 8 is the latest edition in the Windows family and builds on the usability and performance improvements in Windows 7. One of the biggest differences, however, is the shift in support in Windows 8 for tablet and handheld devices. The new streamlined, tile-based Windows 8 interface is designed from the ground up for tablet devices, and Windows 8 provides a consistent user experience across a range of devices from cell phones to PCs.

While we have tried to cover as many of the features and capabilities as Windows 8 offers, some naturally fall through the cracks because we have only so much space in this book. With a good understanding of the key features, however, you are well on your way to getting the most from your Windows PC.

Whom This Book Is For

Not everyone wants to be a computer expert, and few have the time to become one. Most people just want to use a computer to get things done, or even just to have some fun. This should come as no surprise. After all, not everyone who drives a car wants to be a professional mechanic. Not everyone who uses a cell phone wants to be an electrical engineer. So why should everyone who uses a computer want, or need, to be a computer expert? They shouldn’t. Some people need to ...

Get Windows 8 Bible now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.