Let's go back to the Start. Microsoft is reported to be bowing to popular opinion and reinstating the Start button to Windows 8.
But in the expected Windows 8.1 update, the Start button is reported by the Verge to call up the Start screen rather than the familiar Start Menu of shortcuts to apps.
Microsoft ditched the Start button in Windows 8 to encourage people to pin apps and shortcuts to the home screen. But in the face of disappointing sales for Windows 8, it seems Microsoft wants to make its operating system feel less of a jarring transformation.
It's not the only forthcoming change that draws on older versions of Windows. Microsoft is also reported to be considering a more traditional desktop instead of the grid of coloured squares, or live tiles, that access and display information from apps.
I'm not surprised Microsoft has decided to hark back to a more familiar version of Windows. The colourful new look for Windows 8 may have been a bold and exciting move, but it's proved less than popular for customers and businesses, even seeing PC sales plummet.
Start Me Up
The Start button first arrived in Windows 95, complete with Rolling Stones-soundtracked adverts. Ironically, it attracted some stick -- what if you're not actually starting anything? -- which just goes to show you don't know what you got 'till it's gone.
Windows 8.1, known as Windows Blue during development, is set to be the first annual update to Windows. It's expected to include adjustable live tiles, letting you resize the colourful squares on the home page. There'll be an official preview at developer conference Build in June, and the real thing will arrive later this year.
Check out our 50 Windows 8 tips, how to personalise Windows 8 ideas, and -- yes -- how to make Windows 8 look like Windows 7 guide.
Should Microsoft make Windows 8 look more like the Windows of old, or should we all stop moaning and embrace the change? Start me up in the comments or start an argument on our Facebook page.
2013年4月24日星期三
2013年4月11日星期四
Laptop sales: Windows 8's loss is your gain
Despite Microsoft's best efforts, it seems that Windows 8 isn't meeting expectations. According to research firm Net Applications, Microsoft's latest OS hasn't even been able to match sales of Vista (which, if you recall, was a major fail for the company). Making matters worse, Microsoft has a long line of unhappy manufacturers — including HP, ASUS, Fujitsu, and Samsung — upset with Windows 8's failure to revitalize an already-sluggish PC market.
In response, Microsoft is discounting Windows 8 licenses to its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) partners; licensing fees have fallen from $120 to just $30. And while the discount is intended to help move 11" ultraportables, our deal data suggests that the cut — in addition to the low adoption rate — is affecting prices on all Ivy Bridge Windows 8 systems, including mainstream 15" configurations.
Windows 8 Drops Ivy Bridge Laptops to Better-Than-Black Friday Prices
Although Intel debuted its Ivy Bridge line of processors only 10 months ago, our deals suggest that Windows 8's troubles are prematurely driving prices down on systems sporting these CPUs. In fact, just last month we saw a 15" Ivy Bridge laptop sell for an all-time low of $299. The laptop, which was equipped with 6GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive, was a full $100 under our best Black Friday deal.
Conversely, laptops with previous-gen Sandy Bridge CPUs and Windows 7 didn't see such swift price cuts over the same time period; when Sandy Bridge-based laptops hit their 10-month mark, mainstream 15" Core i5-based laptops had dropped to $400 — a 34% discount from their debut price. By comparison, after 10 months on the market, today's mainstream 15" Windows 8 Core i5 Ivy Bridge-based laptops have fallen 46% from their debut price, to a rock-bottom $299.
In addition to a poor reception to the OS, there are still plenty of flavors of Windows on the market, a factor which may be contributing to a lag in current Windows 8 sales. In fact, some of our own readers have expressed seeking out older systems just to avoid Windows 8. This hesitation to adopt — and adapt — to the touchscreen-happy UI of Windows 8 may also explain why we're seeing such steep discounts on Windows 8-equipped Ivy Bridge laptops.
Buy Now, or Look for Bundles Later
Rumors indicate that Microsoft has an update to Windows 8 in store for August. Codenamed Windows Blue, the refresh will add new features and more customization options. It's possible that when it debuts, we might even see further deals and discounts on Windows 8 Ivy Bridge systems especially since Windows Blue is set to launch just as back-to-school sales are in full swing. While we don't think rock-bottom prices will drop much from their current low of $299, savvy shoppers might be able to score a laptop bundle this summer, as is typical with many back-to-school laptop deals.
If you don't want to wait that long to buy a Windows 8 deal, we recommend looking for mainstream 15" configurations priced at around $299. For a larger 17" Windows 8 Ivy Bridge-equipped desktop replacement, we've seen prices fall to as low as $400 on several occasions in recent months. And if you decide to bump up the specs on that 17" system to include a high-end i7 CPU (which will likely come with more RAM and storage), you can expect to pay about $600.
In response, Microsoft is discounting Windows 8 licenses to its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) partners; licensing fees have fallen from $120 to just $30. And while the discount is intended to help move 11" ultraportables, our deal data suggests that the cut — in addition to the low adoption rate — is affecting prices on all Ivy Bridge Windows 8 systems, including mainstream 15" configurations.
Windows 8 Drops Ivy Bridge Laptops to Better-Than-Black Friday Prices
Although Intel debuted its Ivy Bridge line of processors only 10 months ago, our deals suggest that Windows 8's troubles are prematurely driving prices down on systems sporting these CPUs. In fact, just last month we saw a 15" Ivy Bridge laptop sell for an all-time low of $299. The laptop, which was equipped with 6GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive, was a full $100 under our best Black Friday deal.
Conversely, laptops with previous-gen Sandy Bridge CPUs and Windows 7 didn't see such swift price cuts over the same time period; when Sandy Bridge-based laptops hit their 10-month mark, mainstream 15" Core i5-based laptops had dropped to $400 — a 34% discount from their debut price. By comparison, after 10 months on the market, today's mainstream 15" Windows 8 Core i5 Ivy Bridge-based laptops have fallen 46% from their debut price, to a rock-bottom $299.
In addition to a poor reception to the OS, there are still plenty of flavors of Windows on the market, a factor which may be contributing to a lag in current Windows 8 sales. In fact, some of our own readers have expressed seeking out older systems just to avoid Windows 8. This hesitation to adopt — and adapt — to the touchscreen-happy UI of Windows 8 may also explain why we're seeing such steep discounts on Windows 8-equipped Ivy Bridge laptops.
Buy Now, or Look for Bundles Later
Rumors indicate that Microsoft has an update to Windows 8 in store for August. Codenamed Windows Blue, the refresh will add new features and more customization options. It's possible that when it debuts, we might even see further deals and discounts on Windows 8 Ivy Bridge systems especially since Windows Blue is set to launch just as back-to-school sales are in full swing. While we don't think rock-bottom prices will drop much from their current low of $299, savvy shoppers might be able to score a laptop bundle this summer, as is typical with many back-to-school laptop deals.
If you don't want to wait that long to buy a Windows 8 deal, we recommend looking for mainstream 15" configurations priced at around $299. For a larger 17" Windows 8 Ivy Bridge-equipped desktop replacement, we've seen prices fall to as low as $400 on several occasions in recent months. And if you decide to bump up the specs on that 17" system to include a high-end i7 CPU (which will likely come with more RAM and storage), you can expect to pay about $600.
How to use Windows 8 File History: Time Machine backup for Windows
A friend of mine recently bought a Mac for the first time and then told me that he’d never switch back to using Windows until it had something like Time Machine – the automatic backup program built into Mac OS X. See also: Windows 8 vs OS X Moutain Lion Windows 8, although most people don't realise it, has a new File History back up feature which offers something like the simplicity and ease of use of Time Machine. It lacks only the intergalactic eye-candy that adorns Time Machine’s graphical interface.
If truth be told, File History is really just a refinement of the Windows Backup feature that was built into Windows 7 (and which is still buried in the depths of Windows 8 if you want to carry on using it).
Like Windows Backup, File History allows you to make automatic back-up copies of your files onto an external hard disk or network drive. It works with folders and files stored in your Windows libraries – which include your Documents, Music, Photos and Videos folders – as well your Favourites and Contacts and files on your Windows Desktop.
Windows Backup was quite limited as it only allowed you to schedule backups on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, but File History works more like Time Machine and performs continuous incremental backups that allow you to save multiple versions of a file or document.
If you accidentally delete a file, or need to revert to a previous version of that file, you can easily step back through the various saved versions of that file in order to locate the version that you need.
By default, File History makes hourly back-ups, but you can specify the frequency yourself, choosing anything from 10 minutes to a single daily back-up. You can also specify how long you want File History to keep old versions of your files.
File History isn’t quite as intelligent as Apple’s Time Machine, as Time Machine will allow you to restore anything from a single file to your entire operating system. Windows still splits those two tasks rather awkwardly between File History and System Restore, while individual PC manufacturers may also include system recovery options of their own.
However, File History is very easy to use, and once you’ve set it up you can forget all about it, secure in the knowledge that your important files will always be backed-up in the event of disaster.
How to configure Windows 8 File History
Click on any of the images below to see a larger version.
Step 1. Just search for ‘file history’ on the Windows 8 Start screen and you’ll find it listed under ‘Settings’. If you’re not a fan of the new Start screen you can also find File History in the ‘System And Security’ section of the main Control Panel.
Step 2: File History will automatically detect an external drive connected to your PC, but you can select a different location – such as a network drive – by clicking on ‘Select Drive’ in the left-hand panel. Click ‘Turn On’ to get started.
Step 3: File History will now back-up all your libraries – including Documents, Music, Photos and Videos – along with the contents of the Desktop, Contacts and Favourites folders. However, you can prevent any folder from being backed-up by using the ‘Exclude Folders’ option.
Step 4: You can click on ‘Advanced Settings’ to modify the way that File History works. The default setting is for hourly back-ups – which is probably fine for most people – but you can vary this period from 10 minutes to 24 hours.
Step 5: Your backups shouldn’t take up too much space as File History only makes ‘incremental’ back-ups of files as they actually change. However, the ‘offline cache’ option’ allows you to set a limit on the amount of disk space used for back-ups.
Step 6: You can also specify how long you keep old versions of your files. You can keep them forever, or for a specified number of months or years. Or, to free up some space on your back-up drive, just select ‘until space is needed’.
Step 7: To restore files just click on ‘Restore Personal Files’ in the File History control panel. Here’s our most recent back-up – 08:23 on 13th March – so we can just select the folder or file that we need and hit the green Restore button.
Step 8: It’s not explained very well, but you can step back through older saved versions of your files by clicking on the panel on the far left of this window. Let’s go back to the 12th March and locate a file that we need to recover.
Step 9: Right-clicking on a file or folder provides two options. If you select ‘restore’ then the old version of that file will completely replace the current version. However, ‘restore to’ will restore the old version of the file to a different location, leaving both versions intact.
If truth be told, File History is really just a refinement of the Windows Backup feature that was built into Windows 7 (and which is still buried in the depths of Windows 8 if you want to carry on using it).
Like Windows Backup, File History allows you to make automatic back-up copies of your files onto an external hard disk or network drive. It works with folders and files stored in your Windows libraries – which include your Documents, Music, Photos and Videos folders – as well your Favourites and Contacts and files on your Windows Desktop.
Windows Backup was quite limited as it only allowed you to schedule backups on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, but File History works more like Time Machine and performs continuous incremental backups that allow you to save multiple versions of a file or document.
If you accidentally delete a file, or need to revert to a previous version of that file, you can easily step back through the various saved versions of that file in order to locate the version that you need.
By default, File History makes hourly back-ups, but you can specify the frequency yourself, choosing anything from 10 minutes to a single daily back-up. You can also specify how long you want File History to keep old versions of your files.
File History isn’t quite as intelligent as Apple’s Time Machine, as Time Machine will allow you to restore anything from a single file to your entire operating system. Windows still splits those two tasks rather awkwardly between File History and System Restore, while individual PC manufacturers may also include system recovery options of their own.
However, File History is very easy to use, and once you’ve set it up you can forget all about it, secure in the knowledge that your important files will always be backed-up in the event of disaster.
How to configure Windows 8 File History
Click on any of the images below to see a larger version.
Step 1. Just search for ‘file history’ on the Windows 8 Start screen and you’ll find it listed under ‘Settings’. If you’re not a fan of the new Start screen you can also find File History in the ‘System And Security’ section of the main Control Panel.
Step 2: File History will automatically detect an external drive connected to your PC, but you can select a different location – such as a network drive – by clicking on ‘Select Drive’ in the left-hand panel. Click ‘Turn On’ to get started.
Step 3: File History will now back-up all your libraries – including Documents, Music, Photos and Videos – along with the contents of the Desktop, Contacts and Favourites folders. However, you can prevent any folder from being backed-up by using the ‘Exclude Folders’ option.
Step 4: You can click on ‘Advanced Settings’ to modify the way that File History works. The default setting is for hourly back-ups – which is probably fine for most people – but you can vary this period from 10 minutes to 24 hours.
Step 5: Your backups shouldn’t take up too much space as File History only makes ‘incremental’ back-ups of files as they actually change. However, the ‘offline cache’ option’ allows you to set a limit on the amount of disk space used for back-ups.
Step 6: You can also specify how long you keep old versions of your files. You can keep them forever, or for a specified number of months or years. Or, to free up some space on your back-up drive, just select ‘until space is needed’.
Step 7: To restore files just click on ‘Restore Personal Files’ in the File History control panel. Here’s our most recent back-up – 08:23 on 13th March – so we can just select the folder or file that we need and hit the green Restore button.
Step 8: It’s not explained very well, but you can step back through older saved versions of your files by clicking on the panel on the far left of this window. Let’s go back to the 12th March and locate a file that we need to recover.
Step 9: Right-clicking on a file or folder provides two options. If you select ‘restore’ then the old version of that file will completely replace the current version. However, ‘restore to’ will restore the old version of the file to a different location, leaving both versions intact.
Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx review: a decent Windows 8 tablet, but not Lenovo's best
If Windows 8 tablets with Intel's Clover Trail silicon under the hood were once a curiosity, well, they're certainly not novelties anymore. We've seen lower-powered hybrids from virtually every PC maker, providing a cheaper counterpoint to Core i5 and i7 systems, but still offering useful accessories like keyboard docks. In addition to one of our favorite Atom-powered slates, the ThinkPad Tablet 2, Lenovo is shilling the IdeaTab Lynx (also known as the IdeaTab K3011) for $549 and up. So how does this system stack up? Click through to find out.
The IdeaTab Lynx is a straightforward slab of black tablet -- a thin and light one, at that. At 1.41 pounds and 0.37 inch thick, it won't weigh your hands down. It feels good in your palms, too, thanks to a pleasantly grippable textured backing. The Lynx may be comfortable in the hand, but the overall look is hardly high-end; the whole package feels plasticky and chintzy, and the backing seems like it could come off without too much effort (though, to be fair, it never did). The front of the device is completely bare save for Lenovo branding and a 2-megapixel front camera sitting above the 11.6-inch display. Of course, the front side is also home to the physical Windows 8 Start button, which sits in its typical spot below the screen and responds well to our presses.
Along the left edge of the device sit a button for toggling auto-rotate on and off, the volume rocker and a skinny speaker grille. The top of the device sports the power button and a microSD card slot, which is accessible by removing the plastic cover. On the right side, you'll find a headphone / mic jack, a micro-HDMI port and another small speaker, while the bottom edge has the micro-USB port along with slots for connecting the optional keyboard dock. On the back of the device, Lenovo's name is spelled out in silvery, reflective letters, and the diamond pattern invites your fingers to give it a scratch. One extra tidbit comes bundled: a micro-HDMI-to-VGA converter, which lets you connect the Lynx to compatible monitors and projectors.
The optional keyboard dock ($199) supplements the Lynx with two USB 2.0 ports, a built-in battery and a charging port in addition to a set of chiclets. The dock is made of plastic with a slate-grey finish, and the hinge with the docking connectors can fold down for more compact storage. It adds 1.45 pounds to the tablet, bringing the total weight to 2.86 pounds. The IdeaTab branding sits at the bottom-right corner of the keyboard deck, and a very petite touchpad is below the spacebar. Like several other dockable devices we've tested, the Lynx locks into place when you press the button at the top of the dock (this is also how you remove the tablet). This system works seamlessly -- no complaints there.
We do have some grumbling to do when it comes to the keys. These chiclets are the same U-shaped smile keys we've seen on the Yoga and other Lenovo devices, and while they're roomy and well-spaced, the deck itself exhibits a disturbing amount of flex. If you, like us, associate this brand with high-caliber keyboards, you're likely to feel a bit let down by this layout -- it's definitely not ThinkPad-level quality. On a typing test, we notched about 45 words per minute, which is significantly lower than our usual score, and our error rate was higher than usual. The dock also includes a small touchpad, which we found to be very finicky. It often had trouble distinguishing our left and right clicks, which meant clicking on an icon could take several more seconds than it should.
Like other Atom-based slates, the Lynx sports a standard resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. That doesn't mean image quality is run of the mill, though. Movies and YouTube clips streamed on the 11.6-inch panel look crisp, with accurate tones and good detail. Also like competing Clover Trail machines, the Lynx benefits from IPS technology, which allows for wide viewing angles. We had no trouble making out images and on-screen text even from the far right and left of center. As a touchscreen, the capacitive, five-touch panel works seamlessly, recognizing every swipe and tap we throw at it. Executing common Windows 8 gestures such as pulling in from the right to bring up the Charms bar register without a hitch. We'd even venture to say that this screen is more responsive than some others we've tested, as we don't recall a single instance of having to repeat a gesture on the Lynx.
We pumped the volume up to 100 percent and threw a few top-40 hits at the Lynx's tiny side-mounted speakers, and the results were as expected: audio is strong enough to fill a small room, and it sounds a bit canned, but not noticeably warped or overly tinny. We appreciate that the grilles aren't located on the rear side of the tablet, which leads to more muffled sound.
The IdeaTab Lynx is a straightforward slab of black tablet -- a thin and light one, at that. At 1.41 pounds and 0.37 inch thick, it won't weigh your hands down. It feels good in your palms, too, thanks to a pleasantly grippable textured backing. The Lynx may be comfortable in the hand, but the overall look is hardly high-end; the whole package feels plasticky and chintzy, and the backing seems like it could come off without too much effort (though, to be fair, it never did). The front of the device is completely bare save for Lenovo branding and a 2-megapixel front camera sitting above the 11.6-inch display. Of course, the front side is also home to the physical Windows 8 Start button, which sits in its typical spot below the screen and responds well to our presses.
Along the left edge of the device sit a button for toggling auto-rotate on and off, the volume rocker and a skinny speaker grille. The top of the device sports the power button and a microSD card slot, which is accessible by removing the plastic cover. On the right side, you'll find a headphone / mic jack, a micro-HDMI port and another small speaker, while the bottom edge has the micro-USB port along with slots for connecting the optional keyboard dock. On the back of the device, Lenovo's name is spelled out in silvery, reflective letters, and the diamond pattern invites your fingers to give it a scratch. One extra tidbit comes bundled: a micro-HDMI-to-VGA converter, which lets you connect the Lynx to compatible monitors and projectors.
The optional keyboard dock ($199) supplements the Lynx with two USB 2.0 ports, a built-in battery and a charging port in addition to a set of chiclets. The dock is made of plastic with a slate-grey finish, and the hinge with the docking connectors can fold down for more compact storage. It adds 1.45 pounds to the tablet, bringing the total weight to 2.86 pounds. The IdeaTab branding sits at the bottom-right corner of the keyboard deck, and a very petite touchpad is below the spacebar. Like several other dockable devices we've tested, the Lynx locks into place when you press the button at the top of the dock (this is also how you remove the tablet). This system works seamlessly -- no complaints there.
We do have some grumbling to do when it comes to the keys. These chiclets are the same U-shaped smile keys we've seen on the Yoga and other Lenovo devices, and while they're roomy and well-spaced, the deck itself exhibits a disturbing amount of flex. If you, like us, associate this brand with high-caliber keyboards, you're likely to feel a bit let down by this layout -- it's definitely not ThinkPad-level quality. On a typing test, we notched about 45 words per minute, which is significantly lower than our usual score, and our error rate was higher than usual. The dock also includes a small touchpad, which we found to be very finicky. It often had trouble distinguishing our left and right clicks, which meant clicking on an icon could take several more seconds than it should.
Like other Atom-based slates, the Lynx sports a standard resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. That doesn't mean image quality is run of the mill, though. Movies and YouTube clips streamed on the 11.6-inch panel look crisp, with accurate tones and good detail. Also like competing Clover Trail machines, the Lynx benefits from IPS technology, which allows for wide viewing angles. We had no trouble making out images and on-screen text even from the far right and left of center. As a touchscreen, the capacitive, five-touch panel works seamlessly, recognizing every swipe and tap we throw at it. Executing common Windows 8 gestures such as pulling in from the right to bring up the Charms bar register without a hitch. We'd even venture to say that this screen is more responsive than some others we've tested, as we don't recall a single instance of having to repeat a gesture on the Lynx.
We pumped the volume up to 100 percent and threw a few top-40 hits at the Lynx's tiny side-mounted speakers, and the results were as expected: audio is strong enough to fill a small room, and it sounds a bit canned, but not noticeably warped or overly tinny. We appreciate that the grilles aren't located on the rear side of the tablet, which leads to more muffled sound.
2013年4月10日星期三
AMD-powered LuvPad tablet runs Windows 8
There are a number of tablets on the market today running Windows 8, including Microsoft's very own Surface Pro.
Although Windows 8 tablets aren't exactly selling in droves, we do have some new devices headed to market in an attempt to grab some market share. The latest Windows 8 tablet to
hit our radar screens? The LuvPad, courtesy of Mouse Computer.
Officially dubbed the LuvPad WN1100, this device is powered by an x86 AMD Z60 processor running at a cool 1 GHz.
The tablet boasts an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, 2 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD. Oh, and yes, the AMD processor under the hood is actually a dual-core unit paired with an AMD Radeon HD 6250 GPU (with 384 MB of RAM).
Essentially, the AMD Z60 processor performs on par with Intel's low-power Atom processors. However, the Radeon HD 6250 GPU offers better graphics performance with support for HD video and some other niceties thrown in.
Unfortunately, the LuvPad isn't expected to be sold outside of Japan. However, if you're interested in finding importer or have a friend that lives in Japan, the tablet will be available there this week for about 59,850 yen. That works out to $600 making it almost $400 cheaper than the Surface Pro. The tablet also features a micro USB port, a micro HDMI output, and a one megapixel web cam on the front.
Additional specs? Wi-Fi, integrated Bluetooth and a battery that offers 5.5 hours runtime per charge. The tablet measures 296.32 x 191.18 x 10 mm and weighs 810 g. A bundled kit, which includes the tablet, along with a mobile keyboard and mouse, is available for approximately 10,000 yen more.
Although Windows 8 tablets aren't exactly selling in droves, we do have some new devices headed to market in an attempt to grab some market share. The latest Windows 8 tablet to
hit our radar screens? The LuvPad, courtesy of Mouse Computer.
The tablet boasts an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, 2 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD. Oh, and yes, the AMD processor under the hood is actually a dual-core unit paired with an AMD Radeon HD 6250 GPU (with 384 MB of RAM).
Essentially, the AMD Z60 processor performs on par with Intel's low-power Atom processors. However, the Radeon HD 6250 GPU offers better graphics performance with support for HD video and some other niceties thrown in.
Unfortunately, the LuvPad isn't expected to be sold outside of Japan. However, if you're interested in finding importer or have a friend that lives in Japan, the tablet will be available there this week for about 59,850 yen. That works out to $600 making it almost $400 cheaper than the Surface Pro. The tablet also features a micro USB port, a micro HDMI output, and a one megapixel web cam on the front.
Additional specs? Wi-Fi, integrated Bluetooth and a battery that offers 5.5 hours runtime per charge. The tablet measures 296.32 x 191.18 x 10 mm and weighs 810 g. A bundled kit, which includes the tablet, along with a mobile keyboard and mouse, is available for approximately 10,000 yen more.
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