On October 28th 2012, Microsoft released the game changing operating system, Windows 8. Suffice to say that it is the biggest change to the operating systems that Microsoft has ever undertaken since it launched the Windows 95 operating system. Windows 8 promises a revolutionary user experience. Available for all laptops and PCs, Microsoft have gone a step further and enabled its usage on the Tablet. The operating system is also available on platforms that use the windows platform such as the windows phone 8. In an attempt to come to terms with the changes that come with the windows 8 operating system, it seems right to take a trip down memory lane and take stock of the progress that Microsoft has accomplished with its range of operating systems.

The journey began with the windows XP, Vista and finally windows 7. A common feature in all these operating systems is that they do not show a drastic paradigm shift from the original Windows 95 operating system. If anything, they may in retrospect be seen as tweaks to the original operating system. A far cry from the other operating systems, windows 8 presents a radical change. Suffice to say that users of the windows operating system shall need a paradigm shift in order to unlock the full potential of the operating system. The operating system employs a modern user interface that requires for programs that are custom made specifically for it. In addition the operating system has been made in such a manner that it can be used in touch screens as well as with the traditional keyboard and mouse. The manner that the desktop appeared in the previous versions of windows operating systems is now a thing of the past. This is because the icons have been repositioned to the sides. This is in an effort to take full advantage of the new user modern user interface.

Applications are not installed in the traditional sense. Like the Apple store and the Google Play store. Users shall be required to download the applications from the store. However given that the store is in the beginning phases of the store, there shall be a few applications in the store but as time goes by and as more developers come up with application the store shall see a drastic rise in the number of applications. Furthermore, applications can be downloaded from the developer’s websites. Applications that were previously applicable on the previous versions of windows shall also be applicable on the windows 8 platform. However, tablets employing the windows ARM processors running on the windows 8 RT do not support the programs.

The best part is that you can upgrade the old versions of windows to the new windows 8. The settings or files from the old version of windows shall be kept. However, any programs that are incompatible shall have to be uninstalled or deleted. A key fact ti out into consideration id the fact that there are few subtle differences between the operating system running on tablets (windows 8 RT) and the one running on the laptops and PCs.