Chapter 1. About this book

In this section:

• A quick overview

• A few assumptions

• What’s new in Windows 8.1?

• The final word

Knowing how to use your Windows operating system is key to a successful computing experience. Even if you’ve been using Windows for years, there are a lot of new features and interface changes to get used to. This is true even if you are only moving from Windows 8; Windows 8.1 is packed with lots of enhancements and additions, including new apps, a redesigned Start button, an Apps view, lots of customization options, and more.

This book is designed to give you a simple-to-use visual reference that has you using Windows 8.1 right away. This book will help you understand the new Windows 8.1 Start screen, apps, and available touchscreen capabilities. This book will also direct you quickly to some of the more traditional features so that you can use your existing knowledge of Windows to ease your learning curve.

Whether you’ve used Windows before or are just starting out, this easy-to-understand book takes you through tasks step by step with a friendly visual interface that makes learning intuitive.

A quick overview

Windows 8.1 Plain & Simple is divided into sections; each section has a specific focus with related tasks. To help you understand how to move around and use the book, you might want a quick overview of the book’s structure. This section is Chapter 1.

Chapter 2, and Chapter 3, provide an introduction to the Windows 8.1 interface and the basic skills you need to navigate its features. You discover how to start and shut down Windows, get help, and how to provide input with your mouse, keyboard, or fingers by using a touchscreen.

Chapter 4, covers how to use the Settings charm to control volume and brightness, how to change the time zone, manage power, display an on-screen keyboard, and connect to a network.

Chapter 5, leads you through common tasks associated with personalizing your computer by modifying settings for colors, backgrounds, and more. You learn how to organize and customize tiles on the Start screen, as well.

Chapter 6, covers all the tools Windows 8.1 offers for searching content both on your computer and online.

Chapter 7, introduces you to the useful Maps app to help you find your way. If you’ve never used apps before, this is a great place to start.

Chapter 8, gets you online, connecting to the Internet and learning to use the new features of the Internet Explorer 11 browser to navigate the web.

In Chapter 9, provides steps for managing your contacts and time by using the People and Calendar apps.

Chapter 10, lets you communicate with the people you know using email, text, voice, and video.

In Chapter 11, you learn how to shop at the Windows Store for apps, sort, apps, and view your own apps.

In Chapter 12, you’ll learn all about using the Music app to play music, obtain music, and create playlists, including buying music at the Xbox Music store. The Music app finds your music and makes it available here automatically.

Chapter 13, provides instructions for viewing your own pictures and videos and making purchases at the Xbox Video store.

In Chapter 14, you learn about using applications, such as finding, opening and closing an app, inserting pictures, and entering and formatting text. You’ll also discover the ins and outs of saving and printing files.

Chapter 15, provides the practical content that helps you connect with a network, manage your security and privacy, and maintain Windows to keep it trouble-free.

Chapter 16, shows you how to work with user accounts and security tools such as Family Safety, Windows Firewall, and Windows Defender.

Chapter 17, helps you keep your data safe and secure, and available from anywhere.

Chapter 18, shows how to use File Explorer to manage the data you keep. You’ll learn to find, rename, move, copy, paste, and delete files, as well as how to create compressed folders and back up your data.

Chapter 19, shows how to reconfigure the mouse for left-handed use, how to change the speed the mouse moves, and how to adjust volume. You’ll also explore some of the accessibility features such as Magnifier, Narrator, and Speech Recognition.

Chapter 20, includes information about how to configure Windows Updates, resolve problems with hardware, get help in various ways, and refresh and reset your PC.

Finally, Chapter 21, provides information you’ll need to successfully upgrade to Windows 8.1 and Chapter 22, offers suggestions about how to get more help. The appendix, Appendix A, gives you a handy list of keystroke shortcuts.

A few assumptions

In writing any book, it’s important to make a few assumptions about your readers. I assume that you are basically computer literate, meaning that you have used a computer before and know how to turn it on and turn it off, how to use a mouse, and how to select text and objects. I also assume that you have worked with some kind of software before and know what a menu, dialog box, and tool button are. I do not assume that you have used a touchscreen before because this is a relatively recent addition to computers.

I assume that you use computers either at work or at home, or both, and that you have access to an Internet connection and have experience using one web browser or another. Other than that, I try to give you all the steps you need to get things done in an easy-to-understand way, no matter what your technical background.

What’s new in Windows 8.1?

The biggest changes in Windows 8.1 (from Windows 8), involve the new Start screen customizations, as well as the integration of SkyDrive. There is an improved Apps view too, and a redesigned PC Settings hub.

Like Windows 8, Windows 8.1 makes excellent use of online resources and third-party apps, somewhat akin to the way the average smartphone does. With an Internet connection, you’ll find that on-screen elements update you in real time about everything from stocks and weather to activity on your social networking sites. Because you’re probably connected with many people in a variety of ways, Windows 8.1 gives you the ability to share content with others easily. Also, a Microsoft Account allows you to access your content from wherever you are.

If you’ve used File Explorer before, you’ll find that it now includes a ribbon, with tools similar to those you might have used in a recent version of Microsoft Office.

Using a touch-enabled system

In this book, I provide instructions based on traditional keyboard and mouse input methods. If you’re using Windows 8.1 (or Windows RT) on a touch-enabled device, you might be giving commands by tapping with your finger or with a stylus. If so, substitute a tapping action any time I instruct you to click a user interface element. Also note that when I ask you to enter information in a text box or address window, you can do so by typing on a keyboard, tapping in the entry field under discussion to display and use the on-screen keyboard, or even speaking aloud, depending on your computer setup and your personal preferences.

Here’s a brief introduction to touch gestures:

• Tap, which involves touching and releasing the screen, much like pressing a keyboard key with your finger. You tap to select buttons and options.

• Pinch, in which you slide your thumb and index finger together on the screen, usually to zoom in.

• Stretch, which involves spreading your thumb and index finger apart on the screen, usually to zoom out.

• Slide, in which you tap and hold down on something on the screen, drag to move it, and then release.

• Swipe, which consists of a quick finger drag and release, either across or up or down the screen. Swiping is often used for scrolling and selecting.

• Tap and hold, which involves tapping then holding briefly on an item, often to see a contextual menu. You might also use tap, hold, and release to show options such as the option to resize or uninstall a tile on the Start screen.

The final word

Your computer has become vital to your productivity and entertainment, so why shouldn’t your computing experience be pleasant and fun? In this book, I try to offer short tasks to get you working with Windows 8.1 quickly and painlessly. I keep the technical terminology and explanations to a minimum, all within a visually appealing book that immediately connects you to what you see on screen. My goal is to get you less focused on the tool and more focused on what you can do with it to make your life simpler.

I hope you find the structure and design of this book easy to navigate and helpful as you get up to speed with all the wonderful new features in Windows 8.1.