Thinking of upgrading to Windows 8 or buying a PC with the new operating system? Confused by all the changes in Windows that have taken place? In this article I will try to give answers to some basic questions about the new systems. Here are the essential things you need to know before you upgrade or buy anything.
1. What is the difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT?
There are actually two distinct new versions of Windows. They are intended for different kinds of hardware and Microsoft marketing has not explained the difference very well. One version is called Windows 8; the other is sometimes called Windows 8 RT but, more often, just Windows RT.
Windows RT is designed to run on mobile platforms that use what are called ARM processors and it will not run on conventional PCs that use x86/64 processors.. It is oriented to a touch interface and will only run software that is specifically written for it. It also will not run many older peripherals. Note that RT is the operating system on the recently released tablet from Microsoft called Surface.
The system called Windows 8 is for conventional PCs that use x86/64 processors but with a lot of emphasis on using touch screens. However, it will run most legacy programs. This is the system to use for upgrading older Windows versions. To break into the new era of touch screens, Microsoft has given Windows 8 a split personality. In many ways it is like two operating systems in one package. It has one interface that looks much like the Windows 7 desktop (but no Start menu) and it has another interface with colorful tiles that is intended mostly for systems with touch screens. This tile interface is the default and is called the “Start Screen”. Using Windows 8 tends to involve switching back and forth between the two interfaces. read further ...
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