Did Santa give you a Windows 8 PC? This is what you need to know to get started

If you are one of the lucky ones to whom Santa Claus has brought a gift that has Windows 8 installed, in addition to being in luck, you will surely wonder a lot about the new Microsoft operating system . In Windows 8, many of the things we were used to in previous versions change, with the aim of providing the user with a system adapted to the current times, where browsing and the use of Internet services is something quite usual.

In this entry, we are going to see some of the main innovations that Windows 8 incorporates and what are the main points in which you should set yourself a newcomer to this operating system.If Santa Claus gave it to you, be sure it's because you've been good:

Create a user account

In Windows 8 you can create a user account in many ways: Online user with Microsoft account; local user without Microsoft account; administator; standard user; guest user; user with parental control; user system;… whatever you use the computer for, you will always find a type of user account that suits your needs in Windows 8.

Where is the desk?

Yes, when accessing Windows 8, one of the first things that strikes you is that the Classic Desktop is not the screen that appears every time you start the system and there is no longer a button that brings up the Start Menu. Now the computer shows the new interface in which the Modern UI applications that are installed appear and to access the Desktop, you have to click on the icon that appears when you move the mouse to the lower left corner.

It is precisely in the four corners of the screen where there is now a lot of play, since through these the system will allow us to navigate and access different functionalities, depending on the application we are running. Just because the Desktop disappears at first glance, it doesn't mean that you can't run desktop applications from earlier versions of Windows. To use or install one of these, just access the Desktop (click on the icon in the lower left corner) and proceed as in previous versions of the system (install, uninstall, run).

Connect to your favorite services safely

Windows 8 is designed to connect to your favorite services and the cloud every time the computer starts: social networks, cloud storage services and photography services, are some examples. Start the system and you're done.Thanks to service-specific applications and data synchronization functionality, you no longer have to access each service individually every time your computer boots.

Well, yes, don't forget, first of all, to configure the Internet connection, so they can enjoy all your favorite services.

All this in a secure way, thanks to the latest security technology available in Windows 8, such as Secure Boot Support for UEFI, SmartScreen Filter, different ways to log in (password, pin, image) and the Windows Reader support, so you don't have to install third-party software to open certain documents.

For the little ones in the house, the Windows 8 parental control system will take care of ensuring their safety when they spend using the computer, running applications or browsing the net.

Dive into the universe of Windows Store apps

The desktop applications that we were accustomed to in previous versions of Microsoft's system now have new traveling companions, in the form of applications with the Modern UI interface, which are available for your download in the Windows Store. It is a universe of apps that has not stopped growing since Windows 8 was launched and is one of the main new features of the system.

The applications are very easy to install, just access the store and choose the one you want. Some are paid, but there are countless free apps, available to install with just a click of the mouse and available by age classification.

Connect your devices

Printer, keyboard, mouse, … plug everything you want into your computer and let Windows 8 take care of all the work to make it work. Now it's easier than ever to connect printers to a computer, thanks to the new fourth-generation print driver architecture built into Windows 8, compatible with the latest printers.

For printers that have been around for a while and do not have the fourth generation driver, there is no problem using them, since in Windows 8 the third generation version of the driver is preserved, which was the that was used until now in previous versions of the operating system, and can be installed on top of it without any problem.

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