Windows 8 icon

Windows 8 icon

Windows 8

Desktop Software Tools
Description
Windows 8 is an operating system for Microsoft devices that combines some aspects of the traditional Windows system with the Live Tiles look of Windows mobile devices. This design is meant to make Win...dows 8 ideal for use on traditional PCs, as well as tablets and other touch-screen devices. The user interface of Windows 8 is a set of Live Tiles that take the place of the Start menu in previous versions of Windows. You can search for a specific application within this interface to find the program you are looking for. Some applications are found in the Apps menu of the interface, but you can customize which programs show up on the Start screen. Review: Windows 8 is an ideal operating system for those who have a touch-screen enabled tablet or hybrid PC. At the same time, if you own a traditional computer, the learning curve of the Windows 8 interface may not be worth it, unless you are wiling to take some time to get used to the new interface. The main change from previous versions of Windows to Windows 8 is the lack of a Start menu button. All of the programs and applications are instead displayed as tiles as soon as you start up your system. These tiles are designed to make Windows more touch-screen friendly, but is not very intuitive for traditional PC users. Some applications and programs can be hard to find, although you can use the search feature to find what you are looking for. You can also customize which programs you see when you start up the computer. If you want to access the traditional Windows desktop, rather than the Start menu, you can click on the Windows icon. However, this Windows icon has different functions when you are in an application or program, making it confusing and difficult to get to the desktop view. Besides the lack of a Start menu and the difficulty in accessing the traditional desktop, the Windows 8 interface acts much the same as previous Windows versions. Compared to previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 makes it easy to set-up and connect to a network. You can also easily access all network devices in the file manager. If you are willing to learn how to customize the Windows 8 interface to work for you, it becomes a reliable and easy-to-use operating system. Read moreless
Platforms
Windows Browser
Links

Alternatives to Windows 8

  1. Ubuntu alternatives

    Ubuntu

    Opensource

    Ubuntu is a free and open source distribution of Linux, which is based on a Debian architecture. It can run on personal computers, network servers, and even on phones and tablets. At the moment, it...

    {{ alternatives[0].votes }}
  2. Windows 7 alternatives

    Windows 7

    Commercial

    Windows 7 is another operating system developed by Microsoft, designed to provide users with a full suite of options according to their needs. As a result of the encompassing nature of the operatin...

    {{ alternatives[1].votes }}
  3. Linux Mint alternatives

    Linux Mint

    Free

    Linux Mint is one of the most popular distributions of the Linux operating system. It is a great Linux version for newcomers to the operating system, and it is even possible to set a Windows PC to ...

    {{ alternatives[2].votes }}
  4. Arch Linux alternatives

    Arch Linux

    Free

    The libutf8proc package prior to version 2. 1. 1-3 had an incorrect soname link. This has been fixed in 2. 1.

    {{ alternatives[3].votes }}
  5. macOS alternatives

    macOS

    Commercial

    macOS Mojave. Dark Mode to put your work center stage. New features to help you quickly organize and work on files. And the all-new Mac App Store.

    {{ alternatives[4].votes }}
  6. Windows 10 alternatives

    Windows 10

    Commercial

    Windows 10 is the latest iteration of the Microsoft operating systems and has been optimized for home PC performance in a wide variety of applications from serious work to after-hours gaming.

    {{ alternatives[5].votes }}
  7. Fedora alternatives

    Fedora

    Free

    Choose Freedom. Choose Fedora. Pick a flavor of Fedora streamlined for your needs, and get to work right away.

    {{ alternatives[6].votes }}
  8. Xubuntu alternatives

    Xubuntu

    Free

    Xubuntu – Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Download XubuntuXubuntu – Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Feature Tour.

    {{ alternatives[7].votes }}
  9. openSUSE alternatives

    openSUSE

    Free

    Having began its life back in the early days of Linux, OpenSUSE is a stable and battle-tested distribution of Linux that has been used the world over. It is specifically tailored to system administ...

    {{ alternatives[8].votes }}
  10. Xfce alternatives

    Xfce

    Free

    Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly.

    {{ alternatives[9].votes }}
  11. elementary OS alternatives

    The fast, open, and privacy-respecting replacement for Windows and macOS.

    {{ alternatives[10].votes }}
  12. Lubuntu alternatives

    Lubuntu

    Free

    Lubuntu is a fast and lightweight operating system with a clean and easy-to-use user interface. The core of the system is based on Linux and Ubuntu. Lubuntu uses the minimal desktop LXDE, and a sel...

    {{ alternatives[11].votes }}
  13. Manjaro Linux alternatives

    Manjaro Linux is a new linux distribution which is based on arch linux. Get ManjaroWelcome to the official Manjaro Linux Installation Media page .

    {{ alternatives[12].votes }}
  14. Chromium OS alternatives

    Chromium OS is essentially the same software as Chrome OS from Google, but there are a few differences that make the software unique. While Chrome OS comes on certain mobile devices from Google, C...

    {{ alternatives[13].votes }}
  15. CentOS alternatives

    CentOS

    Free

    The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused on delivering a robust open source ecosystem. For users, we offer a consistent manageable platform that suits a wide variety of...

    {{ alternatives[14].votes }}
  16. Sailfish OS alternatives

    An independent, partner friendly operating system that fosters innovation. It’s unlike what you’re used to.

    {{ alternatives[15].votes }}
  17. Oracle Solaris alternatives

    Oracle Solaris

    Commercial

    Oracle Solaris is the trusted business platform that you depend on. Oracle Solaris 11 gives you consistent compatibility, is simple to use, and is designed to always be secure.

    {{ alternatives[16].votes }}
  18. macOS Sierra alternatives

    macOS Mojave. Dark Mode to put your work center stage. New features to help you quickly organize and work on files. And the all-new Mac App Store.

    {{ alternatives[17].votes }}
Suggest an Alternative

Missing a software in the list? We are always happy if you help us making our site even better.

Suggest an Alternative

Windows 8 Reviews

We have 2 reviews for Windows 8. The average overall ratings is 3.0 / 5 stars.

Write a Review
grex avatar
My Opinion on Windows 8
written by grex on 2018-03-02 04:26:16
Overall
Ease of Use
Customer Service
Value For Money

Overall Opinion: Windows 8 is an ideal operating system for those who have a touch-screen enabled tablet or hybrid PC. At the same time, if you own a traditional computer, the learning curve of the Windows 8 interface may not be worth it, unless you are wiling to take some time to get used to the new interface. The main change from previous versions of Windows to Windows 8 is the lack of a Start menu button. All of the programs and applications are instead displayed as tiles as soon as you start up your system. These tiles are designed to make Windows more touch-screen friendly, but is not very intuitive for traditional PC users. Some applications and programs can be hard to find, although you can use the search feature to find what you are looking for. You can also customize which programs you see when you start up the computer. If you want to access the traditional Windows desktop, rather than the Start menu, you can click on the Windows icon. However, this Windows icon has different functions when you are in an application or program, making it confusing and difficult to get to the desktop view. Besides the lack of a Start menu and the difficulty in accessing the traditional desktop, the Windows 8 interface acts much the same as previous Windows versions. Compared to previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 makes it easy to set-up and connect to a network. You can also easily access all network devices in the file manager. If you are willing to learn how to customize the Windows 8 interface to work for you, it becomes a reliable and easy-to-use operating system.

Pros: File system makes it easier to organize and find certain documents and files Very few problems arise with the operating system and when they do are easily fixed Contains new integration tools for cloud based applications, Xbox and Skydrive Interface is intuitive for tablets and other touchscreen devices Supports the use of multiple monitors at once

Cons: New interface is difficult to get used to for previous Windows users Interface is hard to use with traditional computers that use a mouse for navigation Windows store does not offer a large selection of applications to install Lacks a traditional Start menu Tries to sell apps by placing ads on the interface

grex is using Windows 8 every other week recently.
Т avatar
One of the worst Windows versions so far
written by Т on 2020-12-05 20:05:28
Overall
Ease of Use
Customer Service
Value For Money

Overall Opinion: As a wise Joel once said: "My computer is not a phone, alright? This could be the shortest Windows Destruction ever because I just need to do this *opens up start menu* What is this crap?" Also support for it ended in 2016. Windows Vista's ended in 2017. Now that's saying something.

Pros: 1) It can at least play Solitaire, unlike Windows Vista. Although it doesn't have Solitaire, my point still stands. 2) There isn't as much telemetry as Windows 10. 3) While support for Windows 8 ended in 2016, Windows 8.1's support ends in 2023.

Cons: Everything else. Like seriously this OS sucks.

Т is using Windows 8 every other week since at least a year or more.

Screenshots

Windows 8 screenshot 1
Windows 8 screenshot 2
Windows 8 screenshot 3
Windows 8 screenshot 4
Windows 8 screenshot 5
Windows 8 screenshot 6
Windows 8 screenshot 7

Windows 8 Videos

Youtube Video: Windows 8 Operating System Review

I do a quick overview of Windows 8 and thoughts on why I believe Microsoft is still a strong player in mobile and desktop operating systems. How to Fix Windows 8 - http://youtu.be/pSsZDc7ivXI...

Disclaimer: This video was not made by us, but we found it interesting enough to embed it here.

Comments

Commenting on this article is disabled right now.

About This Article

This page was composed by Alternative.me and published by Alternative.me. It was created at 2018-04-28 16:20:09 and last edited by Alternative.me at 2020-03-06 07:50:22. This page has been viewed 4682 times.

Did you like this article about Windows 8? Please rate it!
9 of 10 liked this article. This is equivalent to a star rating of 4.50 / 5.
Yes
No

More Software in Desktop Software > Tools

More Popular Desktop Software

Filter Platforms

{{key}}

Filter Features

Based on a Debian architecture Simple to use Linux distribution Based on Ubuntu Two separate desktops available Install on Windows system with Mint4Win YaST, Auto YaST and WebYaST tools Strong desktop tools Open-Source Operating System Google Quality
Suggest an Alternative to Windows 8
{{ suggestSubmitSuccess }}
You can only sugggest alternatives that are already published on our platform. If you want to submit a software or app, please visit your account page to submit a software.
List of Suggestions
Please start typing the name of the software you want to suggest as alternative to Windows 8 in the field above.
{{ suggestSubmitError }}
Suggest {{ suggestedAlternatives.length }} Alternative(s)
Login
This action requires user authentication. Please log in.
Don't have an account yet? Sign up.