14 DAY TRIAL // If you are already running Windows 8.1 right now and looking for some documentation that could help you easily make the most of the new features implemented in the operating system, then it's worth knowing that Microsoft recently rolled out a new guide that does exactly this.
The so-called Windows 8.1 Quick resource guide was specifically designed to help you explore the new modern operating system and provide you with an in-depth look at the available features, including the touch-based options specifically aimed at tablets.
“The Windows 8.1 operating system provides a robust array of features for touch-based, mouse-controlled, and keyboard-controlled devices. This Quick Reference Guide will get you started,” Microsoft says in the description of the guide.
The DOCX document is not the first guide that gets to see daylight after the launch of Windows 8.1 and Microsoft has actually tried to release as many such packs as possible in order to help users make the most of the operating system that was launched in October 2013.
Microsoft hasn't talked too much about this new strategy of providing a plethora of guides for adopters of its new OS version, but there's no doubt that the software giant is willing to tackle the confusion created when Windows 8 first came out.
At that point, the company had to deal with an immense amount of criticism coming not only from those who were trying Windows 8, but also from analysts and experts across the world who referred to the new operating as one of the most confusing products ever launched by Microsoft.
The reason was as simple as it could be: Windows 8 came without a Start menu, but with a touch-optimized Start screen and a completely new Metro interface that was considered to be very appropriate for tablets and computers with touch-capable screens.
Microsoft got the message very fast and rolled out Windows 8.1 to address many of these issues, implementing not only a Start button, but also options to boot directly to the desktop and skip Metro. Windows 8.1 Update pushes things even further by adding settings to pin Metro apps to the taskbar and launch them in their own windows, with a title bar and close and minimize buttons.
A second Windows 8.1 update coming this year will continue the same path by introducing a brand new Start menu, as well as settings to run Metro apps in resizable windows on the desktop.