14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 8.1 has often been criticized for being an operating system that’s more appropriate for touch-capable devices rather than tackling the desktop and bringing improvements to the way PC users work on their computers.
In fact, Microsoft kind of said the same thing, putting the focus on touch and praising Windows 8.1 with every single occasion, saying that its new modern operating system is just the perfect choice for all devices delivered with a touchscreen.
It turns out, however, that Windows 8.1 is more appropriate for the desktop than most people think, as a new short research made by Richard Hay of WindowsObserver.com proves that the new OS version has more than 600 built-in keyboard shortcuts.
According to his findings, there are 21 new keyboard shortcuts that are only available in Windows 8.1, 45 general ones and 54 that can be accessed with the Windows logo key.
The new Mail app that offered to those who love the Modern environment has no less than 61 keyboard shortcuts, while the Calculator app has no more no less than 76. Paint continues to be quite a popular application, so Microsoft decided to implement 31 different hotkeys, while Wordpad has 44.
Internet Explorer, Microsoft’s in-house browser that received so many improvements lately, can be used with the help of 77 keyboard shortcuts.
So what’s the deal with Windows 8.1? Is it better on a PC or on a touch device? Microsoft says that it does its job very well on both of them.
The company aggressively promoted Windows 8 on touch devices, so sales of the modern OS failed to impress, which clearly proved that Microsoft needed to change its strategy and focus on some different features of its operating system.
As a result, in Windows 8.1 Redmond paid a little bit more attention to the desktop, and in addition to the new Start button, it also launched ad campaigns supposed to show that the OS can be used on PCs as well.
“The desktop you're used to—with its familiar folders and icons—is still here. And not just still here, it's actually better than before, with a new task manager and streamlined file management. And you can always get to your desktop—and back to your Start screen again—with a tap or click,” Microsoft said as part of a campaign launched in late 2013 and whose motto was “the familiar made better.”