Elias Plastiras - Author - PC World Australia

Stories by Elias Plastiras

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 16: Microsoft Surface

Along with all the traditional PC vendors offering new equipment in time for the launch of Windows 8, what you will also find are Microsoft's own tabl...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 15: What types of new computers run Windows 8?

It's inevitable that with a new operating system there are new computers released to support it. With Windows 8, there are many different types of lap...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 14: How do I get Windows 8?

Almost every new Windows-based computer on the Australian market from late October and onwards will ship with a pre-installed version of Windows 8. Ho...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 13: What are the different versions of Windows 8?

Now that you know about Windows 8's main features and all-new design, you might be wondering what different versions are available to you.

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 12: The Control Panel and other system settings

The Control Panel in Windows 8 looks largely the same as the Control Panel in Windows 7, except for some added sections.

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 11: SkyDrive cloud storage

Microsoft has its own cloud-based storage solution called SkyDrive. It has its own tile on the Windows Start interface and it can be used to share dat...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 10: Backing up and restoring a Windows 8 computer

Backup and Restore, which was a feature in the Windows 7 Control Panel, is no longer available in Windows 8. To back up your files, you can use the ne...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 9: Security and parental features

Windows Defender is built into Windows 8 and it can be used for protection against viruses, spyware and other malicious software. It works in the back...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 8: What are Windows 8 apps and where do I get them?

Much like the app stores for Android- and Apple iOS-based smartphones and tablets, Microsoft has a dedicated store through which you can download and ...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 7: User accounts and account settings

It's important to note that you can log in to Windows 8 either as a local user, or with an online Microsoft account.

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 6: Networking

One of the other main differences between the Windows 8 interface and the Windows 7 interface is in the way the networking interface is laid out.

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 5: Desktop improvements

While the biggest new feature in Windows 8 is the Start screen, some changes have also been implemented on the Desktop. In particular, the menus in Wi...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 4: Learning to touch

You'll get the most out of Windows 8 if you have a computer with a touchscreen, and particularly a tablet or hybrid-style Ultrabook. Using your finger...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 3: Using a touchpad to get the most out of Windows 8

Just as you can use a mouse to navigate around the Windows 8 interface, you can also use your notebook's touchpad to perform click-and-drag operations...

Article | 4/10/2012 Chapter 2: Using the mouse and keyboard to navigate Windows 8

The Windows 8 interface has been designed with touchscreens in mind, but it's also possible to navigate it effectively using a keyboard and a mouse. I...