Slowly but surely, Microsoft is taking baby steps to appease longtime Windows desktop users who absolutely hate the changes Microsoft made with Windows 8. Earlier this month, we wrote about the experiences of U.K.-based tech writer James Woodcock, who did a nice job of outlining all the new features in the soon-to-be-released Windows 8.1 Update 1 that should appeal to spurned mouse-and-keyboard users. And now InfoWorld’s Woody Leonhard, who has been a diehard Windows 8 hater from the start, has penned his own review to Update 1 that similarly finds some things to like for desktop users.
Leonhard’s bonafides as a Windows 8 hater can’t be questioned — his original review for the platform back in 2012 was simply titled, “Yes, It’s That Bad.” And while Leonhard certainly isn’t as nice about Windows 8.1 Update 1 as Woodcock was in his review, he nonetheless has also found some bright spots that should appeal to anyone who prefers to use a mouse to navigate their PCs.
“If you’re using Windows 8.1 and a mouse — heaven help you — installing the update is an uninspiring no-brainer,” writes Leonhard. “Many of the Windows 8.1 Update improvements to the Metro side of Win 8.1 are directed at mouse users. That’s a remarkable statement, given that Metro’s raison d’être always has been the touch-centric user.”
Leonhard goes on to note many of the same features that Woodcock did, starting with the power button on the Start screen that lets you more easily power down your machine or put it to sleep. He also welcomes the search button that’s been added to the Start screen that gives you much quicker access to search capabilities that earlier versions of the Live Tiles interface ever did. Leonhard also makes note of the ability to more easily manage Live Tiles on the Start screen by right-clicking on them, which will let you uninstall applications, remove them from the Start screen or pin them to your Taskbar.
So while Leonhard’s review doesn’t count as a ringing endorsement, it does suggest any Windows 8.1 users who want to have a more desktop-friendly experience on their machines shouldn’t think twice before installing the next update when Microsoft releases it.
Leonhard’s detailed review is worth reading in full and can be found by clicking the source link below.
