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Preacher

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I'm far from being an expert on win8 but is there any simple tweaks you have done to improve your user experience then post them here.

I will start with a simple one.


I moved the desktop tile in the metro interface to the top left position. Now I just press windows key and then enter to get to desktop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5 2500k
    Motherboard
    ASRock z77 Pro4m
    Memory
    8GB 1600MHz Gskill
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Sound Card
    Creative fatality pro
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 old ones from work
    Hard Drives
    2 x 128GB Crucial M4 in Raid0
    2TB WD green
    PSU
    seasonic x660
    Case
    antec p180
    Cooling
    good fans
    Internet Speed
    60mb
I went through File Explorer, right clicked on all my Libraries, Downloads folder, Recycle Bin, Computer, Task Manager, and other Desktop apps to hit Pin to Start.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I made custom icons for elevated cmd & powershell & pinned them to taskbar.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
How did you make the custom icons? Any links to info?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5 2500k
    Motherboard
    ASRock z77 Pro4m
    Memory
    8GB 1600MHz Gskill
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Sound Card
    Creative fatality pro
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 old ones from work
    Hard Drives
    2 x 128GB Crucial M4 in Raid0
    2TB WD green
    PSU
    seasonic x660
    Case
    antec p180
    Cooling
    good fans
    Internet Speed
    60mb
Use of Cascading Menu

I put everything in cascading context menu so I can access them from anywhere (Desktop BG, Explorer BG, Folder, Folder BG) with a right click instead of using Start Menu/Start Screen/WinX

For Power Switch
power.PNG

Administrative Tools
Admin.PNG

Regular use tools
Tools.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
How did you make the custom icons? Any links to info?

I used Irfanview,sTile 99,Windows Paint, & Imagoweb.

After making the icons I put shortcuts to cmd.exe & powershell.exe on the desktop & in properties clicked the option to run as Administrator & dragged & dropped both into the Taskbar.:)

I attached some so you will see examples.
 

Attachments

  • CMD.zip
    5.1 KB · Views: 86
  • power.zip
    4.9 KB · Views: 91
  • COMMAND.png
    COMMAND.png
    6.5 KB · Views: 180
  • hhh.bmp
    179.1 KB · Views: 174
  • hhh.png
    hhh.png
    17.4 KB · Views: 186

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
The start screen is a phenomenal full screen displayer of links to installed and system programs. When looking at the start screen, all one need do, for example, is press d and enter for the desktop. Enter n for netflix, enter e or f for file explorer, p for paint or control panel... anything on your computer...

Windows 8 is extraordinarily well suited to the keyboard.

apps.jpg


In metro internet explorer, Win + Z is useful for tabs and the address bar. Also the tab key (also good with the address bar) and up or down arrow keys for frequent or favorites.

When looking at the start screen, all alphanumeric keys are hot keys.

Also, getting to know the features of the charms as it relates to each metro app and the system settings is useful.

settings.jpg

Win + D for the desktop.
Win + E for file explorer.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2355-windows-8-keyboard-shortcut-keys-list.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
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