Windows 8 was officially released a few days ago (see how to download and install Windows 8 Pro updating XP, Vista and Windows 7), but in reality it has been released for almost a year, in several beta test versions. It was therefore possible to try many the many new features and better features of Windows 8 and appreciate the real improvements proposed by Microsoft in its latest operating system.
Windows 8 has a completely new interface that blends the Tablet and desktop computers together, with excellent performance, faster startup and easy access to those tools that remained more hidden in previous versions.
The new Metro interface is not the only radical novelty of this system because Windows 8 has integrated some important tools inside, which previously required external programs.
In this article, therefore, we see what types of programs are no longer needed with Windows 8.
1) The antivirus
In Windows 8 there is a real antivirus integrated in the system called Windows Defender that brings together all the Microsoft security tools.
Windows Defender in Windows 8 is based on the Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus and includes the smartscreen filter to prevent the system from installing malware programs.
The Smartscreen filter is similar to that of Internet Explorer 8 and 9, to protect users from external attacks by performing checks on any file or application downloaded from the internet, based on a blacklist of servers or sites recognized as dangerous.
In addition there is also a feature for the safe boot of the computer on UEFI systems (the one with the advanced Bios) that prevents unauthorized programs from starting as a bootkit.
Microsoft has also changed the way antivirus protects your computer by starting earlier than any other program or driver.
This nullifies the action of those viruses that on other Windows systems manage to make themselves invisible to the antivirus, making it ineffective.
Of course, an external antivirus can also be installed and Windows 8 will automatically deactivate Windows Defender to leave the responsibility of protecting the new security software.
2) Online file synchronization program
This is perhaps a bit of a forcing, but theoretically with Windows 8 it is no longer necessary to use neither Google Drive nor Dropbox because there is the Skydrive program already integrated.
All files in the Skydrive folder are synchronized online in your Microsoft account and are available from any computer with Windows 8 that you access, with the same account.
Address book, photos, Internet Explorer 10 history, preferences and favorites, desktop options, colors, search preferences, language preferences, keyboard and mouse settings, and all application data can be synchronized with Skydrive in Windows 8.
Basically, any PC you use, even that of a friend, if you log in with your account, Windows 8 is loaded as if you were using your home PC, with the settings saved online and all the files on Skydrive available.
3) Programs to create disk images for system recovery .
With Windows 8, you probably won't need to touch the installation disc anymore after the first time.
You won't even need to use external backup programs.
The function to create images of the Windows 7 hard disk has been improved, more accessible and enriched with two unique features of Windows 8: Reset and Refresh .
Reset restores Windows 8 to its initial state and, in fact, a complete reinstallation by formatting the disk.
Refresh instead is a reinstallation of Windows 8 keeping documents, files and applications.
Reset and Refresh are surprisingly fast and easy to use operations that allow you to solve any problem with your PC.
The reset is also useful when you want to sell the old PC because the files are deleted and are no longer recoverable.
4) Mount disk images and upload ISO
In Windows 8, you can mount disk images easily, via the resource explorer.
Programs like Daemon Tools are no longer needed and you can mount an ISO or IMG file on a virtual DVD or even mount a Virtual Hard Disk (VHD).
5) File Backup Programs
With Windows 8, Microsoft has improved the backup and restore functions with a tool that allows you to recover previous versions of modified files.
It only works with collections folders.
6) Programs to manage the copying of files
Finally Microsoft has improved copying and transferring files in Windows 8 and it is no longer necessary to use programs like Teracopy.
In particular, you can pause a process of copying files to resume it later, even after hibernation.
If multiple copy jobs are started, they are displayed in the same window.
7) Process monitoring programs
Readable, clear and full of information is the completely redesigned Windows 8 task manager.
8) Programs for taking Screenshots
With Windows 8 you can take snapshots of the desktop or capture sections of the screen by saving them as images simply by pressing the Stamp-Windows keys.
Each screenshot is automatically saved to disk in a special folder.
Sure, new users will have to learn how to use Windows 8 and overcome the initial difficulties due to the new startup interface but, if you become confident, the system should satisfy the most skeptical thanks to many higher quality tools than Windows 7.
