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Taking visual elements from Microsoft’s Windows Phone design, the Start screen is the first thing you’ll experience when you log in. Microsoft’s Windows 8 user interface, originally referred to as Metro-inspired - a nod to the company’s internal design language - is as stunning as it is surprising.
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You have the option to create a local account, but Microsoft encourages users to enter their email address or sign up online.
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It’s also used to provide access to Microsoft services like SkyDrive, Xbox Music, and the Windows Store. A Microsoft account (formerly Windows Live ID) acts as a gateway for synchronizing settings, like your browsing history or appearance preferences, across whatever Windows 8 PCs you use. One of the first choices is how you want to sign in to a Windows 8 PC. If you’re setting up Windows 8 for the first time you’ll be greeted with some familiar, but simplified, options. Microsoft is using an online installer to let users check compatibility with their systems and upgrade. Typically, it will be available pre-installed on machines from stores and online outlets, but anyone with an older system running XP, Vista, or Windows 7 can also upgrade for $39.99. There are a variety of ways to purchase Windows 8. In fact, the boot process is so fast on new hardware that you barely see the redesigned Windows logo that greets you ahead of an entirely new OS. The boot process is surprisingly fast for Windows: gone are the days of staring at an ugly splash screen or waiting for Windows to apply computer settings before you can log in and progress with your day. The most striking changes to Microsoft’s new operating system are evident as soon as you first switch on a Windows 8 PC.
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