Misunderstanding Windows 8: An Introduction, Orientation, and How-to for Windows 8 (Seventh Edition, August 2013) (Windows Tips and Tricks) by Dunning Jack

Author:Dunning, Jack [Dunning, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Windows 8 Review, beginning windows 8, Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Windows 8 Introduction, Windows 8 Orientation, Windows 8 how-to
ISBN: 9780945776345
Publisher: ComputorEdge E-Books
Published: 2013-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Seven: The Virtual Touch Keyboard, Plus, a Tip for Quick Access to Windows Tools

“Although designed for use with touchscreens and tablet computers, the Windows 8 pop-up keyboard also works with the Windows Desktop.”

The onscreen keyboard for Windows 8 will be used with Windows 8 tablet computers. It's not as useful for desktop computers. Jack explores the features and capabilities of the touch keyboard, as well as other ways to navigate Windows 8. Plus, a tip for quick access to Windows tools.

One conclusion that I can safely pass along is that if you are already using Windows 7 on your desktop or laptop computer, then there may be no compelling reason to upgrade. Windows 8 is essentially Windows 7 with the Start Menu morphed into the Modern Start screen. Windows 8 does run a little faster than Windows 7 and there will be Modern apps available in Windows 8 which will not run in the Windows 7 Desktop, but if you're happy with your current setup, then you'll be good for a long time. (If you aren't using or familiar with Windows 7, then you may want to take a look at my e-book Getting Started with Windows 7 currently available only at Amazon. If you don't own a Kindle, then you can download free Kindle reader software for your computer. Even Windows 8 includes a Kindle reader app.)

The Windows 8 Touch Keyboard

If you have Windows 8 installed on a desktop or laptop computer, then you probably won't need to use the touch keyboard. Eventually, if you buy a Windows 8 tablet, you will use the onscreen keyboard. (When I looked at some Windows 8 laptops at Costco, I found that I was poking the screen even though the screens were not touch sensitive. I don't see the point in getting a Windows 8 laptop without the touch capability.)

For the first editions of this e-book I reviewed Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Release Preview installed in VirtualBox on a Windows 7 computer. Since I don't have a touchscreen, the virtual keyboard does not pop up in the Modern Start screen. (On tablet computers, the touch keyboard will pop up on the screen whenever a text field is entered by touching it. I expect it acts the same on Windows 8 tablets.) However, the virtual keyboard can be enabled in the Windows Desktop for display and use—although, unless you have a touchscreen, you will need to use a mouse to click the keys.

Note: Windows also has a separate virtual keyboard found and activated in the Ease of Access Center. This keyboard is found in all current versions of Windows—including Windows 8. However, it is not the same as the touch keyboard in Windows 8 which is designed primarily for use with a touchscreen or tablet computer.

To activate the Windows 8 touch keyboard in the Windows Desktop right-click on the Taskbar and check Toolbars => Touch Keyboard (see Figure 1).

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