Windows 8.1 is the best version of the operating system in my opinion. It’s the first time that Microsoft has evolved the user interface past the Start menu and the taskbar in more than a decade (These features were originally part of the Windows 95 OS, and have not changed too much since.).

This is the first book in a series of three about Windows 8.1 power user secrets. Each book will cover different parts of the operating system, its applications and related topics.

The first book is an introduction to the Windows 8 ‘Modern’ user interface (UI) and its built-in applications. Windows 8’s new Modern UI breaks all the old Windows UI conventions (i.e. Start menu, applications, windows, etc.). This has caused some confusion, and given the new OS a little bit of a bad reputation.

In many ways the Modern UI is a much needed update to the OS to freshen the platform’s look and feel. Those who don’t like change may not appreciate the learning curve that is required to understand the new user interface.