Windows 8
Windows 8 provides a new and refreshing interface, which also takes a bit of getting used to.
Here are some tips and short-cuts to increase your productivity:
 |
Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application |
| & start typing |
On the Windows 8 Start Screen: Search your PC for Apps/Settings/Files. In the Store, this will search for Apps. |
+  or +  |
Zoom in or out using Magnifier |
[Ctrl] + or [Ctrl] + |
Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen |
[Ctrl] + scroll wheel |
Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen |
| + C |
Open Charms menu (right of screen: Search/Share/Start/Devices/Settings) |
| + I |
Open Settings Charm directly |
| + L |
Lock your PC or switch users |
| + O |
Lock device/screen orientation |
| + Q |
Open the Search charm and search for apps |
| + R |
Open the Run dialog box |
| + Z (= right-click) |
Show the commands available in the app / App bar when a Modern Desktop App is running |
| + [Tab] |
Cycle through open apps on the Modern Desktop Taskbar (except desktop apps) |
| + [←] |
Stick the current desktop window to the left side/half of the screen |
| + [→] |
Stick the current desktop window to the right side/half of the screen |
| + [Shift] + [←] or [→] |
Move a window in the desktop from one Monitor to another |
| + [Alt] + [Enter] |
Open Windows Media Center (if installed) |
| + [PageUp] or + [PageDown] |
Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left or right (Apps in the desktop won't change monitors) |
| + [ , ] (comma) |
Temporarily peek at the desktop |
| + [AltGr] |
Close an App completely (Alt-F4) |
| + [PrtScn] + [Print Screen] |
Takes a screenshot of the screen and saves it in the Pictures folder (My Pictures\Screenshots) as a Screenshot file |
If you would like to have a Start button (like in previous versions of Windows, check out «Start8» from Stardock.
Stardock also has an App called «ModernMix» which enables you to run Windows 8 (Modern-/Metro-) Apps in a window instead of full screen, which is handy if you're working in Desktop mode.