Five least intuitive things about Windows 8

By Dan Ackerman
November 2, 2012 2:48 PM PDT

Windows 8 is neither a completely foreign experience, as some have said, nor is it a smooth continuation of the Windows you've known for the past 11 years, since the start of the modern XP era.

From a hardware point of view, usingWindows 8 and its not-Metro interface is eventually navigable after some trial and error, and memorizing a few new commands and gestures -- at least if you have one of the many new touch-screen laptops or all-in-one desktops.

Having tried it on a couple of new Windows 8 laptops that do not have touch screens (andplenty more that do), it's those non-touch users who will have the most trouble, whether on a new machine sold with Windows 8, or an older one you're upgrading yourself.

If you're struggling with Windows 8 or still unsure about taking the plunge, here are the five least intuitive things I found in Windows 8, and how to deal with them.

1. Showing browser tabs in IE10
Rather than display its tabs along the top of the screen, Windows 8 hides them, revealing the tabs when you swipe down from the top with a finger. But without a touch screen, you can fiddle with the mouse cursor to simulate a finger swipe, or better: hit the Windows key+Z. (And, as several readers have pointed out, you can also right-click with your mouse to expose tabs.)