How To Test Windows 8 On A Tablet
Experiencing Windows 8 with a Touchscreen
Microsoft explicitly designed the new interface of Windows 8 to be a "touch-first experience." If you are considering an upgrade to Windows 8, a preliminary test on your personal computer is possible.
However, the full potential of Windows 8 is only realized when used with a touchscreen device. Without a touchscreen, the experience is significantly diminished.
Testing Windows 8 on Your Existing Tablet
If you possess an iPad or an Android tablet, you can simulate the Windows 8 touchscreen experience prior to investing in a new Windows 8 PC or tablet.
Direct installation of Windows 8 onto your tablet is not feasible. Instead, we will employ several methods to utilize your tablet’s touchscreen to interact with Windows 8.
For comprehensive information and detailed instructions, refer to the MUO Windows 8 guide. This resource provides a more in-depth exploration of the operating system.
These techniques allow you to assess the usability and benefits of the touch-centric design before making a purchase decision.
- This method provides a practical evaluation of the Windows 8 interface.
- It helps determine if the touchscreen functionality aligns with your needs.
- You can experience the responsiveness and intuitiveness of the system firsthand.
Essential Requirements:
To begin, you will require a version of Windows 8. Should you not possess one, the Windows 8 Enterprise evaluation edition presents a viable option. This edition is specifically designed for IT professionals and application developers for pre-deployment testing.
Be aware that the evaluation edition has a 90-day expiration and cannot be upgraded to a full Windows 8 license, making it unsuitable for permanent installation on your primary machine.
However, it serves as an excellent resource for experimentation within a virtual machine environment.
Software and Hardware Components:
- A virtual machine program is also necessary. We will utilize VirtualBox for this demonstration, though VMware Player or comparable software will function equivalently.
- An iPad or Android-based tablet is required. A Nexus 7 was used during testing, but a larger screen size is generally recommended.
- Microsoft does not currently distribute Windows 8 on tablets with 7-inch displays.
- The Splashtop application will facilitate access to the Windows 8 virtual machine from your tablet. It is available at no cost for Android tablets and for a fee of $1.99 on iPads.
Important Considerations:
It’s crucial to understand that this setup does not perfectly replicate the experience of using Windows 8 on a native Windows 8 tablet. The utilization of a virtual machine and remote streaming software introduces performance overhead, potentially diminishing the responsiveness of Windows 8’s user interface.
Furthermore, Splashtop’s touch functionality isn’t identical to a dedicated touchscreen. An alternative, Splashtop’s Win8 Metro Testbed app, is available for application developers at a cost of $50, offering more precise touch emulation.
This setup provides a valuable approximation, but inherent limitations should be acknowledged.
Setting Up the Virtual Machine Environment
Initially, the installation of Windows 8 within a virtual machine is required. Refer to our comprehensive guide on installing Windows 8 in VirtualBox for detailed assistance if needed. Utilizing a virtual machine allows for evaluation of the new interface’s responsiveness with both mouse and keyboard input.
It’s important to remember that the virtual machine software itself introduces some performance overhead. Once Windows 8 is operational within the virtual machine, the Splashtop Streamer application must be installed.
This application facilitates remote access and control of the virtual machine from a tablet device. Ensure the Streamer is installed within the virtual machine environment, and not on the host operating system.
Proceed through the installation process and establish a Splashtop account. This account will be essential for accessing your Windows 8 virtual machine remotely from your tablet.
Bridged networking must also be activated. By default, the virtual machine operates on a separate, isolated local network. Without bridged networking, Splashtop may prompt for purchase of the Anywhere Access Pack.
To enable bridged networking, navigate to the Machine menu and select Settings. Within the Network section, change the Attached to setting to Bridged Adapter. This configuration change is applied instantly; a virtual machine reboot is not necessary.
Experiencing Windows 8 on Your Tablet Device
To begin, install the Splashtop application on your tablet and subsequently log in utilizing the username and password linked to your Splashtop account. Your Windows 8 PC will then appear within the displayed list; simply tap it to establish a connection.
Following a successful connection, you will be able to interact with Windows 8 through your tablet’s touch screen. However, it’s important to note that Splashtop manages the mouse cursor remotely, resulting in a slightly different feel compared to native touchscreen interaction. Despite this, a significant number of operations remain functional with touch input.
A single tap will simulate a left-click, while a touch-and-hold action will replicate a right-click. This is the standard method for tapping and long-pressing within the Windows 8 environment. Scrolling can be achieved by placing two fingers on the screen and dragging them across the display. A comprehensive list of supported gestures will be presented upon your initial connection to the Windows 8 system via Splashtop.
Access to a keyboard is readily available by tapping the arrow icon located in the screen's corner, then selecting the keyboard button. This allows you to invoke the Windows key to return to your home screen after utilizing an application. Native Windows 8 touch gestures, such as swiping from the screen's edge to access the charms or switcher, are not compatible with Splashtop.
By default, moving the cursor to the screen's corners is disabled. To enable corner access, tap the arrow button in the corner and then select the trackpad button to activate Trackpad mode. When Trackpad mode is engaged, cursor positioning in the corners becomes straightforward, granting access to the charms, switcher, and other system features.
Evaluating Windows 8 on a Tablet via Splashtop
Using Splashtop to access Windows 8 on a tablet doesn't quite replicate the native tablet experience. The fluid responsiveness typical of a tablet interface is diminished, replaced by the inherent lag found in remote desktop applications. Furthermore, essential swipe-based navigation gestures are unavailable.
Despite these limitations, the experience can be surprisingly insightful. In several respects, interacting with Windows 8 through a tablet proves more revealing than using a traditional mouse and keyboard setup. The tactile interaction of tapping screen elements feels intuitively more aligned with the Windows 8 interface than conventional input methods.
Holding the Windows 8 interface in your hands provides a tangible sense of whether a Windows 8 tablet would genuinely suit your needs. If you are considering a purchase, visiting a local electronics retailer is highly recommended. Many stores offer demonstration Windows 8 PCs and tablets for hands-on evaluation.
This allows you to experience Windows 8 firsthand and gain a realistic understanding of its capabilities.
Have you experimented with Windows 8 on a tablet using Splashtop? What were your impressions? Share any helpful tips or techniques you discovered for enhancing the Windows 8 experience on a tablet in the comments below.
