Download free Windows 8 ebooks

Download free Windows 8 ebooks:
Microsoft has changed the Windows operating system considerable with the release of Windows 8. While it should not take experienced users longer than half an hour or so to get acquainted with the new features and work flows, it may be more difficult for inexperienced users to know how to work with the operating system.
While instructional screens and videos may be solid options to get a quick overview of the new features of Windows 8, some users may prefer ebooks instead that explain all the concepts in detail. Several free Windows 8 related ebooks have been released in the past two weeks, often to promote the operating system itself or devices that ship with it. While that usually means advertisement of some kind or the requirement to fill a form before you can download the ebook, it does not at all mean that you won’t get the information that you are looking for out of the offerings.

Windows 8 for Dummies

This is a special, and likely shortened, version of the Windows 8 for Dummies book for the PC manufacturer Dell. You are asked to fill out a form on the Dell website to download the Windows 8 ebook or view it online. The book has 147 pages and offers the following chapters:

1. The new start screen


2. The traditional desktop


3. Storage: internal, external and in the sky


4. Working with apps


5. Engaging the social apps


6. Getting connected and having fun through the start screen


7. Ten things you’ll hate about Windows 8 (and how to fix them)

The book starts with a short introduction on how to read the book and use the information. The author provides these information for mouse, keyboard and touch screen users so that every input method is covered in the book.
The most important chapter of the book is the first one, as it introduces the start screen with all of its new features. It also explains how to go to the traditional desktop, and goes into detail about the changes there in the second chapter. It covers the sign in process, how the start screen works, how to work with the new Charms Bar, how you can load the traditional desktop, and how you can check out free apps.
It should not take too long to read the ebook, considering that the text font is rather large and that it contains images and screenshots as well. Some chapters may not look like much, like the engaging the social apps chapter, when in fact it is quite interesting considering that it covers setting up email, the calendar, and adding accounts.
The book provides you with solid information about Windows 8 and the majority of its new features that you will encounter.

Windows 8 for IT Pros

The free ebook Windows 8 – An Overview for IT Professionals  targets IT professionals, administrators and tech savvy users mostly. You will notice immediately that it targets a professional audience when you look at the (free) chapters it offers:

1. Hardware Innovations – Touch; Long battery life; Thiner, lighter, faster; Sensors and security; New Form Factors


2. Experiencing Windows 8 – Walk-through the new UI and key improvements to Task Manager and File Explorer.


3. Customizing and Configuring Windows 8 – Profile customization, Tile configuration, PC Settings, Redesigned NTFS


4. Networking Enhancements – BranchCache, DirectAccess, Mobile broadband, IPv6


5. Deploying Windows 8 – Windows 8 SKUs, Application Compatibility, User State Migration, Deployment and Imaging, Windows PE, Volume Activation Management Tool, Windows-to-Go


6. Delivering Windows Apps – Windows app lifecycle, Distributing via Windows Store, Distributing with an Enterprise


7. Windows 8 Recovery – File History, Refresh and Reset, Windows Recovery Environment, DaRT, Advanced Options


8. Windows 8 Management – PowerShell 3.0, Group Policy Improvements, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, Windows Intune


9. Windows 8 Security – Secure boot, SmartScreen, Vulnerability mitigation and sandboxing, BitLocker, Virtual smart cards, Dynamic Access Control


10. Internet Explorer 10 – New features, Group Policies for IE 10


11. Windows 8 Virtualization – Client Hyper-V, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, Application virtualization, User state virtualization

To get a download link you either need to tweet to promote the ebook on Twitter, or to contact the author via email to get a direct download link instead. It is far from ideal if you ask me and I’d suggest the email option unless you do not mind promoting a Windows 8 ebook on your Twitter account.
Update: Microsoft has posted the download link here. Just visit the site and click on the link in the article to download the pdf ebook to your computer.

Programming Windows 8 Apps

The Windows Store needs to be pushed, and what better way to push it than to offer free programming ebooks for developers? The free ebook has been released  in pdf format. You can download it and its companion content from this Microsoft Press web page.
The book has 834 pages and the following chapters:

1. Chapter 1: The Life Story of a Windows Store App: Platform Characteristics of Windows 8


2. Chapter 2: Quickstart


3. Chapter 3: App Anatomy and Page Navigation


4. Chapter 4: Controls, Control Styling, and Data Binding


5. Chapter 5: Collections and Collection Controls


6. Chapter 6: Layout


7. Chapter 7: Commanding UI


8. Chapter 8: State, Settings, Files, and Documents


9. Chapter 9: Input and Sensors


10. Chapter 10: Media


11. Chapter 11: Purposeful Animations


12. Chapter 12: Contracts


13. Chapter 13: Tiles, Notifications, the Lock Screen, and Background Tasks


14. Chapter 14: Networking


15. Chapter 15: Devices and Printing


16. Chapter 16: WinRT Components: An Introduction


17. Chapter 17: Apps for Everyone: Accessibility, World-Readiness, and the Windows Store

Thanks go to Jojo and Ilev for sending me information about those books. Do you know of other Windows 8 ebooks that are free to download? Post links in the comments and I will add them to this list.

DIGITAL JUICE