The metro area of Windows 8 and 8.1 has tiles of varying sizes. In the 
world of Android, we would call them widgets. These tiles tell you what 
the app is and give you some information. for example, the weather app 
tells you what the weather is in your area. This area is like a smart 
phone in that you arrow up, down, left, and right to find the tile you 
want; there's no first-letter navigation. The apps/widgets themselves 
also behave more like smart phone apps in that there's no pressing alt 
to get into the ribbon/menus. Instead, you use the context key to find 
some commands and the Settings command (Windows+i) to find additional 
options. In the world of Android, we have the long-press and More 
Options. I believe iOS has Settings.

Just to clarify a misconception, Windows 8 tablets don't have a Start 
button on the screen, but if you have a keyboard, the usual commands, 
Start and ctrl+esc, toggle you between your current application and the 
metro area. My laptop had Windows 8 on it before the Windows 8.1 update, 
and it worked much as 8.1 does for keyboard users.

About gestures, you can use them or completely ignore them. My desktop 
system is an all-in-one, which means it's a monitor with ports and a DVD 
drive. The entire screen is touch sensitive. I don't use the gestures 
because the keyboard is closer. My laptop has a little touch pad below 
the space bar, but I've turned it off to keep from making weird things 
happen when I accidentally touch it while typing on it during my lectures.

I'm not sure if this message will make it to the list.


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