Windows 8.1

Windows 8 is pretty confusing, at first. It can be tamed...

First of all, you need to understand that there are two separate, yet integrated "modes" to Windows 8.1 There is the Metro or Tile mode and the familiar Desktop mode. You can switch between the two modes using the "Windows" key on the keyboard. It is the one between CTRL and ALT in the lower-left hand corner of the keyboard. (since you said laptop, you have a keyboard) Looks like the Windows logo.

On the Metro mode, you have tiles, both Live Tiles and static Tiles. You can move these around, add and remove them, re-size them, and break them up into groups. (Right-click a tile to see the options at the bottom, click the down arrow to go to the all apps page, then right-click the ones on there to "pin to start" to get them on the main tile start screen) Live tiles display information; News displays news stories, Sports displays sports stories, Photos displays a rolling slide show of your photos stored on the computer. Tiles are the Metro mode's equivalent of shortcuts. They can be shortcuts to "apps" or "applications." Apps open in Metro mode (no close/max/min button in the upper-right hand corner) Applications open in desktop mode; just like past Microsoft OSs (Win7, XP, Vista, Win95)

Apps are more like smartphone apps; smaller less powerful programs designed to be run without closing them. The mail app is a perfect example of smartphone-like apps. The mail app is set up identically to a mail app on a smartphone or other device. It only shows the last x number of days worth of mail (set in the settings page of the mail app), both in the inbox and in any of the folders you navigate to.

If you use a web-based or browser-based email service (gMail, yahoo mail, hotmail, live, msn, etc) you can just continue to use your browser (IE, chrome, firefox, safari, etc) to go to that mail web page. The benefit of setting up the mail app in Win 8.1 is that it can also sync your calendar and contacts if you use those with your email service. Those will be in the People apps and the Calendar app, respectively.

If you want to find something, go to the Metro mode (you will see tiles) and just start typing. The search box will pop-up as soon as you start typing. So, if you have Internet Explorer and you want to start it, you can just click the the tile for IE or you can start to type internet explorer and the search box comes up with Interneet Explorer under. You can just click on it.

The Corners are "hot-corners" meaning when you move your mouse up into a corner, you will see different things pop-up.
Upper-left hand corner gets last app or application that you were in...
Upper-left and then move (not drag) your mouse down gets you to your recently used apps...
Lower-left gets you your start button, that does the same thing as your Windows key on your keyboard (switches between modes)...
Upper-right corner gets you to the Charms (Search, Share, Start, Devices, Settings) The most useful is the Settings; this is context-sensitive settings, so if you are in your mail app, move your mouse up the the upper-right hand corner and click settings, you will be in the Mail app settings ... do this while in another app and you will get to that particular app's settings...

Now, you also need to understand the use of that windows key on your keyboard. If you do a Windows key + x you will get to the "power menu." This lists the most desirable menu options INCLUDING SHUT DOWN!!! There are many other Windows key + keyboard shortcuts... The Windows key is paramount to using Win 8.1

Hope this helps you acclimate to Win 8.1 ... You will be able to navigate around once the above starts to sink in. It takes a bit .... :-) Good luck!!!

Set up a gmail account and then have gmail go get your mail from your charter account. You can continue to use the charter email address, no one has to know you even have a gmail account. gmail will send/receive email as if it came from your charter account. If charter is like time warner my ISP then you will be much happier using gmail especially if you want to read the mail using iPhone or IPad or any modern device. Gmail also has a very nice calendar that can interface with iPhone as well.

To add a website to the "Tiles" using IE.. Go to the website you want to add. Then in the upper right corner of IE click on the "sprocket (tools)". Select the "add site to apps". A popup box will be displayed, click add. It adds the link on the all apps pages. To add the link to the tiles page, find the added entry, right click on the entry and select pin to start.

So you use different email address with each of them?Thanks

Gmail? Well, they love to share. :)

Get several: Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, and use your ISP and e-mail program for e-mail you want to keep on hand. I use all three, and The Bat with my ISP for my personal e-mail. Nothing limits you to any number of e-mail addy's.

How's gmail?Thanks

My I suggest that if possible you use WEBMAIL and get rid on the on-board mail client. Mail is a major infection vector and if it never lands on your hard drive it can not infect.

I have internet explorer 11,I have charter.net for my email program,Is there a better email server to go with windows 8,I did find how to save favorites in internet explorer,but how do you save favorites in the tiles on the startup page?What would be a better browser to search the internet?thanks

Depends on what browser you're using, and what mail program you're using.