Win 8.1 does network nicely

It's not much of a network, just my router, Trusty Desktop (XP) and Flatbeast (skinny new laptop Win8.1).  For just powering it up, Flatbeast found the wireless router, and got logged in.  I actually had to go down to the router and push a magic router button that told it "new authorized member on wireless, let him in."   Windows 8.1 supports a brand new networking concept call a HomeGroup, but XP does not.  Win 8.1 also supports the older networking concept of Work Groups.  By concept, we mean a protocol for saying hello, asking if anyone is home, and sharing files and printers.  Workgroups have names, and all computers with the same work group name are allowed to play.  Windows (all flavors) ships with it's Workgroup named WORKGROUP.  Once connected, the files on the distant computer show up in "Network"  looking just like files on the local drive.  You can open them, move them around, and delete them.   Win 8.1 is better at doing Workgroup than XP was.  XP was picky about linking up, and often failed to find computers on the local area network.  8.1 is better. 
  On XP "share" meant mark a file or folder as visible over the network.  Explorer allowed you to share files on a one by one, or a folder by folder basis.  If you never shared any files the distant computer would not see any files.
  On 8.1 the verb share means something else.  When M$ invents something new they ought to give it a new name, just to avoid confusion.  PITA.  On 8.1 you don't get to share file by file, you can turn on sharing for the whole machine or nothing.  Click on Control Panel.  Click on Network and Sharing Center.  Click on Advanced Sharing Options.  Turn on the obvious things like Network Discovery and file and printer sharing.  Click on save changes, and all your files become visible to distant computers. 
   The only people with access to my home  network are family and friends and I don't have any files I need to conceal from anyone, so  exposing every file on my harddrive to the local area network doesn't bother me.  Your Mileage My Vary.