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What You Need to Know About Windows 8.1
How-To Geek ^ | today

Posted on 10/18/2013 7:49:57 AM PDT by McGruff

Windows 8.1 is available to everyone starting today, October 19. The latest version of Windows improves on Windows 8 in every way. It’s a big upgrade, whether you use the desktop or new touch-optimized interface.

The latest version of Windows has been dubbed “an apology” by some — it’s definitely more at home on a desktop PC than Windows 8 was. However, it also offers a more fleshed out and mature tablet experience.

See link for details.

(Excerpt) Read more at howtogeek.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: pressrelease; windows; windows8
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Let the Microsoft bashing begin.
1 posted on 10/18/2013 7:49:57 AM PDT by McGruff
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In summary, Windows 8.1 is what Windows 8 should have been. All of these improvements are on top of the many great desktop features, security improvements, and all-around battery life and performance optimizations that appeared in Windows 8.

If you’re still using Windows 7 and are happy with it, there’s probably no reason to race out and buy a copy of Windows 8.1 at the rather high price of $120. But, if you’re using Windows 8, it’s a big upgrade no matter what you’re doing.

If you buy a new PC and it comes with Windows 8.1, you’re getting a much more flexible and comfortable experience. If you’re holding off on buying a new computer because you don’t want Windows 8, give Windows 8.1 a try — yes, it’s different, but Microsoft has compromised on the desktop while making a lot of improvements to the new interface. You just might find that Windows 8.1 is now a worthwhile upgrade, even if you only want to use the desktop.


2 posted on 10/18/2013 7:50:26 AM PDT by McGruff (Mitch McConnell sold his sole for a Dam project.)
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To: McGruff; rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; Salo; JosephW; Only1choice____Freedom; amigatec; ...

3 posted on 10/18/2013 7:51:03 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: All
Also How the Modern Interface is Improved in Windows 8.1
4 posted on 10/18/2013 7:52:17 AM PDT by McGruff (Mitch McConnell sold his sole for a Dam project.)
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To: McGruff

More bells and whistles that no one asked for and doesn’t add a lick of utility to the OS.


5 posted on 10/18/2013 7:54:36 AM PDT by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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To: ShadowAce

Anyone know if I should uninstall Classic Shell before loading 8.1?


6 posted on 10/18/2013 7:54:46 AM PDT by DAC21
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To: DAC21

I haven’t touched Windows 8. Don’t know.


7 posted on 10/18/2013 7:55:28 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: McGruff

I have 8 but have gotten used to it.

Please tell me I can simply update to 8.1 for free?

I live with 8 if I have to pay for another operating system.


8 posted on 10/18/2013 7:56:06 AM PDT by CommieCutter
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To: McGruff
Does this product lock up the computer like the rest of the products? I just love it when Ctrl+Alt+Delete does not work.
9 posted on 10/18/2013 7:57:58 AM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: DAC21

Probably should ask the Classic Shell forum if you can’t get an answer here.


10 posted on 10/18/2013 7:59:42 AM PDT by CommieCutter
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To: CommieCutter
I don't have Windows 8 so I can't say but

How to Get Windows 8.1

For Windows 8 users, Windows 8.1 is completely free. It will be available as a download from the Windows Store — that’s the “Store” app in the Modern, tiled interface.

Assuming upgrading to the final version will be just like upgrading to the preview version, you’ll likely see a “Get Windows 8.1″ pop-up that will take you to the Windows Store and guide you through the download process.

You’ll also be able to download ISO images of Windows 8.1, so can perform a clean install to upgrade. On any new computer, you can just install Windows 8.1 without going through Windows 8. New computers will start to ship with Windows 8.1 and boxed copies of Windows 8 will be replaced by boxed copies of Windows 8.1.

11 posted on 10/18/2013 7:59:56 AM PDT by McGruff (Mitch McConnell sold his sole for a Dam project.)
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To: DAC21

Version 4.0 of Classic Shell works with Windows 8.1. Install before or after updating. It works great.


12 posted on 10/18/2013 8:00:04 AM PDT by SunStar (Democrats piss me off!)
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To: McGruff

>> Let the Microsoft bashing begin.

Okay... will Microsoft be *doing* the bashing, or receiving it? :-)

But seriously, I have Win8 on a little ASUS sub-laptop with a touch screen (not my main PC, just a travel companion), and it’s a love-hate relationship. I’m hoping 8.1 fixes the stuff I hate so I can stop hatin’ on 8.


13 posted on 10/18/2013 8:00:30 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
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As long as we're on the topic.

Access PC Settings Easily from Your Desktop in Windows 8 and 8.1

14 posted on 10/18/2013 8:02:43 AM PDT by McGruff (Mitch McConnell sold his sole for a Dam project.)
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To: McGruff
If you’re holding off on buying a new computer because you don’t want Windows 8, give Windows 8.1 a try — yes, it’s different, but Microsoft has compromised on the desktop...

Yeah, I'll come back when microsoft is interested in earning my business instead trying to compromise on something I didn't ask for and didn't want. The change from the old 3.x interface to the windows 95 desktop was a welcome change. That retarded little brother that is 8.0 and 8.1 were not. Maybe I'll come back for the Windows 9, apology for balmer's ego edition.

15 posted on 10/18/2013 8:03:40 AM PDT by Orangedog (An optimist is someone who tells you to 'cheer up' when things are going his way)
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To: McGruff

Thanks for the update info. I fall into group mentioned below:

“If you’re still using Windows 7 and are happy with it, there’s probably no reason to race out and buy a copy of Windows 8.1 at the rather high price of $120. But, if you’re using Windows 8, it’s a big upgrade no matter what you’re doing.”

The only problem, I have is when I do a fairly deep Google/Yahoo search on something. About 2-3 levels into the search, my screen and computer freeze up. I have to do Gate’s gift to us, the control/alt/delete and reboot.

One of our younger relatives and his wife are great with computer language, programs and solving problems. They have informed me that problem will go away, when NSA opens its Utah facility to store our searchdata, and Google/Yahoo and other internet providers get free storage space for providing our search data to NSA.


16 posted on 10/18/2013 8:08:13 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Get our troops out of the middle east and let Allah sort out the Islamofascist losers!)
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To: Orangedog

It is all about the sick fascination of social media, internet browsing, music/videos, and not real computing. The make my job of developing business and scientific software harder with every release of the “next big thing” having to wade through all the crap layers and security issues.


17 posted on 10/18/2013 8:08:14 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: McGruff

I am sticking with Win7 and IE9.

When I put a new hard drive in my Win7 laptop a few weeks ago, Windows auto-updated and replaced IE9 with IE10. I thought I had auto-update turned off.

Anyway, I use an old tabbed IE-based browser for FR. This browser has some editing and productivity add-ons that are no longer available and which have no comparable modern equivalents. These add-on features are more important/valuable to me than and IE upgrade.

Well, IE10 killed the add-ons. They would work with 9, so I uninstalled 10. Windows defaulted to restoring 9. I am somewhat happy again.

From XP to Win7, I lost several programs that have no modern equivalents. I managed to tweak and trick a few others into working under Win7. I doubt any of them would work under Win8.1. I have a dead Minolta b/w laser printer — dead because no one developed a Win7 64-bit driver for it. I am tired of Windows upgrades that won’t support older peripherals.

The only thing worse than a Win/IE upgrade is Firefox’s rapid release insanity.

Newer is NOT always better. Many times it is WORSE. When they think they fixed what they broke the last time, they end up breaking something else.


18 posted on 10/18/2013 8:10:06 AM PDT by TomGuy (.)
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To: McGruff

Microsoft’s motto: Change simply for the sake of change with total disregard toward actual improvement simply so that we can make even more billions. ;-)


19 posted on 10/18/2013 8:10:15 AM PDT by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Learn three chords and you, too, can be a Rock Star!)
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To: Grampa Dave

“The only problem, I have is when I do a fairly deep Google/Yahoo search on something. About 2-3 levels into the search, my screen and computer freeze up. I have to do Gate’s gift to us, the control/alt/delete and reboot.”

My guess would be that the computer in question lacks sufficient RAM.


20 posted on 10/18/2013 8:12:29 AM PDT by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Learn three chords and you, too, can be a Rock Star!)
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