Posted on 10/18/2013 7:49:57 AM PDT by McGruff
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.
More bells and whistles that no one asked for and doesn’t add a lick of utility to the OS.
Anyone know if I should uninstall Classic Shell before loading 8.1?
I haven’t touched Windows 8. Don’t know.
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.
Probably should ask the Classic Shell forum if you can’t get an answer here.
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.
Version 4.0 of Classic Shell works with Windows 8.1. Install before or after updating. It works great.
>> 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.
Access PC Settings Easily from Your Desktop in Windows 8 and 8.1
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. ;-)
“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.
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