Windows 8.1 available Thursday

Details here:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/16/microsoft-releasing-windows-81-a-year-in-making/

 

Lol

Personally I think they should not have released win 8 except on touch screen pc's only. I was fortunate enough to wait and purchase one with a touch screen. I recently purchased a pc for a friend as a gift and came to the conclusion that it had to be touch capable so they would be able to use it with ease.
I did dl 8.1 and was not impressed with it either. I barely use the win 8 ui, I stay on my desktop mostly.

 

I wonder how update is going to affect users of programs like Classic Shell?

 

Can't speak for Classic Shell but I had to upgrade Start8 to get it to work with W8.1.

 

Are all these kind of programs needed a upgrade to work with Win 8.1?

 

Why? W8 does not require a touch screen monitor and works great without one. It is much faster and more secure than Windows 7 and it is ideally suited to today's modern hardware (SSDs, UEFI, etc.).

To release it for touch screen users only means yet another version and development team and process. That is a huge demand on resources for MS, the retail chain, and for those of us who provide tech support.

Neither do I. I use and recommend Start8. And since users don't have to use the new UI and can very easily boot to and use the desktop, I ask again, why should W8 be limited to touch screen users only?

Since 8.1 has been available to developers for some time, if they don't work after 8.1 is installed, then I would say that program needs to be dumped as it is clear the developers are not dedicated to their product.

 

8.1 has been released but right now its available only from Windows Store.

I have 2 computers running Win 8 & I don't want to download the beast [its 3.8 GB] twice. Does anybody knows how to download the ISO or executable ?

 

Good God. That's a huge file for sure.

 

I performed a clean install of Window 8 Pro 64bit using an upgrade disk. I downloaded and installed Windows 8.1 Pro Preview Evaluation Copy. Build 9431 when it was first released. Is it now going to cast me $200 for the Win 8.1 Pro final edition upgrade.

 

If the W8 Pro upgrade disk was an official disk then 8.1 is free.

 

Win 8.1 ISO File Download

Will there be an option to download an ISO file instead of doing the update through the "Windows Update "?

 

I suspect it will. It still says "Evaluation copy" on TechNet. If currently running 8.0, you can get the free 8.1 update through Microsoft Store.

 

It's an online upgrade... There is no ISO file top burn to disk... I'm not happy about it... I have to upgrade 4 systems...

 

That should not be a problem for most people. Just waiting and letting WU do it during idle time is fine. The update needs to be installed, but it does not need to be immediately.

But for those who are impatient, or have several computers and/or their Internet access service is of the pay-as-you-go type, I am sure there will be an ISO version soon.

That said, according to Softpedia for those with access to TechNet, the preview ISO versions have been quietly updated. See Microsoft Updates Windows 8.1 ISOs on MSDN .

 

The following 10 "Windows 8.1 ..." downloads are available with a TechNet Standard account (see attached).

(Here's a link to the original full-sized screen capture).

Note that the "(multiple editions)" means "This file contains both Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Pro. "

 

Bill I purchased the disk B&H Photo located in Manhattan, New York.

 

Then 8.1 is a free upgrade for you.

 

I don't have a Technet subscription. So I have to wait.

 

1. Thank you Bill.​
2. Doc. Multiple editions. I choose from a list. Am I correct or way off base.​

I tried to download but can't find the upgrade. Could it be that I installed the preview from an iso file. The reason I did that was I was having trouble downloading and installing from the store. Did I mess up and now have to pay.

 

Then make one...