Windows 8.1 launched – windows 8 support ends in 2015

Microsoft has done this since windows 95 they just previously called it service packs instead of giving it a new version number
 
InSanity said:
Microsoft has done this since windows 95 they just previously called it service packs instead of giving it a new version number
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With the exception that now there's a service pack every year and it does the same thing as Apple's yearly OS X releases. And they'll get more money over time if they begin charging for it.
 
I recently bought Win 8 Pro and need to still install it. Will download this after the install and upgrade.
 
Been running 8.1 since preview, and 8.1 retail since MSDN release.

Its waaaaaay better than 8, yet I still install Classic shell so its not 100% yet.
 
Does this give an indication of how poor Windows 8 was? It's "lifespan" (or support) is just 2 years? Wow.
 
Crzwaco said:
Not so much on how poor it was but rather how fast things are developing.
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Okay. Just curious, but it has nothing to do with the oddities which it was launched with?

Personally I couldn't get used to the structure. My 10yo daughter on the other hand loves it. Even my 4yo son navigates his way around it without too much problem.
 
McT said:
Does this give an indication of how poor Windows 8 was? It's "lifespan" (or support) is just 2 years? Wow.
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8.1 kernel is exactly the same as 8 only thing that changed is the UI and some dll's.

I think the reason has more to do with the fact that this is an update and not a full OS upgrade. Same thing happened to Vista pre SP 1 and XP SP 1, 2 also windows 98 when second edition was released.
 
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ah nice been waiting for this, will be updating my work machine tm, anyone know how big this update is?
 
McT said:
Does this give an indication of how poor Windows 8 was? It's "lifespan" (or support) is just 2 years? Wow.
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Since 8.1 is a free update from 8 this shouldn't be a problem.

- - - Updated - - -

B1nary said:
ah nice been waiting for this, will be updating my work machine tm, anyone know how big this update is?
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2.6GB I think I remember reading.
 
McT said:
Does this give an indication of how poor Windows 8 was? It's "lifespan" (or support) is just 2 years? Wow.
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Not really, at least from where I'm standing. I think it does say volumes about the attitude of the design team following the tremendous backlash at launch and they've been working on a lot of things - almost as many changes, updates and new features as OS X gets in a update. Also, bear in mind that it launches with new technologies embedded as well. Its going to be interesting to see how well it'll be received from here on out.

McT said:
Just curious, but it has nothing to do with the oddities which it was launched with?
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It does, to a large extent. But Modern UI is now firmly entrenched into their product design. Microsoft can either abandon everything (including Windows Phone and the Xbox UI) and move to something different, or they can soldier on. Soldiering on and improving everything as they go is their only realistic option, because the new CEO will probably revamp the company into one that can produce a profit every year, not have every other department siphon off the success of Office.

AlphaJohn said:
8.1 kernel is exactly the same as 8 only thing that changed is the UI and some dll's. I think the reason has more to do with the fact that this is an update and not a full OS upgrade.
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The changes underneath the skin are far-reaching, though. Support for new sleep states, connected standby on new platforms, 3D printers, better networking and possibly more nods to integration with Skydrive and their other services. I'm still waiting for my download to finish, but from what I've been reading today, I'll warm up to it a little quicker than a vanilla Windows 8 install.
 
Just installed it. It took quite a while to download and install.
So far its pretty much the same as Win8.

Just hoping Corsair brings out some drivers for my Vengeance 1500. As it sits now, my headphones have no surround sound in Windows 8.1
 
I just started downloading all updates(been meaning to for a while) will this sp be included in those updates ?
 
This update gave me such a headache last night. First it took forever to download and install. Then I had to download new drivers for my motherboard. While installing one of these drivers I got my first BSOD in windows 8. When I got the BSOD it wouldn't restart so I had to manually reset my pc. When I did my mouse stopped working... (not like it wouldn't move. The pointer was missing all together.).

After a couple of resets, my keyboard stopped working as well. After I reset my pc a couple more times my keyboard at least started working again. Turns out it was the Logitech drivers for my mouse and keyboard that was causing the trouble...

I advise anyone that has a Logitech keyboard, mouse or headset to uninstall the driver before installing the update. Once the update is done you can reinstall the drivers for that device. Apparently I'm not the only one that has this issue with Logitech, but its quite possible that you might get this error with other brand's drivers that are not windows 8.1 compatible.
 
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