The Windows 8.1 Preview is now available in the Windows store if you wish to upgrade your present Windows 8 machine. The ISO is not available yet but should be soon. Windows 8.1 Preview FAQEDIT: ISO is available here: Win 8.1 Preview ISOI was able to download the ISO (I have a MS Technet subscription) and do a clean install of 8.1 into a VM in VMWare Player.Those that think that 8.1 is a complete new interface that looks and acts just like Win 7 will be disappointed.Win 8.1 can be configured to boot to the Desktop instead of the Start Screen and also has a Start button on the Taskbar on the Desktop. Clicking on the Start button simply takes you to the Start screen. You can choose whether the Start Screen shows the standard tiles or whether it comes up in Apps View mode.You can right-click on the Start button which brings up a menu that has links to various tools such as Disk & Computer Management, File Explorer, Device Manager, etc... and also has a link for Shutdown.I like 8.1 simply for the fact that I can now boot direct to the Desktop without the need for a 3rd party app and never need to use the Start Screen or Metro apps again.

I'm looking forward to Windows Server 2012 R2, with its new autotiering and deduplication for Hyper-V virtual machines. That way, if you have four Windows VMs, anything that isn't unique just takes up one instance of space. If you have SSD and regular hard drives, the OS figures out which files are most often used and puts them on the faster media automatically.

From MS preview conferences, it didn't sound like much was going to change regarding WIN 8.1 working more like WIN 7. I don't actually mind WIN 8 booting into the Start Screen. It's just one click or keyboard shortcut WIN+D to get to the desktop.Personally, I also prefer using shortcuts pinned to the taskbar for common task, which can also be made into tiles. Currently, just use one for one-click access to my applications, or to shutdown.

If the specific options in the menu that comes up when you right click the new start button -- the left image below -- does not already wxist in W8, I would say that this is a BIG deal in W8.1 for W7 lovers

All the goods and a video show-howI think they liatened to folks' gripes fairly well while keeping their eye on developing the successor to W7.There is a lot more power under the hood of W8 than W7, and yet it requires less hardware to do it all.I think it will be a big success.XP was villified for 3 years, and the only reason W7 started so strong is that it was a near twin of XP, even though it was hardware ravenous/

Windows 8.1 Preview now available in the Windows Store

17 Replies

whitebb
Explorer
Jul 03, 2013
When I purchased my new PC with win 7, the first thing I did was buy the one time upgrade to win 7 Pro. I put it on my wife PC when I bought it also. Its a much better OS that way. It work for me as I liked xp pro also. This setup worked for me. I set my brother new pc with win 8 and did not like all the tiles. I hid all tiles except desk top, to make it look like his old pc which had xp. Any way will watch the new 8.1 and see how it works. I don,t want to make to many changes to his machine as I travel full time and will have to trouble schoot over the phone!!!!!!.
:R
1492
Moderator
Jul 02, 2013
WIN 7 is still my primary OS, and likely to be the case for some time. Though I actually don't mind the WIN 8 startup tiles. Again, I've customized it to easily get to the desktop, my apps, and for common tasks. No third party apps necessary. However, I have experienced some incompatibilities and erratic behavior with a few apps that are supposed to be designed for WIN 8. Some from Microsoft. Which is why I haven't in the past fully jumped into a newly released MS OS, at least until SP1 is released. The exception being my current NetBook which is more of test platform. I do own new retail boxed copies of WIN 8, but will likely stay on the shelve for now.
ReadyToGo
Explorer
Jul 02, 2013
monkey44: you best never get a tablet. Hand gestures, voice commands, tablet apps. You won't like any of them. Have had an android tablet now for 4 months and and Ipad for 1 month and the use of the PC computer gets less and less each day. My wife's computer hasn't been turned on for over 3 weeks now.
With the apps when we travel we can see all the PA CG within 25 or 50 miles if we want, and all the rest of the CG. Turn of a tablet in 5 seconds instead of a minute to find a restrurant, CG, dump station, museum, the list is endless. Yes we can do some those things on a Computer, but the tablet is much much handier. And recharge off the usb in the car radio if we want.
monkey44
Nomad II
Jul 02, 2013
IMHO - there is not a trash can big enough for Windows 8 and it's offspring ... can't these tech companies get it right first time, why patches, inflated programs, fix-its, ALL one more thing to malfunction - GET IT RIGHT BEFORE YOU RELEASE IT, PLEASE !!

I already dumped W8 off a brand new LT and installed W7 in it's place - some tech savvy folks might like and adjust to it - but it screwed up so much of my data, I'll never like it or even attempt adjusting to it.

Luckily, Monkey will celebrate 69 years on earth in a few days, so these W7 models will last me until I can't punch keys anymore :) :) Good thing 2

Hidden icons, trick boxes, undying use of hotspot time, and a buncha tiles and ads that became much more than simply intermittently annoying ... nuff' said
camperforlife
Explorer
Jul 02, 2013
ReadyToGo wrote:
Weekly patches and security updates? You must have some weird programs. If you are talking about non win 7 updates sure, but that is an issue with those vendors. Myself and millions of others have never had an issue with Win 7.

Running Win 7 on my ultra book for over a year now with ZERO crashes. None- zero- nada.
mlts22
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2013
I like Windows 8 (or more aptly, the server version) because it is more secure than Windows 7. Some malware trying to install a MBR Trojan will find that that they just rendered the machine unbootable.

In fact, the Metro apps are far more secure than regular programs, since they only have access to a very limited part of the user's directory. If the app gets infected, it can't spread outside of its "jail" (or restricted security context), similar to how iOS apps are "jailed".

I'm not a fan of the tile UI, but I've been in IT for 20+ years; I can adapt to change. This may not be for everyone, and AFAIK, Windows 7 is still being sold.
bwanshoom
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013
I think you're referring to Xbox Music.

It would be nice if Xbox came with Windows 8.1, which is supposed to be free.
burlmart
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013
in the W8.1 presentation, they showed how xbox plays entire songs from sites for free, and it lets you make free playlists.

did I get this right?

and also, is xbox included free as part of W8.1?
ReadyToGo
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013
Weekly patches and security updates? You must have some weird programs. If you are talking about non win 7 updates sure, but that is an issue with those vendors. Myself and millions of others have never had an issue with Win 7.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2013
They might have said that of the Model A as well, but luckily they did not and we have much better cars today.