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

wintersun
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2013
Whenever someone talks about the latest offering from Microsoft it reminds me of the old adage that the pioneers are the folks with arrows in their backs. Windows 7 after more than 3 years is still not stable and I get weekly patches and security updates.

As another saying goes, it it ain't broke don't fix it.
burlmart
Explorer
Jun 28, 2013
On this thread we talked about android being a not-made-for-desktop-work system, and there are many tech pundits who agree.

But there are a lot of PC manufacturers now coming on w/ dual boot W8 and Google Android desktop/laptop PCs, and some are just Android OS alone.

It would seem that as PCs evolve alongside mobile phones and tablets in peoples' lives, a dual OS for the work machine makes sense unless both desktop and mobile devices share same ecosystem/OS.

Win 8.1 may just as appropriately be seen as a signal that the Metro UI will be removed down the road, or it signals just what MS CEO Ballmer claims that 8.1 is the right 'blend of OS (W7 + Metro UI)" to move forward w/ an all MS ecosystem.

What I am still wondering is will Windows succeed in selling enough phones and tablets to make the whole Metro UI experiment work, will giants MS and Google settle on coexisting on a future PC with a W7 + Android OS, or will Google be able to grab (at least non-enterprise consumers at home) the lion’s share of PCs running Chrome OS + Android?

EDIT

Sorry for poor wording in easlier post – weak coffee.
burlmart
Explorer
Jun 27, 2013
All the goods and a video show-how

I 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/
burlmart
Explorer
Jun 27, 2013
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
1492
Moderator
Jun 27, 2013
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.
M_GO_BLUE1
Explorer
Jun 27, 2013
English please... :)
mlts22
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2013
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.

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Windows 8.1 Preview now available in the Windows Store

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