Windows 8.1 Preview Now Available for Download
Want your Start Button back? Get your Windows 8.1 preview here!
If you've been using Windows 8 and have been pining for some refinements, then today is your day. Microsoft today officially released a preview version of Windows 8.1, which is a free download for all the adventurous types. The final version doesn't ship until later this year, so this is your chance to see it early. Of course, Microsoft cautions that this preview version is just for "experienced PC users," which we're sure you all are. Nonetheless, check out the FAQ first to be sure it's for you.
New features include better Bing integration, much improved Maps and a better implementation of the start screen and start button. Check out all the new features in the product guide (PDF)
If all systems are go, then click here to get to the Windows 8.1 Preview.
For more from Microsoft Build 2013, check out our keynote live blog from today!

Actually people wanted both. But there is a Start "Menu" in it. You can set it to show the All Apps instead of the Start Screen which does the same thing as the old Start Menu, i.e. alphabetizes it and shows commonly used apps, but uses the screen instead of a small box.
Honestly Windows 8 is fine. I have been using it since its release and will throw the 8.1 preview on when I get home. People hate change. People did the same thing when we went from DOS to Windows, then 98/2K -> XP and even XP -> 7 (I have had some people say 7 is a horrible OS compared to XP). Eventually people move on 8 has great features, a much more optimized kernel and is much faster than 7 on the same hardware. Not sure what the downside to it is.
really? my impression was that people hated switching from XP to vista, but then 7 was warmly welcomed. in fact, i thought there was a pattern to windows releases. 95 was hated for being buggy, but 98 was good. then ME was crap but XP was good. then vista was crap, but 7 was good. and now 8 is generally considered crappy.
really? my impression was that people hated switching from XP to vista, but then 7 was warmly welcomed.
People hated Windows 7 in the beginning as well. There's a real blind hatred that goes around, because I guess it's just cool to hate. After it was released it ended up being well-received.
Actually people wanted both. But there is a Start "Menu" in it. You can set it to show the All Apps instead of the Start Screen which does the same thing as the old Start Menu, i.e. alphabetizes it and shows commonly used apps, but uses the screen instead of a small box.
Honestly Windows 8 is fine. I have been using it since its release and will throw the 8.1 preview on when I get home. People hate change. People did the same thing when we went from DOS to Windows, then 98/2K -> XP and even XP -> 7 (I have had some people say 7 is a horrible OS compared to XP). Eventually people move on 8 has great features, a much more optimized kernel and is much faster than 7 on the same hardware. Not sure what the downside to it is.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-8-gaming-performance,3331-13.html
Looks to me like windows 8 doesn't run things any better. Seems like a complete waste to move from my full windows 7 to something that does not improve functionality measurably. Like picking up a new video card every generation seems pointless.
f you mean that windows 8 itself runs smoother, then I have no way to know what you mean. Where can I buy the hardware that has trouble running windows?
"Haterz gonna hate" is the last desperate argument of Microfans. Users didn't hate Windows 7, in fact it had three times the adoption rate of Windows 8, and even Vista had a 50% higher adoption rate than Windows 8 has.
It's not blind hatred, it's not we hate change, it's that we use our computers a certain way and Microsoft doesn't get to tell us to change, they need to adapt to us instead. I don't want full screen anything on my computer, so I don't like the Start Screen. I won't use any Metro apps for the same reason.
And the myth that Windows 8 runs better/faster than Windows 7 needs to go away becasuse:
A: it's not true;
B: I don't care, I'm not using slower hardware, I'm using faster hardware;
C: it wouldn't make up for the Start Screen nonsense anyway.
Face it, Windows 8 is a worse disaster than Vista, and Microsoft is just starting to realize that which is why they're rolling back many changes, beginning with the Start Button.
95% of PC users still do not use Windows 8... so no... people didn't want both.
Exactly, and I want it in a small box, so it doesn't cover the screen while I'm watching something on YouTube or whatever. In case you want to argue about that, don't bother - I'm the customer and I want things my way and Microsoft could have left the option for the normal Start Menu, but they didn't so now they're paying the price.
Windows 95 was very unreliable on a lot of hardware and it was pretty much useless for gaming until maybe Windows 98 SE. That said, by 1995 most DOS programs were trying to be like Windows, using Windows-like interface, mouse, etc. In case of Windows and Metro, there was and is really no demand for Windows to be used on tablets, so unlike DOS>Windows, Microsoft is not following their user base but instead trying to force them to change. Unfortunately for Microsoft, it doesn't work that way.
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yes! just treat the metro aps like live Windows icons!
i'm game for that one
As for faster, Windows 8 starts up faster, especially on SSDs. Windows 8 transfers files faster and more consistently than 7 does (from personal experience as well as working on multiple OSes at my work).
As for 8 being a bigger disaster than Vista, do you not remember how systems came out with 1GB of RAM and onboard graphics that could barley support Aero? Vista was bad. Very bad. Not the OS but more the issues surrounding it.
8 however is like 7, works great on existing hardware and uses a bit less overall.
Either way, no one forces you to move to 8. 7 will be around for a while so stick with it. I just think 8 is actually a good OS and is just going through the same stuff every OS with major changes has to go through.
That's exactly what is happening with Win8. Microsoft tried to be innovative and tried to promote its other platforms (Win8 RT, Windows mobile) though the well-established user base of Windows x86/64. The aeroplane is actually falling, but MS doesn't care because they can afford to do so due to high altitude (=monopoly on OS market).
Windows 8 was plan stupid to start. There was nothing innovative in particular compared with Windows 7, and tbh, nothing that couldn't get included on Win7 SP2. MS didn't even had the courage to release exclusive x64 version! On the other hand, it has worse graphics, and a revamped - terrible interface for people who for decades got used to a pretty much solid UI. It didn't made any sense trying to find your way through icons without touch screen, and all OS-interactive operations (like shut down) was hidden behind like MS didn't wanted us to interact with our PC at all.
Overally, Win8 were plan stupid. Microsoft tries to copy Apple's model with Windows RT and if they could transfer ALL users from x86 to RT they would be quite happy because x86/x64 Windows are considered to be a universal OS and they cannot apply monopoly rules like the AppStore that RT has.
This reminds me of when Win95 came out and everyone complained about the start button being to confusing. Then XP pro came out and everyone said its to cartoony for them. If this is all you're worried about you have other issues that need addressing.