Windows 8.1 Available for Pre-order Now
Let the countdown begin!
Microsoft on Wednesday announced that is now accepting pre-orders for Windows 8.1. The catch is that you'll have to be in the United States to secure yourself a pre-order, because Redmond doesn't seem to have opened pre-orders elsewhere just yet.
As discussed previously, Windows 8.1 will be officially released on October 18, 2013 (that's actually 12:00am on October 18th in New Zealand, so 4:00 a.m. PT 7:00 a.m. ET on October 17). Those who are already running Windows 8 will receive the upgrade to 8.1 for free, but those will on Windows 7 and below will need to pay for the pleasure to use the new Start Screen.
Pricing for Windows 8.1 will be the exact same as for the version before it: $119.99 and Windows 8.1 Pro will be available for $199.99. What's different from Windows 8, however, is that upgrade versions will be full version software. New PC owners with Windows 8.1 can upgrade to the Pro version for $99.
Hit up Microsoft's website to pre-order. We'll keep you posted on the pre-order status for other regions.
Follow Jane McEntegart @JaneMcEntegart. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

October 17.
... is this not going to be available in store? I've seen multiple articles talking about retail packaging and DVDs. Why wouldn't someone without internet just be able to go and pick one of those up? Though, I will admit, if you *really* have no net access, an older version of Windows is far less necessary from a security standpoint.
For it to be WIndows 7 it would have to have the exact same kernel, which it does not. The 8 kernel is much more optimized and as well a lot of back end parts of the OS run better than 7 does.
I had the preview and like 8.1 more than 8. Thanks to my job we have TechNet and I was able to get a full copy before the launch.
Running it right now and it feels better than even the preview did.
And yet, the prevailing trend in most comments sections is that the people pointing this out are labeled as either just complaining or as just refusing to try something new.
I don't get it. Windows 8 is not a good OS, and 8.1 doesn't fix the things that, from a design perspective, are fundamentally flawed with Windows 8.
You don't like it so it's not a good OS... ok gotcha. I'll keep that in mind.
BTW, I run Windows 8 on my main desktop and I wouldn't go back to 7. Now you've come across someone who likes it.
Having said that, I still use it in desktop mode and I use the start screen as a launcher for my desktop applications. But then again: I have the luxury of a 24" monitor, a keyboard and a mouse.
I wouldn't want desktop mode for my Lumia 920. Metro works there just fine.
BTW, I run Windows 8 on my main desktop and I wouldn't go back to 7. Now you've come across someone who likes it."
I was referring to people I actually know (I know about a dozen folks who have tried Windows 8, ranging from barely computer literate to fairly geeky, and none of them have anything positive to say about it for desktop or laptop use). Sales figures back me up - as a whole, people don't want Windows 8. And business won't touch it with a 10 foot pole. And remember I'm speaking generally about trends here - obviously there are some people who like it.
The whole problem with Windows 8 is this: Yes, you can get it to work more or less like Windows 7 (which I did, btw, when I was using it)... BUT, why would you pay money for a new product when all you are going to do with it is install 3rd party workarounds to get it back to what you had before? Memory management is a non-issue for 99% of people running Windows 7, and the idea of Windows being secure is just kind of funny...
There is nothing meaningfully new with Windows 8 that improves its usability or functionality on a desktop compared to Windows 7. And many of the new things Windows 8 brings are related to Metro... and are things you immediately want workarounds for if you are using a desktop.
And yet, the prevailing trend in most comments sections is that the people pointing this out are labeled as either just complaining or as just refusing to try something new.
I don't get it. Windows 8 is not a good OS, and 8.1 doesn't fix the things that, from a design perspective, are fundamentally flawed with Windows 8.
Umm well this is an article for Windows 8 users, believe it or not the OS managed to have a following. I would have rather stayed with Windows 7 or move to Linux but Windows 8 is a product just like anything else so despite it's not a majorly popular OS like Windows 7 or XP is you still have to respect the fact that some users do like this.
I will agree though that some W8 users are pushy when it comes to people who don't like Windows 8. Those people should be ignored anyway, i mean if they can't grasp the problems some users have with Windows 8 (one being Microsoft) then those who do not like the new UI will either be sticking with what they have or move to Linux. Yeah i agree that W8.1 doesn't fix most of the problems or that it continues to remove features that users like so one can only hope that MS will fix it with new Windows or users will stay with XP, Vista or 7.
"I will rather use windows 2000 blah, blah blahblah" Then in 2 months you see those same people talking up win8.1 as the best thing in years.
And yet, the prevailing trend in most comments sections is that the people pointing this out are labeled as either just complaining or as just refusing to try something new.
I don't get it. Windows 8 is not a good OS, and 8.1 doesn't fix the things that, from a design perspective, are fundamentally flawed with Windows 8.
What can I say. I'm 40 years old and I've used every single windows version. I'm tired of people who make win7 to look like winXP or XP to look like win2k.
We all know that 13'' laptops are outselling desktops and tablet form factor is going to outsell 13'' laptops. Win8 is the only OS who can run well on all these platforms and runs extremely well on small screens while my work flow on 24'' screen is not interrupted at all.
I have no idea what people are complying about. I didn't use start button since Vista (just hit win taster and type what you want). I've installed win8 on 4 old computers (two desktops, laptop and HTPC) and had zero problem with it. All I see is a lot of small improvements.
People are acting like Win8 breaks compatibility with earlier versions just because they retired something that should not be in use since vista... Wake up...
I am not a fan of the start screen interface (which really seems to be the only complaint about windows 8), but I have setup my desktop to be much more efficient for me than the Windows 95 start menu ever was. Boot to desktop mode will save me a click, and have my computer ready to use even faster!
I have to agree with this. As fasr as useability for an advanced user, that wants to access control panel and administrator features easily, xp is the best of all the windows OS's, followed by win7. Windows 8 just makes everything more difficult, except for pure application launching.
1 - Boot to desktop (Metro, I don't care)
2 - Search within control folders (I hate trying to find simple functions that are hidden)
3 - Direct access to simple things via start menu
As a side note I am hoping they turn off bugging about the "new apps" that are installed for things like opening files. I'm using the one I want, I don't care about your new apps thanks.