Windows 8.1 Update 1...

...looks rather interesting. Apparently it is just really a cosmetic update, but with the bonus of reduced memory footprint...

Is that the only changes? I grabbed it but will probably wait til April 8.

In reference to winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-update-1-hits-rtm:

Improvements to the non-touch experience. This is the context menu on Start stuff that I think is so awful (because it's inconsistent) and it "follows the customer satisfaction data" that Belfiore mentioned at the press event.

More hardware options. "We knew that we needed to give our [hardware maker] partners more flexibility, in particular to reach low price points." I wrote about this previous to MWC in Report: Microsoft to Drop Windows Licensing Fees for Low-End Devices. Two things are changing: the price of licensing Windows, where devices that cost less than $250 will have much cheaper licensing, and the "flexibility" of licensing Windows, where hardware makers who do play in that low-end pricing category no longer need to partake in the Windows logo program.

Improved compatibility for education and enterprise. Customers in these segments "are looking for improved management and better compatibility with legacy web sites.

In addition to these changes, Belfiore said that Windows 8.1 Update 1 will include more discoverable Search, Power and Settings on the Start screen, and easy (Modern) app launching and switching from the desktop-based taskbar. It will now support a new low-end range of hardware�key for hitting those price points�where devices have just 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of onboard storage, which is pretty much where the Android and iOS devices start, of course. And Internet Explorer 11 is being updated with an IE 8 compatibility mode so that recalcitrant enterprises can upgrade.

There is also (and you'll be so excited about this) : A new way of closing apps!

Spill the beans then.

Why not just install the update?

Read a few articles about the Update since reading this and apparently there is a pretty strict install order. Its not long to wait until April and I cant seem to find a definitive order.

One way http://www.extremetech.com/computing/178091-how-to-d...

More info http://bav0.com/get-windows-8-1-1-through-windows-up...

I'm not surprised you haven't, given it says you may brick your Windows system!

Edited by deleted (Sat 08-Mar-14 20:52:54)

What about patch Tuesday, will it effect those updates next week?

Probably, they'll be out on April 8th for real.

I'm amused to see that they have introduced a power-off button on the Start Screen. What's wrong with just pressing the on/off button on the computer itself?

How would you sleep using the on/off button?

Quite a few computer cases don't have an "easy to access" power button like on my Antec P180 (i.e. you need to open the front door to get to the power and reset buttons).

I switch it on by hitting a key on the keyboard too.

To sleep on a laptop you just close the lid. On a desktop sleep is unnecessary with Windows 8.1. Alternatively, set a suitable timeout so that the computer sleeps automatically.

And that is why there's a power off button on the Start screen
Also comes in handy for a reboot.
The Update 1 is mainly for for non-touch PC's.

Apparently you right-click over an app, and you get extra options, one of which is to close it!

Revolutionary!

There is no real reason for getting it now - Microsoft pull the "unoffically offical" update (and various source that now host it may not have left the files alone...). Wait 'til April and then let the fun begin!

Because the on/off button may not be set to switch the computer off...

Or it may not be accessible.

Edited by deleted (Sun 09-Mar-14 11:37:19)

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

Because the on/off button may not be set to switch the computer off...

Or it may not be accessible.

You definitely have aroblem if you don't know how to configure it.

I am equally bemused as to why anyone buys a computer with an inaccessible power button.

In reply to a post by AEP:

I am equally bemused as to why anyone buys a computer with an inaccessible power button.

Where's the power button on an iPad?

On the right-hand side. Not that I've managed to get Windows 8 to run on my iPad.

That's doesn't power the iPad off.

Perhaps its a company computer ?

It does mine.

It does mine. But it's still irrelevant as I've never heard of anyone running Windows 8 on an iPad. Maybe you know better?

In reply to a post by AEP:

It does mine.

Oh really, does the Home button "power" it on again?

No. The power button powers it on again. (Surprisingly logical.)

I read a report in a PC Mag last month that made the statement that "W8 was similar to the Vista of old and W9 (out next year) was the equivalent of W7. Back to a better OS that was far more familiar for the user".

Seems like people power has worked again. Don't try and change something that works (for the sake of change) just improve upon it!

But the problem is this:

Google's Android and Apple iOS are offering simpler experiences for the masses, and Windows is getting left in the dust.

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

Quite a few computer cases don't have an "easy to access" power button like on my Antec P180 (i.e. you need to open the front door to get to the power and reset buttons).

I switch it on by hitting a key on the keyboard too.

Same here my case not Antec has a door hiding the power button.

If you can switch it on from the keyboard, can't you switch it off the same way? My keyboard has a button that let's me switch the PC off (but not one that switches it on), but I find the button on the computer itself more convenient.

I guess they've added the button to the Start Screen due to customer demand. The fact is some maybe most people use their Windows PC in exactly the same way they always did regardless of version, and are unwilling to change.

I guess you're right. That's what I'm doing.

No power buttons on my keyboard, the mobo simply does an ACPI power on when any keyboard press is detected. I have no difficulty at the moment shutting down via charm > settings > power, but the added option may save me a click.

My old keyboard had a power button. It was handy.

Never tried it, but if you power off via the button too much, won't that eventually trash Windows? All the way back to W95 we've been told that it's harmful not to power down via the menus. The screens when you switch on again have become increasingly less scary (my W7 laptop gives me a black screen with various nice options) but I seem to remember a BSOD way back if you dared to touch the power button to switch off (W98?)

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

I have no difficulty at the moment shutting down via charm > settings > power,

I always find trying to access charms to be a bit hit/miss!

I have to vaguely roam the cursor somewhere in the top r/h corner &, if I'm lucky, the so-called charms may pop up - certainly it is not sufficiently reliable to consider using it as a proper facility!

No. That was true in the days of 95, but the power button on a modern computer doesn't just break the power supply. It sends a shutdown signal to the OS- exactly the same as selecting "Shutdown" from a menu.

Ironic that to install it on a machine with 1gb Ram and a 16gb HDD (older UMPC's and the like) you have to first install the original version that won't install on a machine with those specifications!
I'd be interested when they release a standalone version.

As the update hasn't been officially released, it's hardly ironic. TBH, I would have thought that people with those specifications would want to run the 32-bit version anyway.

I presume Microsoft dont fix the specifications until near release time...

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

There is also (and you'll be so excited about this) : A new way of closing apps!

Apps can now also run inside a window if so desired gaining the usual menus icons.

In reply to a post by Andrue:

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

There is also (and you'll be so excited about this) : A new way of closing apps!

Apps can now also run inside a window if so desired gaining the usual menus icons.

Excellent!

I get fed up with having to close down an App, simply because I want to quickly check something like emails!

Excellent. Another right click option?

Edited by Banger (Wed 12-Mar-14 20:54:49)

Ok so nowt on telly so I installed the update. How does one window apps such as calendar to the desktop?

Right click on the icon on the start screen and you should have the option to pin to the task bar

Not able to resize the window? Only split screen and full from taskbar?

I admit it has my interest.

so I read these 2 articles

http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/what-heck-happenin...
http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-update-...

Basically that guy is moaning that microsoft are improving the desktop experience and have realised that the desktop user still has relevance.

I hope the media are not all like him as they may push microsoft to ignore the desktop again.

I think I will be sticking win 8.1 on a spare rig now to give it a 2nd chance and see what this update 1 brings to the table as well.

To me I have always seen some merits in metro. I see the metro screen as a excellent idle screen. As it can show all sorts of useful info on the live tiles, and some metro based apps are useful such as netflix.

But my issue has always been that the desktop felt like a hack job on the win8 RTM and I was seeing too many bugs, performane issues in my testing but I will give it a 2nd chance now.

adding a power button was the sane thing to do, windows 8 seems to be improving by judgement of these articles I am reading.

if its like the win7 power button then the software power button will be easily reconfigurable and even able to do any one of 4 functions on each use.

shut down
restart
sleep
hibernate

and possibly unique to win8 as it has extra uefi functions
reboot to bios
fast reboot

unless someone has 6 physical power buttons they cant do all this

Microsoft won't ignore the desktop experience any time soon and even if they did, it is still many years ahead of any competition (yes that includes linux and mac) in its sheer usability functionality.

I certainly hope they don't ignore it any time soon anyway!

Not sure what you mean about bugs and performance issues with the RTM... I didn't see any tbh, the start button is a welcome addition for some in 8.1. It doesn't affect me really as I always went right into the corner anyway (how you're supposed to do it - simple ergonomics).

Edited by Pipexer (Tue 25-Mar-14 22:11:07)