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Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

blogs.windows.com

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Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#91

Post by pessimizer »

kravlin wrote: post #48
dangrossman wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft has a long history of very poorly chosen names. There are at least 3 other Microsoft Stores -- their chain of retail stores (ala Apple Store), the online version of those stores, their multiple "Microsoft Stores" on the corporate campus that sell Microsoft hardware/software/books/swag to both visitors and employees predating the retail locations, and their employee-only online store.

I remember working with IIS at one point, and an object had a name like "site" then inside of the configuration files you had other "sites" that configured your site. Finding errors for one was incredibly difficult because the other one kept popping up.

.net, anyone?

Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#92

Post by pook1e »

randomfool wrote: post #84
rm999 wrote: post #9

I found this announcement frustrating to read because it contains little useful content. Almost all of it is about how supposedly awesome Windows 8 is and how well it's doing. The relevant part could have been summed up as: there's a free upgrade coming out sometime later this year called Windows 8.1.

Announced at some no-name conference which just happens to be the day before Google I/O. This is just a marketing attempt to get their name in the news when the wave of Google stuff comes out. They like to do this for Apple too, though I never quite understand the point. Stay classy Microsoft.

To be fair, Apple (and I'm sure Google) does this too. There is no doubt in my mind that Apple is going to announce a milestone of it's own tomorrow[0], a day that just happens to be the day of the Google I/O keynote.

[0] https://www.apple.com/itunes/50-billion-app-countdown/

Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#93

Post by illuminate »

eps wrote: post #64
bcoates wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugh. I don't actually miss the onscreen start button (although I can imagine the discoverability hit to casual computer users). I miss the actual start menu , which was vastly more useful than the gimmicky thing they replaced it with.

What does pressing Ctrl-Esc do in W8?

Brings you to the start menu.

Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#94

Post by clauretano »

dangrossman wrote: post #40
Samuel_Michon wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main difference being that in order to get Windows 8.1, you’ll probably need to register a Windows Store account (or whatever it’s called this month).

There are no Windows Store accounts, there's only Microsoft Live ID which you can use to sign in to the PC. You can also run and browse the Windows Store without signing in to a Live ID account, so this may not be the case -- you need an account to buy/download a new app, but probably don't to update Windows.

It's called "Microsoft Account" this month, not Live ID. They push you to create one to sign in on your shiny new Windows 8 computer, putting the button to create a local account in a place most won't ever notice it. If you avoid creating one at that point, you're right --they do let you use the computer and install patches without a Microsoft Account.

Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#95

Post by technoslut »

pook1e wrote: post #92
randomfool wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Announced at some no-name conference which just happens to be the day before Google I/O. This is just a marketing attempt to get their name in the news when the wave of Google stuff comes out. They like to do this for Apple too, though I never quite understand the point. Stay classy Microsoft.

To be fair, Apple (and I'm sure Google) does this too. There is no doubt in my mind that Apple is going to announce a milestone of it's own tomorrow[0], a day that just happens to be the day of the Google I/O keynote. [0] https://www.apple.com/itunes/50-billion-app-countdown/

Apple has done this before announcements (software updates usually) but not regarding iTunes app sales milestones. I'm of the mind that it is a coincidence.

Google's done the same as well after Apple events such as them announcing they would drop h.264 for Chrome which never came to fruition.

Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#96

Post by AlexDanger »

henrikschroder wrote: post #66
acqq wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugly and nonsensical once you're in front of the big screen holding the mouse in the hand.

They put the same interface on Windows Server 2012. Try using that through Remote Desktop Manager running in windowed mode, it'll drive you crazy.

The mind boggles at this choice. Metro is extremely difficult to use over RDP. I'm convinced this must be hurting their Server 2012 sales.

Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#97

Post by billsix »

I frequently hear that 8 should have a start menu, and should be able to boot to desktop. Although I agree, I've found a solution that serves me well.

http://www.classicshell.net gives a start menu, and boots to desktop.

I'm mainly a Linux user, but I upgraded from my xp drive to 8 because the upgrade was only 40 bucks at the time, and I couldn't find a copy of 7 in stores nor online.

With classic shell, I'm content for the limited uses of windows I need. And all of my programs written for xp run correctly, which surprised me.

Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#98

Post by gbaygon »

egeozcan wrote: post #29
rm999 wrote: post #9

I found this announcement frustrating to read because it contains little useful content. Almost all of it is about how supposedly awesome Windows 8 is and how well it's doing. The relevant part could have been summed up as: there's a free upgrade coming out sometime later this year called Windows 8.1.

I fully agree and I couldn't help but add this as the summary of the post ( http://i.imgur.com/Wcw43l4.png ) using tldr.io

Thanks, i didn't know tldr.io

Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#99

Post by MichaelApproved »

nivla wrote: post #87
MichaelApproved wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you speculating or do you know it's being flagged? An alternative could be that only people with low karma are voting it up which is what's keeping it from having more staying power.

Thats news to me. I din't know someone with a higher karma gets a better voting rank. Reminds me of what Digg wanted to achieve and it backfiring.

I think HN uses a weighted Karma system for voting but I don't know for sure. It would make sense to give certain people more weight than others. At least in a primitive way with something like "new user" VS. "trusted user".

Re: Microsoft announces Windows 8.1

#100

Post by malbs »

I'm feeling like the Windows 8.1 upgrade, available on the Windows Store, is just a way to force Windows 8 users to finally register for the Windows Store?

Speaking from personal experience only, I've never used the Windows Store, and I don't know anyone who has.

I'd love to see the numbers of Windows 8 installs vs Windows Store accounts.

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