*Note – This is an opinion piece, not a review. And a short one at that.
I put a poll up last week to see what the regulars who stop by here think. Here are the results (as of this writing):
What is your opinion of Win 8.1 RTM?
No Windows 8 for me. (42%)
Waiting for Oct. 18th. (30%)
Meh. (11%)
It sucks. (9%)
It Rocks. (8%)
(Yes, I am aware this is an unscientific poll.)
Unsurprisingly 42% of you don’t want anything to do with Windows 8. I don’t blame you. Frankly, on the desktop I think Windows 8 is a complete mess and 8.1 does little to fix this.
Metro, Modern UI, Whatchamacallit
I have no use for a user interface designed for touch on my desktop. I find it to be annoying and inefficient. And for all you folks who like to throw around the luddite accusations: different does not equal better.
Apps
I honestly don’t understand apps on a desktop PC. Weather, social media, and news apps are neat but I’ve got better ones on my phone already. Why do I need it on my desktop? Fact is there isn’t a single killer app out there yet.
Start Button
It is a Start Button with no Start Menu. FAIL
Yes, it is nice to be able to shut down from the desktop and default to desktop option is cool. But I can do all those things and more with Start8.
Security
Yippee, Windows Defender finally has NIS. Security Essentials has had this for 3 years.
Windows Experience Index
As I noted in early July, WEI is gone.
No comment from Microsoft on this so far. My only concern is what happens when the system fails to recognize your SSD.
Do they really expect folks to know they have to use the command line?
Internet Explorer 11
Hardly ever use it so I don’t care.
Bing
Because what I really want is web results and ads when I search my PC. :rolleyes:
Thankfully you can disable this. (Search for Search Settings > Search Settings > move Use Bing to search online slider to Off)
Other Stuff
Full breakdown of Windows 8.1 RTM can be found at:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_8#Windows_8.1
Paul Thurrott – Windows 8.1 Review
Conclusion
In the end I will be using Windows 8.1. While it isn’t a must-have it is a must-do. Windows 8.1 contains security, bug, and performance fixes that you’ll want even if you ignore the Metro screen like me. It is the next step in the sideways or even backwards shift that is Windows 8.
P.S.
Dear next Microsoft CEO,
A desktop PC is not a tablet, phone, or phablet.
Thank you!
*edit 1610 hours
I’ve gotten a couple of emails from folks who noticed that my Windows 8.1 RTM is activated (y’all don’t miss much!).
Here is how I did it:
1 – Clean install RTM using install key (available the same place you got the .iso).
2 – Run the following commands from an elevated command prompt ( [ENTER] means press the Enter key ):
slmgr -upk
[ENTER] (this removes the install key)
slmgr -ipk +CDKEY
[ENTER]
(the +CDKEY is your original, legitimate CD Key with dashes. XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX)
slmgr -ato
[ENTER] (this starts online activation)
Thats it!