Comment Re:It'll be short-lived (Score 3, Informative) 392
Indeed, and 8.1 IS free to existing users of Windows 8. But it definitely is too big to be considered a service pack, yet also not enough of an update to be considered a proper new version.
One thing that bugs me about Windows 8.1 currently is that there is no legitimate way (to the best of my knowledge) to walk into a computer store and buy a DVD copy of Windows 8.1 (Only Windows 8), or even download the Win8.1 installer or an ISO and burn it to a DVD or flash drive for later use, it's only available though the "Microsoft Store" for immediate installation at the time of download. I fix computers as a side job. What if someone brings a computer that has been upgraded to Win8.1 to me and they need me to do a repair install of the OS? I can't do that without Win8.1 media of some sort, so my only option is a total reformat and reinstall of vanilla Win8, followed by a lengthy update process to Win8.1. There is no way as far as I am aware to slipstream Win8.1 into the ISO for Win8. Plus, there's no guarantee Win8.1 will remain a free update forever, so if Microsoft decides to yank that free update path, then PC techs like me and our customers would be screwed.
One thing that bugs me about Windows 8.1 currently is that there is no legitimate way (to the best of my knowledge) to walk into a computer store and buy a DVD copy of Windows 8.1 (Only Windows 8), or even download the Win8.1 installer or an ISO and burn it to a DVD or flash drive for later use, it's only available though the "Microsoft Store" for immediate installation at the time of download. I fix computers as a side job. What if someone brings a computer that has been upgraded to Win8.1 to me and they need me to do a repair install of the OS? I can't do that without Win8.1 media of some sort, so my only option is a total reformat and reinstall of vanilla Win8, followed by a lengthy update process to Win8.1. There is no way as far as I am aware to slipstream Win8.1 into the ISO for Win8. Plus, there's no guarantee Win8.1 will remain a free update forever, so if Microsoft decides to yank that free update path, then PC techs like me and our customers would be screwed.