Fact sheet: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (Preview)

By Mark Kaelin in Windows and Office, August 9, 2013, 7:11 PM // @markwkaelin

Microsoft is preparing to update Windows to version 8.1 and is offering us the chance to preview the changes before it is officially released.

This fact sheet will be continually updated with the latest details as we learn more about Windows 8.1 Preview. You can check back anytime and refresh this article to get the latest updates.

What we know

Prevalent caveat: Microsoft makes a point of offering this warning before you install Windows 8.1: This preview is mainly for experienced PC users, so if you're not sure whether it’s right for you, read the FAQ.
Noteworthy caveat: You are required to have a personal Windows Live account or the enterprise equivalent in order to finish the installation.
Availability: You can download and install the Windows 8.1 Preview from the Windows Store for free. There is also a Windows 8.1 Preview for the Enterprise available for download.
Search integration: Windows 8.1 features a single search feature that will return results for a search from your computer, your applications, and the web.
Updated basic apps: The standard Windows 8 apps are updated and retooled in 8.1, including the mail, photo, people, and calendar.
Cloud storage: SkyDrive is the default location for saving documents as opposed to the C: drive, for example.
Internet Explorer upgrade: With Windows 8.1 you get the updated Internet Explorer 11.
Apps: One of the new apps included with 8.1 is Fresh Paint, an updated and modern interface version of the venerable Paint program.
Search improvements: Besides integrated search, Windows 8.1 also includes several new Bing apps, such as Bing Sports, Bing Travel, and Bing Health & Fitness.
Windows Store: The Windows Store has been redesigned to be simpler to use and to provide you with a better shopping experience. Apps should be easier to discover with 8.1.
Compatibility: Windows 8.1 is completely compatible with all Windows 7 apps, including Office 365.
Adaptable windows: In Windows 8.1, you can have up to four apps on the screen at the same time and you can size and arrange those windows anyway you choose.
Multi-monitor support: Windows 8.1 has a more coherent approach to support for multiple monitors, whether operating in the modern interface or on the traditional desktop.
Across devices: Personal settings for desktop backgrounds, favorites, documents etc. can synchronize across various Windows 8.1 devices.
Social connections: Windows 8.1 Preview expands on the concepts of social connections by integrating social features into Outlook, the Mail app, the People app, and Skype.
BYOD: Coupling 8.1 Preview with Windows Server allows more flexibility when managing personal devices in the enterprise.
Security: Enterprise-grade security is available through enhanced access control, data protection, and encryption.
Connectivity: Windows 8.1 Preview includes several improvements to connectivity, such as enhanced mobile broadband functionality, NFC based tap to pair with enterprise printers, and native Miracast wireless display capabilities.
Annoyances: Many of the complaints about Windows 8 revolve around what I would classify as simply annoying. Windows 8.1 Preview fixes a few of these:

Shutdown/Restart/Sleep: A user can now Shutdown, Restart, or put a PC in Sleep mode from the Desktop by right-clicking the Windows button (where the old Start Button used to be) and navigating to the appropriate menu item. Total number of clicks required for the procedure - two.
All Apps: Users can see all the available apps by clicking the arrow on the Start Screen. (To see the apps in Windows 8 you had to right-click on an empty part of the Start Screen.)

About Mark Kaelin

Mark Kaelin is a CBS Interactive Senior Editor for TechRepublic. He is the host for the Microsoft Windows and Office blog, the Google in the Enterprise blog and the iOS App Builder blog.

20 comments

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carlsf

SORRY Microsoft 8.1??? NOT an option for our business.

If we cannot get and use on install (NOT to purchase another desktop) the Start Button/Menu as in WIN7 then we will be using another O/S.

WIN8 is the most unproductive O/S ever, and in our business we make money being productive not spending hours learning a new O/S or trying ti find how I used to do tasks.

the_tech_mule

Is SkyDrive as the default location for documents true in the Pro and Enterprise versions of 8.1 as well? I know that I can probably redirect manually or via GPO but that's really problematic from a business perspective. As an example, my wife works for a small organization in the mental health field with no internal IT staff and mostly self-service IT support; this could easily cause them a world of hurt if they start storing mental health records in SkyDrive and aren't even aware of it. Of course, it could be said that's their responsibility to know where the files are going. I just hope the installer is making it quite clear that they are going to SkyDrive by default.

sonicsteve

Venerable paint program? Venerable is the last word I would use to describe Windows Paint. Laughable perhaps, useless... definitely. Not venerable.

Venerable;
Accorded a great deal of respect, esp. because of age, wisdom, or character: "a venerable statesman".

It all hinges upon respect, then you loose me from there. Aged is perhaps the kindest thing that could be said of it.

Mark W. Kaelin moderator

@sonicsteve I think you are being a little hard on Paint - it's free and comes with the OS and it does the very basics and it has been around a long time.

That being said, the point is that the Paint that you dislike so much is upgraded with 8.1 - you may find yourself having more respect for it now.

sonicsteve

@Mark W. Kaelin @sonicsteve

Question;

Is the version of Paint in Windows 8.1 called "Fresh Paint"? Has the old version of paint been completely replaced?

sonicsteve

1 Like

@Mark W. Kaelin @sonicsteve

I haven't seen the paint that comes with with Windows 8. I know that the version that comes with Windows 7 isn't terribly capable, the version in XP was really a "why bother?". I say that because the other free options out there GIMP and Paint.net are what would call venerable. MS Paint has none of the hallmarks of a true paint program. I teach digital paint to Junior High students and it would be pointless to teach with MS paint. To this point MS paint could not be described as venerable, perhaps in the future if they actually spend some time on it. Anyone who spends any time at all using digital paint software doesn't give it a second look, therefore it isn't venerable.

meezer

@sonicsteve @Mark W. Kaelin Everybody who needs this type of programming already own a decent one -- Paint is just a waste of diskspace & easily off-loaded. I've still got a full copy of MS Digital Imaging on a Vista desktop & it's still awesomely easy & productive. Too bad it won't read on 8...

Coss71

Win8 on a table is just a big phone that doesn't make calls unless you use Skype. I have a tablet with 8 on it and the more I use it, the more I dislike it. I guess it's just part of MS stumbling block chain (Win ME, DOS 4.0 and a few others). I will stick with Win7 until I'm forced out of it; and there will be a lot of kicking and screaming on my part.

Ronman1961

I am happy with 7! Users just get comfortable with one OS and MS changes it. It sucks for the average user!!

Kenogami

1 Like

I agree, Abbos. I bought a new Toshiba Laptop and decided to go with Win 8. It was a trial at first but I found the apps I needed to get back to the desk top and start button. All works fine now. I almost never go to Metro. Piece of junk. M.S. Outlook does not update itself from Hotmail. Messages will not stay on unless you are signed into something that M.S. took control of. Therefore you never get a message that you received an E-mail or someone is on messenger. Skype has many problems. The only thing right now about Win 8.1 is that everyone at M.S. has their head in the clouds, maybe too many drugs and out of touch with reality. They need to get back to the users not their own ideas.

abbos

Lol.. what an OS:

Adaptable windows: In Windows 8.1, you can have up to four apps on the screen at the same time and you can size and arrange those windows anyway you choose.

For my work I have at least 12 progs and windows open (6 of them nicely arranged, different sizes, on one monitor). So do most of of my collegues. 4????
Our company is not switching to Windows 8 soon. Neither am I.

It is clear that Windows 8 is not for the desktop environment. And cutting down on open windows and programs? Back to the middle ages...

@ Alfred Use Windows 7 and run XP in Virtualbox. Skip 8, that version is not needed..:)

Mark W. Kaelin moderator

@abbos I should have been more clear (I'll edit the FAQ), that is 4 screens in the "modern interface." The desktop operates as it does in Windows 7.

RCawdor

One of the other big features is the check box allowing the PC to boot straight to the desktop. This did not bother me to much in 8, but I realize it was cause of issue for others.

mldennis

Is this different than the previous preview released weeks ago?

alfred

I bought Windows 8 solely for the purpose of getting continued use out of Windows XP which has programs I cannot run under Win 7 or 8. I don't want Bing. I don't use Outlook. I don't want Sky Drive. I don't have or want a Microsoft Account. I have a third party Start button on desktop which works well and makes Win 8 tolerable. What steps can I take to avoid Win 8.1?

cpa

A grand total of 4 windows open at one time? I guess I should be grateful, it's up from 2.... this operating system may actually be usable in real business environments at some point....

IanDSamson

2 Like

I have some issues with Microsoft's "default" settings: firstly what has been discussed below by @DarienHawk67and secondly the Cloud being the default location for saving documents. Users are not aware of interaction between Microsoft and the CIA/FBI and other "intelligence" organizations around the planet who may have clandestine agreements to decrypt user passwords and view user account storage. Always the "conspiracy theorist", I reject their notion of being forced into using their prescribed defaults.

DarienHawk67

1 Like

"Noteworthy caveat: You are required to have a personal Windows Live account or the enterprise equivalent in order to finish the installation."

Not necessarily. If you disconnect or disable the network adapter when setting up Windows 8.1, you can create a standard, local account. A MSFT account is not really required.