Windows 8.1 is available now

The usual doomsday privacy extremists coming out of their forum to hijack other threads I see.



It is also one of the MAIN settings you configure when installing Windows/running through first time setup.

 

@elapsed, you just beat me to it. I took the screenie and about to upload

adID was turned off in my PC too. Guess i might have shut it off when i setup my PC and forgot about it.

Anywayz i'm happy untill they provide opt-out for the features like this...

@PoetWarrior, you are welcome!

 

Microsoft Expected to Release Windows 8.1 ISOs This Month

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Micr...ease-Windows-8-1-ISOs-This-Month-396247.shtml

 

I really hope it's true.

 

8.1 for me is probably a bridge too far – at around 3.6GBs (?) for the Store update, this represents a massive download for my internet connection. I have a prepaid mobile broadband service, so in absolute monetary terms such a download would in any case, cost me about $50. Throw in erratic reception (I live in a country area) and even attempting such a huge download would be problematic.

So looks like I'll be stuck with Windows 8 – which is no big deal as I'm quite happy with it (I don't mind Metro – even though updating the Apps can sometimes be a pain in the rear!)

 

Me too. Not having it easily provided didn't sit well with me.

 

Is this a laptop? You could always hitch a ride on some free Wi-Fi at various shops/restaurants. You can also pause and resume the update at a later date.

Maybe sit in a McDonalds parking spot? ^^

You're not alone. Clean install > upgrades.

 

Love your analogy of "a bridge too far" but for me it's not about bandwidth weight or connection speed.

Among other talents i happen to be an avid customizer when it comes to windows. Always have, always will. Restructuring a common dull standard micro release into an advanced modern futuristic computer system is a must! Or i wouldn't even bother with one. Service Pack updates of course displaces and replaces system files and if you ever experimented modifying them to a higher potential then you must know how much time and effort it takes to both beautify and enhance Windows above the way it arrives out of the box.

Concerning 8.1 though, i don't find anything of any real improvement for me from stock 8.0 except they did make it so you can change the user and startup screen images. Something in 8.0 i viewed as ridiculously flawed as well as Adobe Reader where i had to impliment my old v.6 which i favor anyway.

I won't possibly go into the negatives of 8.0 but rather applaud MS in one noticeable and welcome change which is a shocking improvement in an area long sorely missing. STABILITY.

So as for my camp we're quite content to just sit on 8.0 just as it is and pick up all the tips and addons as become available.

EASTER

 

Yep, I have a laptop – but the problematical part is that my downloads can be as erratic as a roller coaster ride - sometimes up to 5MB/s then drop to -1MB/s. So have no idea how long the Store update would take. I'm sure I've seen on WindowsEight forum some users complain about the update dropping out – and having to restart the damn thing. Not something I'd be too happy with!

I find it curious that a Windows 8 Pro upgrade disk pack could be bought for $48 (that's what it cost me) – yet Microsoft is not offering the same option for 8.1. Local retailers are offering the full installation disk pack for around $140 – but I'm noway ready to fork out that sort of money for 8.1.

I'm not sure about sitting in a Mac's carpark for 4-5? hours with my laptop in hand – might get nabbed by the 'blueboys' for suspicious behaviour!

 

Agree with you on that! – I don't see a whole lot in the 8.1 changelog to warrant an urgent upgrade at this stage.
Mind you - I do love shiny new things to play with! But I guess I'll be a fence sitter on this one.

 

Even easier is to enter a fake email address and password. You will then be offered "Continue using my existing account".

 

if you did make a email account you can very easily switch to a local accoutn afterwards also..

 

You can. I did it once and then had to go through the process of removing the Microsoft account and using my local account. Not as easy as not having a Microsoft account in the first place.

 

What I did was click on create Microsoft account and on the next page you're then offered the option to create a local account instead (if you look real close you'll see it...).

Later...