Rumor: Windows 8.1 Coming To The Masses In October
The news about Windows 8.1 has been steadily dribbling out ever since Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talked about it at the BUILD event this summer, but the actual availability of the Windows 8 update has been unknown.
The Verge says that its sources have confirmed that Windows 8.1 won’t be pushed out to consumers until October, which leaves at least a month and a half before the average joe will be able to enjoy the upgrades. This timeline jibes with an earlier report that PC makers will get the RTM (Release to Manufacturing) version this month, which would give manufacturers time to bake in their own drivers before shipping products about the time everyone gets the update.
For as eagerly as the masses are anticipating Windows 8.1, it seems that the update will be something like fool’s gold. Yes, it will bring some welcome enhancements and clean up some of the loose ends from the initial launch (as we discussed at length here), but Windows 8.1 isn’t going to make fans out of haters, and it may not do more than nudge sales upwards for a short time. Windows 8.1 will simply be a slightly better version of what Windows 8 always was.
The Verge says that its sources have confirmed that Windows 8.1 won’t be pushed out to consumers until October, which leaves at least a month and a half before the average joe will be able to enjoy the upgrades. This timeline jibes with an earlier report that PC makers will get the RTM (Release to Manufacturing) version this month, which would give manufacturers time to bake in their own drivers before shipping products about the time everyone gets the update.
For as eagerly as the masses are anticipating Windows 8.1, it seems that the update will be something like fool’s gold. Yes, it will bring some welcome enhancements and clean up some of the loose ends from the initial launch (as we discussed at length here), but Windows 8.1 isn’t going to make fans out of haters, and it may not do more than nudge sales upwards for a short time. Windows 8.1 will simply be a slightly better version of what Windows 8 always was.
