News - Windows 8.1 pricing and packaging revealed

[HEXUS]

Microsoft also says you will be able to install Windows 8.1 from scratch.

Read more.

[Daletur328]

Nope!still sticking with Win7.

[mikolaj87]

Nope!still sticking with Win7.

Up! I have to use win 8 in work... Nightmare.

[maverik-sg1]

Difference between pro and standard versions (in terms of feature set)is?

They should of maintained the launch pricing to assist with upgraders.

[ZaO]

What, you could only get Windows 8 via upgrade before? There was never an option to do a clean install without need of a previous ms os installed? This far down the line and Miicrosoft have only just figured out that people actually need that option?

[TheAnimus]

No you could always do a clean install.

The point is that you can go straight to 8.1 (which is a service pack update). Before you'd have to go 8.0 then install the update.

[Phage]

Indeed. My W8 install is a clean one from a downloaded iso, then activated with the key they sent.

[crossy]

The shift to “full version software” for Windows 8.1 will allow “more flexibility for customers in specific technical scenarios and is in response to feedback we’ve received,” wrote Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc. He added that “It will be easier for those consumers who want to build PCs from scratch, run Windows 8.1 in Virtual Machine (VM) environments, or run Windows 8.1 on a second hard drive partition.”

No stupid "OEM" copy - yay! Pricing will be key - at £80 I'd be tempted, at £119 less so.

Less than impressed however with the migration process from Win7 - if that feature that I used to move from XP to 7 is still available ("Windows Easy Transfer") then that'd be my preferred route. Basically, do a WET backup of my 7 user, do a fresh 8.1 install, reinstall my apps, then restore my user.

PS, is it just me or does that second LeBlanc comment scream "Hexus users" at you?

Difference between pro and standard versions (in terms of feature set)is? They should of maintained the launch pricing to assist with upgraders.

Check out Compare Windows 8.1 Editions. Took a good look myself and I can't really see a reason to go for the "Pro" pack at the moment.

[Daletur328]

What is interesting is that, if you wanted to update from Win7. A copy of Win8.0 from main E-Tailers is £60, Win8.1 is then free.
It will be an even better deal if the they do give a "access to a Windows 8.1 ISO" as asked on their Blog, but somehow I doubt this will happen.

[kingpotnoodle]

No you could always do a clean install.

The point is that you can go straight to 8.1 (which is a service pack update). Before you'd have to go 8.0 then install the update.

Typically Microsoft did release "Windows X with SP-n" install ISOs though, each SP release I have gone through the process of logging into Technet or the VL portal and downloading those to update deployment servers for as long as I can remember. It was only people who bought a retail disk who'd really need to reinstall and then download all service packs via Windows update, even then if they knew anyone with a Technet account then they could get the retail ISO that worked with their keys.

[kalen37]

google is your friend
What are the differences between Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise?

Windows 8.1 is the basic edition for home users. It includes the core feature set that home users require but does not include key business features, such as support for the ability to join domains, process Group Policy, and so on. Windows 8.1 Pro is for small- and medium-sized businesses. It provides enhanced features that help to easily connect to company networks, access files on the go, encrypt data, and more. Last, Windows 8.1 Enterprise edition is available through Windows Software Assurance. It includes all the capabilities of Windows 8.1 Pro, plus premium features such as Windows To Go, DirectAccess, BranchCache, AppLocker, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), and Windows 8 app deployment.

[kingpotnoodle]

Compare Windows 8.1 Editions[/URL]. Took a good look myself and I can't really see a reason to go for the "Pro" pack at the moment.

Unless you want to take it into a business environment, join a domain, run Hyper-V locally or use Bitlocker then there isn't much reason to go Pro. The really big omission for a lot of people is Remote Desktop server but there are more alternatives than ever to that now.

There is much to be said for Active Directory domains at home though if you've got multiple Windows machines... Group Policies and centralised authentication are really darn useful. Of course I primarily do it for work related research, the death of Technet subs is annoying in that respect.

[crossy]

There is much to be said for Active Directory domains at home though if you've got multiple Windows machines... Group Policies and centralised authentication are really darn useful. Of course I primarily do it for work related research, the death of Technet subs is annoying in that respect.

The need to have a machine on 24x7 to act as a AD controller (and the cost!) means that's a non-starter for me, respect due if you do it though

Although I guess if I had that then I can also use it for the Linux boxes too (although a "proper" LDAP etc solution would be a heck of a lot easier - and I CAN run that on a very low power device).

Sorry, I'm veering off topic.

Getting back on topic - re Windows 8 DVD and the downloaded SP. In days of yore (i.e. XP) I've generated a slipstream copy of the installation media, by merging the original install and the SP. Is this option no longer available to Windows 8 users?

[SciFi]

I use windows on both my laptop and desktop and love it.. if anything I am pissed that the start button is going to be put back on... hope I can disable it!

[cjs150]

crossy: AD domain at home is something that I could really do with. Multiple windows machines, (vista laptop, w7 desktop, w8 desktop, w8 HTPC) android tablet and a NAS (commercial so probably running some form of linux).

For a simple AD domain to allow roaming profiles I am hoping someone will get Raspberry pi and Samba 4 "plug and play" solution.

[aramil]

Getting back on topic - re Windows 8 DVD and the downloaded SP. In days of yore (i.e. XP) I've generated a slipstream copy of the installation media, by merging the original install and the SP. Is this option no longer available to Windows 8 users?

I have slipstreamed WMC and relavent updates onto a windows 8 pro iso. Depends how 8.1 is actually sent out. As a SP or a full ISO.