Microsoft’s new OS, the Windows 8.1 is gearing up for launch on October 17th and it comes with quite a lot of new features, changes to existing features in Windows 8.1 and also improvements and bug fixes. The final version has already been RTMed and now available to MSDN and Technet users for download. For users with Windows 8, they get the Windows 8.1 upgrade free of cost. In case you do not have Windows 8, you can buy Windows 8.1 for starting at $119.99 and Windows 8.1 Pro at $199.99. These pricing are for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 users who did not upgrade to Windows 8 yet.
Apart from this Windows 8.1 OEM users who buy PCs later this year can also upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro using the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack for $99.99, which will add support for all the Pro-specific features, plus Windows Media Center. Users running Windows 8.1 Pro will be able to buy Windows Media Center as an add-on for $9.99.
Windows 8.1 will be available in four flavours- Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows 8.1 Enterprise. These versions get different features based on their editions. Microsoft has provided with a chart which details all the features of Windows 8.1 which are available to all editions. These features are divided into user experience, apps, security, devices and peripherals, system, management and networking.
