DailyTech - Windows 8.1 Will Be Free; Microsoft Holds Onto Struggling ARM Variant
At JP Morgan & Chase Comp.'s (JPM) Media and Telecom conference today Windows chief financial officer Tami Reller confirmed rumors that the upcoming OS, codenamed Windows Blue, would be christened "Windows 8.1".
More importantly, the update -- which reportedly will allow users to boot to desktop, return some semblance of the Start button (albeit one that dumps users into Metro), and include better mouse support in Metro -- will be offered for free to Windows 8 customers. The update will be distributed via the Windows Store.
OEMs are hopeful the update will revive floundering PC sales. Q1 2013 marked the worse percentage drop in PC unit sales in history.
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At JP Morgan & Chase Comp.'s (JPM) Media and Telecom conference today Windows chief financial officer Tami Reller confirmed rumors that the upcoming OS, codenamed Windows Blue, would be christened "Windows 8.1".
More importantly, the update -- which reportedly will allow users to boot to desktop, return some semblance of the Start button (albeit one that dumps users into Metro), and include better mouse support in Metro -- will be offered for free to Windows 8 customers. The update will be distributed via the Windows Store.
OEMs are hopeful the update will revive floundering PC sales. Q1 2013 marked the worse percentage drop in PC unit sales in history.