Windows 8.1 is finally here

It's been a long time coming, but Microsoft has finally released the update to Windows 8.

Among other fixes, Windows 8.1 is aiming to address the frustration many users of the (relatively) new OS expressed when confronted with the start screen or the disappearance of the start button. The patch will return a start button of sorts to its normal place and allow users to boot directly to the desktop if they so choose, as well as disable a number of touch centric options like corner swiping.

Other improvements that 8.1 brings include increased customization options for the start screen and more ways of sorting apps, easier multitasking with up to four (subject to screen size) programs or apps run side by side in re-sizable segments, and improved search functionality with Bing search fully integrated into the OS.

The update is available for free to Windows 8 users, and can be found by following the link below. The process can take a while though as it involves downloading over 3.6 GB of data. Upgrading from any other version of Windows costs the same as buying a copy off the shelf – US$120 for the standard version, and US$200 for Windows 8.1 Pro.

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