End of support for Windows 8.1 was yesterday...

Simply as an observation, Microsoft has ended support for Windows 8.1 (without Update 1) just a few weeks after it has ended support for 12+ years old Windows XP, and roughly six years, at least, earlier than it will end support for Windows 7. That's all.

 

I just feel like Windows 8s OS wise is meant to make me sad sometimes...

 

Sometimes I feel as if there's just a monkey pulling "EOL" levers ever once in a while. Nobody at Microsoft wants to make any decision or take any responsibility so they just let this monkey pull the levers.

 

Then they should have called it Windows 8.2

Beamed from my G2 Tricorder

 

My only observation toward this is with all those market share databases look how many are even just on the older 8.0 let alone 8.1. Seems a bit odd at the least. Maybe WinRT machines are getting their numbers in there too?

 

OK, i'm a bit confused. So does this mean no more patches or does this indicate that all development has stopped and no 8.1.2? :hi2:

 

It means that to get continuing updates to Windows 8.1, you need to install Update 1 (i.e., your free updates must be done in a particular order, and one of those updates is mandatory). Not quite the same thing as XP, where support ended for an entire product and you had to buy a new product to get support.

Everything I've seen suggests that Windows 8.1 Update 2 is still on track for a September release. On May 19, 2014, for example, TechRadar had this to say about the product Nadella first teased in April:

Windows 8.1 Update 2 rumored for September 9 launch | News | TechRadar

 

OK thanks for the clarification. I did update#1 offline after I downloaded a total of 6 patches and did them in a certain order. I'm currently using the UEFI feature on my desktop and it does seem to make it boot a little quicker.

 

I know, right?

I guess monkeys only know how to pull levers, and not assign OS versions.

The fact M$ ended 8.1.0 support is not surprising. Its more of a business move so their engineers don't have to account for 8.1.0 compatibility when updating other modules, nor do 3rd party developers need to consider 8.1.0 in their compatibility requirements anymore.

 

What are you guys talking about?
Mainstream support ends 1/9/2018.
Extended support ends 1/10/20/23.

Microsoft Product Lifecycle Search

 

Microsoft will not provide any additional updates for Windows 8.1 without update 1 installed.

Black Tuesday toll: Microsoft drops Windows 8.1 support; XP hack still works | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld
Microsoft Ends Windows 8.1 Support, Windows 8.1 Update Mandatory Starting Today
Windows 8.1 users won't receive any more patches unless spring update is installed | PCWorld

Let's hope they reduce confusion and release Windows 9 sooner than later and in a clean package that doesn't alienate their core user base.

 

Thanks HTWingNut, I definitely was among the confused.

 

Well, we can always hope, against all hope...

 

Exactly. There's a big difference between (1) a company no longer supporting a product, and (2) a company continuing to support a product, but free updates B, C, D, etc to that product require the installation of free update A.