Why is Microsoft keeping final Windows 8.1 release secret?

For the first time in modern history, Microsoft is releasing a new Windows version that its traditional partners, developers and IT pros, won't get early access to. Why the change in policy? And will this decision backfire?

Windows 8.1 has been released to manufacturing.

OK, technically that’s incorrect. It’s actually been released to manufacturers, as in original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs. But it hasn’t been released to developers and IT pros, as was the case with prior Windows versions.

The initial reaction to the official news, even from normally sympathetic quarters, was scathing.

Why is Microsoft holding the final Windows 8.1 bits close and refusing to share them with its traditional partners?

I don’t know, and Microsoft isn’t saying. When I asked a Microsoft spokesperson for comment, all I got back was this bland non-answer:

"Only sharing RTM code with OEMs is really about optimizing the overall experience for our customers—putting our hardware partners in a position to prepare the variety of new and innovative devices consumers and businesses can expect later this Fall just in time for holiday. While our partners prepare their exciting new devices, we’ll stay close to them and continue to refine Windows 8.1 to ensure a quality experience at general availability for customers on October 18th. This includes commercial customers with or without volume licensing agreements, our broad partner ecosystem, subscribers to MSDN and TechNet as well as consumers."

So what’s the reason? We’ll just have to guess. Here’s my list of possible reasons
.

Read more at: Why is Microsoft keeping the final release of Windows 8.1 secret? | ZDNet
 
If they release it to TechNet and MSDN it will be everywhere in the blink of an eye. It looks like they don't want that to happen. It's going to leak anyway, it just may take a little longer.
I'm thinking that Bluetooth bug may have bit me in the preview release. I had issues with my wireless trackball and WIFI. My WIFI card has Bluetooth baked in it. It that's the case I really hope they have that sorted out. I don't want to have to deal with that again when 8.1 goes final.

EDIT: It sounds like its not actually finished? They are going to tweak it until it actually goes public.
 

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If they release it to TechNet and MSDN it will be everywhere in the blink of an eye. It looks like they don't want that to happen. It's going to leak anyway, it just may take a little longer..

It already has LOL

Interestingly, there are now three indices to choose from... Core Single Language, Core and Pro :dinesh:
 

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If they release it to TechNet and MSDN it will be everywhere in the blink of an eye. It looks like they don't want that to happen. It's going to leak anyway, it just may take a little longer..

It already has LOL

Interestingly, there are now three indices to choose from... Core Single Language, Core and Pro :dinesh:

Didn't take long did it. :) I'm content to wait for it to show up on TechNet. If I didn't have TechNet I'd likely byte now though. ;)
 

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    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
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    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
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    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
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    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
If they release it to TechNet and MSDN it will be everywhere in the blink of an eye. It looks like they don't want that to happen. It's going to leak anyway, it just may take a little longer..

It already has LOL

Interestingly, there are now three indices to choose from... Core Single Language, Core and Pro :dinesh:

Didn't take long did it. :) I'm content to wait for it to show up on TechNet. If I didn't have TechNet I'd likely byte now though. ;)

Agreed.. just a "Preview 2" for further testing:geek:
 

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    16K, 640K max
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    What's that?
    Sound Card
    Not quite
    Screen Resolution
    80 X 24 text
    Hard Drives
    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
If they release it to TechNet and MSDN it will be everywhere in the blink of an eye. It looks like they don't want that to happen. It's going to leak anyway, it just may take a little longer.
I'm thinking that Bluetooth bug may have bit me in the preview release. I had issues with my wireless trackball and WIFI. My WIFI card has Bluetooth baked in it. It that's the case I really hope they have that sorted out. I don't want to have to deal with that again when 8.1 goes final.

As superfly says!

But are Microsoft seriously suggesting that all the minorities connected with the finalising of OEM installations are, across the board, more trustworthy than the TechNet/msdn customers. I would suggest otherwise. The paid up customers have a lot to lose, the oem peasants are anonymous and have nothing to lose. I posed the question on the TechNet forums and am sad to say I got two inane replies (from staff members.)
 

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But are Microsoft seriously suggesting that all the minorities connected with the finalising of OEM installations are, across the board, more trustworthy than the TechNet/msdn customers. I would suggest otherwise. The paid up customers have a lot to lose, the oem peasants are anonymous and have nothing to lose. I posed the question on the TechNet forums and am sad to say I got two inane replies (from staff members.)


Abolutely true.. makes no sense that they would keep the proper ISO from the devs whilst knowing full well they rely on Store development to boost the poor performance of 8..:rolleyes:

Having said that there are some with multiple MSDN subs (one apparently boasted having 20!) thus the majority of fair members pay for the few unscrupulous out there.. :eek:
 

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They're not trying very hard .... I found the leaked 9600 Enterprise ISO in less than 15 minutes.. :p
 

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the poor performance of 8..:rolleyes:


. :eek:

Oh yeah? I found 8 faster than 7 and 8.1 faster than 8. My upgrade license from 7 ultimate to 8 clean install worked OK so I don't think this is unscrupulous. Perhaps but I don't want to discuss it. Certainly 8 is cheaper. 7 Ultimate cost a lot.

EDIT
7 Pro (OEM) to Ultimate - €135
7 Ultimate to 8 Pro - €30
8 Pro to 8.1 - nothing.
 
Last edited:

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Oh yeah? I found 8 faster than 7 and 8.1 faster than 8. My upgrade license from 7 ultimate to 8 clean install worked OK so I don't think this is unscrupulous. Perhaps but I don't want to discuss it. Certainly 8 is cheaper. 7 Ultimate cost a lot.

EDIT
7 Pro (OEM) to Ultimate - €135
7 Ultimate to 8 Pro - €30
8 Pro to 8.1 - nothing.

Seems you don't get my post at all? ..
- poor performance of 8 in terms of user acceptance and sales.. :huh:
(I thought that would have been obvious with my correlation to the need for store app development)

-unscrupulous as in people subscribing to MSDN in order to profit from keys provided..

Hope this makes things clearer.:cool:
 

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    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
the poor performance of 8..:rolleyes:


. :eek:

Oh yeah? I found 8 faster than 7 and 8.1 faster than 8. My upgrade license from 7 ultimate to 8 clean install worked OK so I don't think this is unscrupulous. Perhaps but I don't want to discuss it. Certainly 8 is cheaper. 7 Ultimate cost a lot.

EDIT
7 Pro (OEM) to Ultimate - €135
7 Ultimate to 8 Pro - €30
8 Pro to 8.1 - nothing.

Vista to Vista SP1 - nothing
Vista SP1 to Vista SP2 - nothing
7 to 7 SP1 - nothing

;)
 

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Ahh, no, I didn't. Sorry mate. Guess I replied before turning the old brain on. I picked the wrong part to comment on, please forget it/forgive me.

I'll also use an ISO once I can find one if the upgrade doesn't work. I liked 8.1 though on VHD.
 

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7 Pro (OEM) to Ultimate - €135
7 Ultimate to 8 Pro - €30
8 Pro to 8.1 - nothing.

Vista to Vista SP1 - nothing
Vista SP1 to Vista SP2 - nothing
7 to 7 SP1 - nothing

;)

My point was I had to pay a lot for the English language at 7 (I bought my laptop in France) but at 8 Pro it was included. I'm not complaining - it was only an observation. Office was pretty expensive also - I just feel scared if I don't buy a license to be honest.

Service packs are always free so I don't see your point really in respect to that.
 

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Oh yeah? I found 8 faster than 7 and 8.1 faster than 8. My upgrade license from 7 ultimate to 8 clean install worked OK so I don't think this is unscrupulous. Perhaps but I don't want to discuss it. Certainly 8 is cheaper. 7 Ultimate cost a lot.

EDIT
7 Pro (OEM) to Ultimate - €135
7 Ultimate to 8 Pro - €30
8 Pro to 8.1 - nothing.

Vista to Vista SP1 - nothing
Vista SP1 to Vista SP2 - nothing
7 to 7 SP1 - nothing

;)

The upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1 is not a service pack though. Its an OS upgrade, the kernel version number goes up to 6.3 from 6.2. Windows 7 is 6.1.
 

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The upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1 is not a service pack though. Its an OS upgrade, the kernel version number goes up to 6.3 from 6.2. Windows 7 is 6.1.

I'm going to upgrade for sure - I like it.

I like to be able to boot to desktop.
I like the new app view on the start screen.
I like (a bit) the start screen but only when I'm not working else I'll not see it.
That is it really.

I'd like to clean install but we will see if it will be possible. Sorry if I was going off on a tangent here but I certainly prefer the cheaper upgrades MS seem to be doing now compared to in the past.
 

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The upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1 is not a service pack though. Its an OS upgrade, the kernel version number goes up to 6.3 from 6.2. Windows 7 is 6.1.

Yes, technically is an OS upgrade but 8.1, actually, is nothing more than a SP.
XP SP3, i.e., is a SP but the fact is that it was an OS upgrade

IMHO it's more than a service pack. XP SP3 had the same kernel version as XP with no SP. Windows 2000 was NT 5.0, XP was NT 5.1, Vista was 6.0, Windows 7 was 6.1, and Windows 8 is 6.2. If it was just a service pack the kernel would stay at 6.2.
 

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    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
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    Stock heatsink fan
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    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Ahh, no, I didn't. Sorry mate. Guess I replied before turning the old brain on. I picked the wrong part to comment on, please forget it/forgive me.

I'll also use an ISO once I can find one if the upgrade doesn't work. I liked 8.1 though on VHD.

No prob bud :)
 

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    Intel 8088, 4.77MHz
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    16K, 640K max
    Graphics Card(s)
    What's that?
    Sound Card
    Not quite
    Screen Resolution
    80 X 24 text
    Hard Drives
    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
One of the biggest changes in Windows 8.1 is the move to a new rapid update cadence, with annual updates that introduce new features. That prospect is probably giving enterprise administrators nightmares. It’s causing developers to reach for the Rolaids as well.

Get ready for a bunch of third party vendors to start telling customers "sorry, but we don't support the latest version of Windows 8" when trouble arises from those "annual updates" :huh:

It was already bad enough that they would be too lazy to troubleshoot their own problematic software and just blame Microsoft as a get out of jail card. Now it looks like Microsoft's new update scheme could add firepower to some of these lazy arse tech support centers :mad:
 

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    Custom built by me
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    Haswell i7-4770K
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    Gigabyte G1 Sniper 5 (BIOS F9)
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    Corsair Dominator Platinum 32 gig (1866MHz)
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    RAM Speed: 1866MHZ @ 9-10-10-27-2T, 1.5v
very much clearer
 

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    4.1
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    e4166
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