So Long Windows 8.1 - An End of Support Retrospective

Currently using Android on my smart phone & notebook but not Windows. Very happy with them for many years.

Maybe we should switch to Linux a derivative of Unix.Unfortunately not many users/programming have software available for Linux.

My best version of Windows is version 7 Ultimate 64 bits all later versions sucks as far as I have . Don't break it if is not broken. There are many angry users around the world that are disappointing after using even Windows 10/11 including myself.

Oh no :(

As a “experienced” windows 8.1 user… I seem to remember booting it up one day and seeing the start menu had a power button. Can anyone explain why that was there?

Good bloody riddance.

I just found the windows 8.1 pro disc😂

i was fallen in love when i was a windows user long long times ago, actually windows 8.1 was the best version of windows forever but Microsoft kill it.

What they should’ve done is add the giant tiles as an icon replacement and let you scroll through the desktop itself.. seems kind of like a no duh looking back at it. Like widgetfy the icons and make them useful for once

I had 8.1 for like a week on a laptop i brought and hated it soon as 10 came out did the upgrade day 1

Surprised to hear you didn't use Start8 or Classic Shell or w/e

hi after work today my system was like: windows needs an update so I closed the internet (I use Firefox) then a pop up came on with: Microsoft has ended support for your system this is the last Firefox update for security you'll receive I tried 10 when they released that but I didn't like it since like you said it's main use was for touch screen only you also said they won't support/protect you from viruses right? (I know nothing about computers only from the little with friends and some from my dad and his dad) that would be bad if my pictures got stolen from my computer ugh 😑 idk

Im dualbooting windows 10 and windows 8.1

8.1 was everything. Everyone didnt like it but i loved it. It ran so smooth, felt like the best os ever.

Win 8.1 is the best Windows I've worked with
Win 10 is the worst

Tbh having Windows 8.1 is a lot better if you have a projector

Also, to add to all this...Steam will stop working on Windows 8.1 in 165 days. It says that in a red background at the top of the Steam app. so that means on 01/01/24 Steam won't run if you have 8.1!!

Windows 8.1 didnt actually end support of windows there just to scare you

Doodle Do, That Was Fun!

there is a windows 8.1 product trailer mode during the setup screen
home 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
pro XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

Children run windows 11, men run windows 10, legends run windows xp
(joke)

I have so much memories of using windows 8.1 9 years ago

i think my window vista and window 8.1 too

bro my windows 7 still can use and still support!

There was a lot of good in Windows 8 and personally I feel if they made the following tweaks to make it both desktop and tablet friendly it would've taken off.

1.) Detect if the device is touch screen on boot and if it is then boot to the full screen start menu, otherwise stick to the desktop, still give people the option to change this, but I feel that would've made things easier.
2.) On the discussion of adjustments upon detection of a touch screen, use that info to either have Metro Apps boot in full screen or in windowed mode on the desktop (like they do in Windows 10)
Note: I do see this being an issue for Surface tablets as they came with keyboards, so perhaps detect if there is a keyboard on the device instead?
3.) Remove charms bar entirely and keep the start menu button on the bottom left for desktop users.
4.) Complete migration to new UI
Note: This is an issue with Windows today, I feel if they switched everything over people would've gotten used to it quicker and moved on, kind of like ripping off a bandaid.
5.) Don't hide power options for anyone, that's just dumb, I don't even like how my iPhone does that (sorry I'm one of those Apple losers, but I used to be a PC person pre Apple Silicon)
6.) Instead of Home vs Pro, do personal vs corporate and here is what I mean (they could keep the same marketing and names)
Windows 8 should've had two versions, a home user version (Home) and a corporate version (Pro). Pro keeps the same UI as Windows 7 for the sake of simplicity while Home can have the new UI.
7.) Further integration with Windows and Android phones
Apple already had iMessage and FaceTime on their Macs, why didn't Microsoft have messaging for their phones (Skype was on both) at this time. Would've helped push their WIndows Phone line up (not saying it have saved it, but it would've made sense, at this point I'd argue Windows Phone was still salvageable) and WIndows Corporate (Pro) wouldn't need any of this stuff.
8.) Don't call it 8, call it Windows. I know this seems trivial but I really think Microsoft should stop making new versions of Windows and simply update what is already there. When it comes to large adjustments release and charge for a service pack. I think it also help with marketing as it could be seen as just Windows from now on, not a version they could skip, perhaps that's a bit dirty.
9.) Bring in Cortana, I know people will hate this, but Siri is on iPhones, iPads and Macs, bring Cortana out with the release of Windows 8 and have it work like Siri, where I can just go "hey Cortana" rather than need to hit a stupid ugly button.
10.) Drop Internet Explorer, I don't care if they released a Chromium based version and still called it Internet Explorer or put something like Firefox, just drop Internet Explorer.

Those are the ten things I think Microsoft could've done to make this a very successful operating system. Windows 8 did have a lot of great things, but it felt like a half baked cake. Sure the frosting was good, but the rest of it was just an absolute mess.

I think I am one of the very few people that actually loved the interface of this era of Windows. Had a windows phone at the same time and it all felt so connected, so beautiful. I really do miss this.

Win 8/8.1: BOO! YOU STINK!!

Its really sad i grew up with windows 8.1 and i loved the operating system

10% still using Windows 7🤣

I miss the overall layout of this OS... much better than W10, 11 and even 7/XP... if anyone knows how to at least replicate the windows styles let me know!

i miss windows 8.1...

I was the BEST

The only thing worse than Windows 8.x was Server 2012! Especially if you were using Windows 8
The reason for this is that if you were using remote desktop to access Server 2012 and then needed to logoff or restart the server, you inevitably, did it to your workstation because of the that bottom left corner nightmare to get the start menu, etc. First thing we did was upgrade every 2012 server to the R2 release as soon as it was out...and then again to Server 2016
Desktops were downgraded to Win7 until Win10 was released

writing this comment through windows 8.1

love it

still better than windows 10

I'm still running windows 8.1 .. I know it has always got a lot of hate, but I enjoy it. Suppose I've just gotten used it it... I remember updrading to windows 10 the week it came out in 2015, absolutely hated it and downgraded back to 8.1 (with classic shell) where I have been since.

i KINDA remember this. my sister had an asus laptop for over 5 years (i think) and i would see this, im gonna use windows 8

Bro this is not a macbook pro this is a HP

I used windows 8.1 from 2015 all the way until 2020

Im still using it today. i5 4670k.
There is no was. It still runs perfect. Zero Windows updates.
Raid 0 on 2x Seagate Pipelines. No need to worry about UEFI with option roms.

Shutdown button is shown on start menu in windows 8.1 with some updates

Best windows ever

R. I. P. 8.1
10 years,
2013-2023
=‘’’’’(

I hate windows

alt+f4=shutdown what era are you from? lol

Windows 8.1 is the simplest OS Micro$oft made, unfortunately it was abandoned and switched to this bug garbage W10, which I had a lof of pain trying to make this thing work for my necessities. Now we have W11, a OS which only improvement is ADS, buggy explorer, BSOD, crashes and new ways of telemetry as it's antecessor, of course there's good things, but for me is just the theme.

i love windows 8.1 on my pentium

i don't like this Operating System same as Windows 11

personally i dont really use windows 8.1 fanymore but i really do love its aspect and design