Still, Windows 8.1 remains what it is - a revolution in Windows computing that may not sit well with those aligned with versions pre-dating Windows 8. Notably, it's decisively more reliable than the shipping OS it replaced on my Dell XPS 12 laptop. It's more robust and more customizable than its predecessor, and it hands IT pros some welcome tools to introduce Windows 8.1 into enterprises of all sizes. Windows 8.1 is a clear improvement over Windows 8 in virtually all aspects.
After attending the Microsoft Build conference in late June, I worked with the Windows 8.1 Preview on a trio of machines - a 6-month-old Dell XPS 12 convertible laptop, an 8-inch Acer Iconia W3 tablet and a 10-inch Microsoft Surface tablet - to get a sense of what Microsoft has delivered with this update.
