While we admit there is a learning curve for typical desktop use, once you grow accustom to the newly styled start menu, you'll see it's easier to organize your items and find what you're looking for faster than ever before. You'll also begin to see the rest of the changes to the OS are minimal, yet positive.

A 90 day evaluation version of Windows 8.1 Enterprise is available for a free download.  Also, current Windows 8 users can upgrade to 8.1 for free.

The Windows 8 equipped Surface Pro will be available through Microsoft retail stores, Best Buy, and Staples in U.S. and Canada.

If you’ve been considering the move to Windows 8, time is running out.  On February 1 the special introductory offers for Windows 8 upgrades are over, meaning significant price increases for the basic and Pro editions. 

Microsoft is expanding its retail distribution of Surface Tablets to Staples, Best Buy, and possibly Walmart stores, which will give consumers more accessibility to the tablets, as well as boost the moderate initial sales.