Microsoft has revealed today that MSDN and TechNet subscribers will gain access to Windows 8.1 on October 18, the same day the update is available to everyone. The company addresses the fact that RTM ‘used’ to mean the software was ready for consumer use, but in this day and age it no longer means that.
“…it’s clear that times have changed, with shifts to greater mobility and touch as well as the blurring of work and personal lives. As such, we’ve had to evolve the way we develop and the time in which we deliver to meet customers with the experience they need, want and expect.” Said the blog post. Not only will MSDN and TechNet subcribers have to wait, but volume licenses, broad partner ecosystems and commercial customers will too have to wait for October 18.
This time around, Microsoft are holding back the release for everyone instead of just consumers. Whether this is a good idea we’ll have to wait and see, but it’s clear that Microsoft is confident in their plans to keep the final bits back until October for OEM’s to fine tune their hardware.
Further reading: Microsoft, Windows 8.1
