On October 14, 2013 I gave this presentation on Windows 8.1 to the Computer Club of the Sandhills. I have previously presented sessions on Windows 8 Developer Preview and Consumer Preview. The Windows 8 Developer Preview was released at the end of August 2011 (and now officially expired) and the Consumer Preview (Beta) was released on February 29, 2012 (also expired). Windows 8 was released officially on . The update to Windows 8, named 8.1, will be officially and publicly available on Oct. 17, 2013.
I have been using Windows daily since the Developer Release as my principal OS, so for just over two years. I upgraded to the Consumer Preview and then the full release (so called RTM (release to manufacturing) version, not to be confused with Windows RT, the version of Windows 8 for ARM-based tablets).
This Review/Preview presents 8.1 by contrasting it with 8.0, and showing its major new features. For the features of the previous version, Windows 8, please see Jim's Windows 8 Review/Preview.

Index: what is covered in this review
• My Impressions of Windows 8.1
• Windows 8.1 Hardware Requirements
• Windows 8.1 Features
• Windows 8.1 YouTube Videos
• Valuable resource sites
• Windows 8.1 keyboard shortcuts

My Impressions of Windows 8.1
Here are the items that most struck/impressed/confused me about Windows 8.1:
1. The relatively modest hardware requirements remain virtually identical as for Windows 8 (and for that matter Windows 7).
2. Faster boot time (approximately twice as fast to boot as Windows 7) - still!
3. The reduced-instruction set Start Menu(links to Control Panel and such, but not your programs) available if you right-click in the bottom left corner (or use Windows key + X), is now always visible in the Desktop view
4. To see your list of installed apps see all installed apps by using the circled arrow at the bottom left of the Start screen
5. The Start screen allows lots of additional modifications and ease of use features - these do not interest me as I use the Desktop mode almost exclusively
6. You can upgrade from previous versions of Windows 8 easily. The update is free to Windows 8 users and will be available for download Oct. 17th. Most users of Windows 8 will get a prompt about the update. If you can't wait here are instructions on how to update manually.
7. Here is a Cnet.com How-To on upgrading from older versions of Windows to 8.1.

Windows 8.1 Hardware Requirements
The Windows 8.1 works on the same hardware that powers Windows Vista and Windows 7:
• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
• Taking advantage of touch input requires a screen that supports multi-touch
• To run Metro Apps, you need a screen resolution of 1024 X 768 or greater"

Windows 8.1 New Features
• Everything you need to know about the Windows 8.1 rollout, including pricing and availability
• Windows 8.1: The 8 Best Features and Fixes
• Windows 8.1 Review (from theVerge.com)
• Windows 8.1 review: The great compromise
• Comparison Between Windows 7 and Windows 8 Memory Management System

Video Previews of Windows 8.1
• Windows 8.1 Preview Tricks & Tutorial Review - Beginners Video (13 minute Youtube video)
• Hands On: Windows 8.1 Preview - Start Screen, Desktop, Apps (20 minute Youtube video)
• Windows 8.1 Hands On (12 minute Youtube video)
• Hands On: Windows 8.1 RTM - Start Screen, Desktop + MORE (22 minute Youtube video)

Resource sites for Windows 8.1
• Windows 8.1 tips, tricks and secrets
• Everything you need to know about your Windows 8.1 upgrade options
• What's changed in the Windows 8.1 RTM release? [from the Preview release]
• Six awesome built-in Windows utilities
• Windows 8.1, How To Log On Automatically

Windows 8/8.1 keyboard shortcuts
(From 50 Windows 8 tips, tricks and secrets)
• Win : switch between the Start screen and the last-running Metro app
• Win + C : displays the "Charms": the Settings, Devices, Share and Search options
• Win + D : launches the desktop
• Win + E : launches Explorer
• Win + F : opens the File Search pane
• Win + H : opens the Share pane
• Win + I : opens Settings
• Win + K : opens the Devices pane
• Win + L : locks your PC
• Win + M : minimises the current Explorer or Internet Explorer window (works in the full-screen Metro IE, too)
• Win + O : toggles device orientation lock on and off
• Win + P : switch your display to a second display or projector
• Win + Q : open the App Search pane
• Win + R : opens the Run box
• Win + U : open the Ease of Access Centre
• Win + V : cycle through toasts (notifications)
• Win + W : search your system settings (type POWER for links to all power-related options, say)
• Win + X : displays a text menu of useful Windows tools and applets
• Win + Z : displays the right-click context menu when in a full-screen Metro app
• Win + + : launch Magnifier and zoom in
• Win + - : zoom out
• Win + , : Aero peek at the desktop
• Win + Enter : launch Narrator
• Win + PgUp : Move the current Metro screen to the left-hand monitor
• Win + PgDn : Move the current Metro screen to the right-hand monitor
• Win + PrtSc : capture the current screen and save it to your Pictures folder
• Win + Tab : switch between running Metro apps