Can someone tell me whether it is wise to buy a Windows 8.1 based PC or tablet/laptop now in light of Microsoft’s abandoning that version in a few months?
If you plan on buying a new computer ,wait for the ones with win 10
Depends on your needs. If you need something right now, then it’s probably as good a time as any. Prices are pretty low on decent laptops.
If you’re mostly needing something for internet/email, then a Chromebook might be more suitable.
If you’re needs include having full versions of Office, Wordperfect or other office software, then you’ll want the laptop (stick with Intel Haswell processors for battery life and lower temperature operation)
I’ve read that those with 8.1 will get free upgrades to 10.
I went from W7 to W8.1 - light years improvement in speed and stability!
I have been using 8.1 on five boxes for over a year and am very pleased with it. MS will not be abandoning 8.1. They were even supporting XP until a few months ago. There will probably be a favorable upgrade price for those who want 10.
Seems that their strategy for big successes is to turn out something that nobody wants, or that doesn't work for beans, every other time and then replace it with an improved version of the last good one.
I don't know what 9 would have been like, but 8.1 works good if only it weren't for all the touchscreen emphasis and all the instant connects to places to shop being so readily available. Also gives different versions of Internet Explorer depending on where you start it from. Using the apps link from the "normal" looking screen simplifies things and I imagine a little time would allow one to clean up the unwanted stuff and familiarize enough to become semi-comfortable with 8.1 until the free upgrade to 10 is available.
I'm currently on 7 and will keep it until it dies. I keep considering a move to LINUX but there's still a few issues with some areas of user friendliness lacking and i don't want to study up to become smart enough to handle them.