Microsoft will officially debut the new Windows 8.1 OS update on October 18

Sep 30, 2013 21:16 GMT  ·  By

It's October, so Microsoft is now making the final adjustments to Windows 8.1, the OS update that's supposed to refresh the core Windows 8 and give it another chance to succeed.

Windows 8.1 will officially debut on October 18 and will be available as a free download for all Windows 8 adopters, while users of older versions of the operating system will have to either purchase it from retail stores or via Microsoft's page.

Pricing for the new Windows 8.1 will begin at $119.99 (90 Euro), while the Pro version will have a price tag of $199.99 (150 Euro).

As you probably know, Windows 8.1 brings a series of changes, including a new Start button, options to skip the Start screen and boot directly to desktop, more Start screen customization options, Internet Explorer 11, and many others.

Microsoft hasn't yet announced a launch party for Windows 8.1, but expect the company to share more details on this as we get closer to the big unveiling.