14 DAY TRIAL // As I’ve told you in our Windows 8.1 review, Microsoft’s new operating system indeed comes with lots of improvements, but the focus seems to have been the Modern UI.
The desktop, on one hand, received only small enhancements, such as options to skip the Start screen and boot directly to the desktop.
Microsoft, on the other hand, says that it also paid particular attention to the desktop when developing Windows 8.1, so you’re now provided with a bunch of new options.
“We did a bunch of work this release for desktops. For example, you can boot directly to desktop now, more than two Windows Store apps can now be snapped side by side on larger screens, and if you right click on the taskbar and go to properties you'll see a host of navigation options to optimize the mouse experience,” a member of the Windows 8.1 team said in an AMA session on Reddit.
While this statement actually includes some features that are more appropriate for the Modern UI, it remains to be seen whether the desktop comes in handier right now after the Windows 8.1 update.