Windows 8.1 The Things You Should Know Before You Upgrade

A Whole New Technology for A Whole New World

If you have upgraded your computer to Windows 8.1, you may notice that a few things are different, like the return of a Start button in the lower-left corner and the ability to boot directly into the system’s desktop mode. Along with these and other changes, Microsoft replaced the older Messaging app with Skype, its software for audio, video and text chat.

The Skype service, which the company acquired in 2011, is also built into other Microsoft products like the Xbox One game console and Outlook.com web mail. You can transfer your Messenger contacts list to the newer Skype app by opening Skype and logging in with your Microsoft account. If you are unfamiliar with Skype, a general guide to using it on Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 RT is here.

Windows 8.1 discards other features from previous versions of the operating system, including the Windows Experience Index and the SkyDrive desktop app. Microsoft’s site has an overview of the system and its new features.

Have a happy upgrade!