Microsoft Set to Drop Windows 8.1 for Public Consumption in October

Yesterday, we talked about the new Help & Tips tile that Microsoft is adding to Windows 8.1, and in that post, I suggested that we could see the 8.1 RTM drop in the month ahead. Well, as it turns out, I’m a horrible analyst, as ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley is reporting that mid-October is when it’s expected to happen. Sometimes, Microsoft lets the public opt-in to an upgrade early, foregoing the need to wait for it to hit Windows Update, but it doesn’t look like that will be the case here.

Alongside this final 8.1 release will be unveilings from vendors showing off their latest hardware. We’d expect notebooks will hog most of the limelight here, with convertibles a definite part of the mix.

With a release date of mid-October, Microsoft will have delivered a major OS update within a year of its launch – not too shabby. And from all appearances, this is an update that’s going to be well-worth any Windows 8 user grabbing – especially given it’s free.