Windows 8 was released just more than a year ago, evoking a collective groan from IT professionals and users alike. While much of the rumbling was due to the restyling of the interface, there were several outright bugs.

Microsoft has announced a new version of Windows 8, cleverly dubbed Windows 8.1, due next month. While many organizations have resisted taking the leap to Windows 8, it is apparent that Windows 8.1 will be a viable platform, ready for adoption by all.

The biggest complaint about Windows 8 was that the most basic components of the interface changed. In fact, most complaints were about old features that were eliminated (or masked) as opposed to the new features that were added.

Of course, we are talking about the elimination of the "start menu" and replacement of it with the "start screen." This is somewhat humorous, given the old joke that "only Microsoft would have you go the ‘start’ menu to shut down your computer."

This probably would have been a reasonable change if Microsoft had provided a way to still use the old start menu. After all, many of the functions of the old start menu are still accessible by using the "windows-X" or "windows-W" key combinations. Bowing to pressure, Microsoft has announced that the start menu will reappear in Windows 8.1, dashing the get-rich-quick hopes of many software developers who came up with alternatives.

In fact, whether in classic Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, there are many ways to customize the interface to look similar to Windows 7 or even Windows XP. While this is fine for the individual user, it can be a pain in the okole for larger organizations to propagate these changes to hundreds or even thousands of computers. As such, many businesses and government agencies have stayed away from Windows 8.

Regardless, Microsoft and its hardware partners have been force-feeding us Windows 8, making it difficult to buy the latest hardware with Windows 7 loaded. Windows 8.1, however, is a free upgrade, akin to a major service pack. If history repeats itself, it should be a relatively simple upgrade. If, however, you are doing more than a handful of upgrades, you might want to hold off any purchases until 8.1 is actually shipping, pre-loaded.

With all the hubbub regarding Windows 8, one thing has been overlooked. Most software applications developed for Windows 7 run on Windows 8 with no issues! Coupled with "compatibility mode," a feature that allows applications specifically designed for older versions of Windows to run under Windows 8, this eliminates one of the major concerns when upgrading operating systems.

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John Agsalud is an IT expert with more than 20 years of information technology experience. Reach him at john­agsalud@yahoo.com.