<p>Sarah Tew/CNET With the second major revision to Windows 8, somewhat confusingly named Windows 8.1 Update, Microsoft seems to have finally remembered that there are PC users out there who still work with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Not everyone is happily tapping and swiping away at tablet and hybrid screens yet, and the loudest complaints about the OS have been regarding its lack of support for those who use their PCs in a more traditional fashion.</p><p>Windows 8.1, released in October 2013, was a course correction of sorts, walking back some of the more egregious nods to trendy tablet thinking found in the original release of Windows 8, including a limited-use Start button and a search function that no longer required you to search apps, settings, and files separately. Despite these improvements, Windows 8.1 still felt like a one-size-fits-all solution, cramming a slate-style mentality onto every screen.</p><p>With Windows 8.1 Update, you now get a computing environment that feels flexible enough to work on 8-inch tablets as well as 27-inch desktops. Touch is still the preferred input method for working in the tile interface many still call Metro, but at last, mouse and keyboard users aren't completely left out.</p><p>These select features stand out as the highlights of Windows 8.1 Update (read more about the rest of the new features here), and the most likely reasons you'll finally feel OK about upgrading if the somewhat tortured history of Windows 8 has scared you off before now. Screenshot by Sarah Tew/CNET The return of the X-to-close button</p><p><a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-1-update-might-change-your-mind-about-windows-8/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-update-1-tip-take-next-step-modernmix">Windows 8.1 Update 1 Tip: Take the Next Step with ModernMix</a> (Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows)</p><p><a href="http://www.inferse.com/14349/windows-8-1-update-adds-wimboot-now-installation-takes-3gb/">Windows 8.1 Update adds WIMBoot, now Installation takes 3GB only</a> (Inferse)</p><p><a href="http://tehranchronicle.com/windows-8-1-update-start-menu-desktop-launch-new-power-and-search-button/7763/">Windows 8.1 update: Start menu, desktop launch, new power and search button</a> (Tehran Chronicle)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dZUR2AayUNV2KDMabvbVUoxuMZAmM&authuser=0&ned=us">11 additional articles.</a></p>