Windows 8 has been known to have many problems with one of them being the lack of the beloved Start Menu. The lackluster acceptance of the new OS prompted Microsoft to quickly release a major update dubbed Windows 8.1 but things did not change much with the Start Menu (and some other features too) still missing. Now new information on Microsoft plans claims that the Start Menu will come back only in Windows 8.1 Update 3. Yes, there will be such an update.
Earlier this year Microsoft reported that the Start Menu will come back to Windows in the near future and presumably it was supposed to be there in the Windows 8.1 Update 2 scheduled for August/September 2014 but now Microsoft sources close to the project have delayed the Start Menu to Spring 2015 when it should arrive along with Windows 8.1 Update 3. This creates confusion as Windows 9 was supposed to be released in this time frame. In addition to that there’s information that Update 2 will be free for Windows 8.1 Update 1 users and will be sold at an affordable price to all other Windows users. The good news, if true, is that Windows 9 will be free for users who have upgraded to Windows 8.1 Update 3.
Microsoft plans a new major event sometime soon where it will clarify its plans for Windows. Maybe then we will have some more information on what comes after Windows 8.1.
Source: Tom’s Hardware