Operating Systems – Foundations of Modern Computing - Microsoft Windows 8.1

💻 Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2: The Blue Generation Wikipedia excerpts offer comprehensive technical and historical information on two related Microsoft operating systems released in 2013: Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2. The Windows 8.1 article details the consumer-facing OS, explaining its development as the codenamed "Blue" project aimed at addressing criticisms of Windows 8 by reintroducing the visible Start button and enhancing features like the user interface, apps, and OneDrive integration. Concurrently, the Windows Server 2012 R2 source discusses its server-grade counterpart, which is based on the Windows 8.1 codebase and includes server-specific advancements such as improved storage capabilities, advanced PowerShell features, and Hyper-V virtualization enhancements. Outline their respective support lifecycles, noting that extended support for both products concluded around early- to mid-2023, though Windows Server 2012 R2 offers paid extended security updates until 2026. The sources collectively present these two operating systems as a pair of simultaneous updates from Microsoft's 2013 product cycle.