Windows 8.1 will be made available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers later this month, ahead of its general release, Microsoft has confirmed.
The software giant came under fire at the end of last month after it emerged that MSDN and TechNet subscribers would have to wait until Windows 8.1 went on general release in October to get access to the operating system.
With previous OS launches, Microsoft has given its Windows releases to the IT pro community ahead of time, usually when it is released to manufacturers, so they can test it, iron out any bugs and check for app compatibility errors.
"In the past, the release to manufacturing (RTM) milestone traditionally meant the software was ready for broader customer use. However, it's clear that times have changed," said Antoine Leblond, corporate vice president of Windows Program Management, in the blog post at the end of August.
As such, Leblond seemed to suggest the onus for ensuring Windows 8.1 works well with the plethora of touch-based devices on the market would be on its OEM partners, rather than its tranche of MSDN and TechNet subscribers.
"While our partners are preparing these exciting new devices, we will continue to work closely with them as we put the finishing touches on Windows 8.1 to ensure a quality experience at general availability on 18 October," he explained.
"This is the day when Windows 8.1 will be broadly available for commercial customers with or without volume licensing agreements, our broad partner ecosystem, subscribers to MSDN and TechNet, as well as consumers."
The move angered MSDN and TechNet members, with many complaining on social networking sites and Microsoft tech forums about the exclusion.
Microsoft holding back the 8.1 RTM from MSDN reminds me of all of the great movies that wouldn't let critics view the film ahead of time.Kendall Miller (@kendallmiller) August 27, 2013
Microsoft is still working on Windows 8.1 bugs, that's why it's not going early to TechNet and MSDN customers. Simple as that.Tom Warren (@tomwarren) August 27, 2013
IzsakSVK, who left a comment on the Microsoft blog post, said the decision made a mockery of the subscription fees the firm's IT pros are forced to cough up to be members of the MSDN programme.
"How are we supposed to test our software for Windows 8.1? The day will be automatically installed on users' machines? So we software developers can take [the] blame that applications don't work on Windows 8.1," he wrote.
However, Microsoft has now backtracked on this decision by confirming in a further blog post that MSDN and TechNet subscribers should receive access to the OS update later this month.
Steve Guggenheimer, Microsoft chief evangelist, said the U-turn was the result of the feedback Microsoft has received in response to the move.
"We heard from you that our decision to not initially release Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM bits was a big challenge for our developer partners as they're readying new Windows 8.1 apps and for IT professionals who are preparing for Windows 8.1 deployments," he wrote.
"We've listened, we value your partnership, and we are adjusting based on your feedback. As we refine our delivery schedules for a more rapid release cadence, we are working on the best way to support early releases to the various audiences within our ecosystem," he added.
*This article was originally published on 27 August, before being updated on 10 September to reflect Microsoft's change of stance.*
