As diferenças descritas aqui são diferenças entre 8.1 e 8.1 Atualização 1 .
1:
In Windows 8.1, you can bypass the Start screen (and Modern UI altogether) by delving into the taskbar settings and configuring this option. Windows 8.1 Update 1 does this automatically on devices without touchscreens
2:
Windows 8 Update 1 provides a more cogent -- and conventional -- solution. Modern UI apps now have a title bar that appears when you move the cursor to the top of the screen. The bar has Close and Minimize buttons, as well as split left/right options to snap the app to one side of the screen
3:
The top-right corner of the Windows 8 Update 1 Start screen sports two new buttons: Search and Power Options.
Para obter informações do MS sobre como determinar se a atualização está instalada e como instalá-la, estão disponíveis aqui: Instale a última atualização do Windows 8.1
To check if the update is already installed, go to the Start screen. If you see a Search button near your account name at the top of the Start screen, you already have the update.