Windows 8.1 is available by request for people with university-owned, touch-screen monitors, all-in-one desktop computers, tablets, and laptops. The campus standard will continue to be Windows 7 for traditional desktop and laptops.
This decision is the result of extensive testing and collaboration with college and department technology professionals on campus. Windows 8.1 does not offer significant benefits except for certain touch-screen scenarios. While the campus standard will remain Windows 7 for now, OTS will continue to work with campus partners to evaluate and consider Windows 10, expected sometime in 2015.
There are self-help documents for Windows 8.1 available at http://www.towson.edu/otstraining.
As always, the new operating system will be evaluated and tested to ensure its compatibility with campus hardware, software, and enterprise systems before any decisions are made to use it as our standard operating system. Usability and compatibility with our university products and services is very important.
OTS will send out further announcements about Windows 10 when a more definite launch date is known. For additional questions or concerns, please email Julie Leary at jleary@towson.edu.
