Took the plunge and accepted the incredible free offer to upgrade online. Would be nicer as mentioned to do this via ISO, just in case you have to re-do (heaven forbid) everything %^&!@#. But, I was lucky the second time around. When you're told you can do something else, no time limit is given, and if you stray away for too long (as if I know how long I was away), I returned to see a screen informing me it was rolling back to Windows 8. As stated, second time I was busy doing other things, but kept an eye out on screen messages. Seems 8.1 also includes IE11 (small surprise). As I customized 8 to give me that XP look and feel, there was added tinkering as well. Kind of like when you have two browsers, and the default browser gets dumped, you have to upgrade the preferences. Added work, but ya should not complain when you're given a FREE upgrade (if you believe you're time is not worth something), Mindblower! 
"For the needy, not the greedy"
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I have two machines that I have installed win 8.1 on via the download. The biggest thing for me was the amount of time the download takes. I don't have a real fast internet, but it worked.
I know o/s upgrades are large in size, but just how fast/slow is you ip? I max out at just over 1 M/s with cable. Used be to around 350kbs with telephone line, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
Mindblower said
Took the plunge and accepted the incredible free offer to upgrade online. Would be nicer as mentioned to do this via ISO, just in case you have to re-do (heaven forbid) everything %^&!@#.
Mindblower!
Instructions for downloading a Win 8.1 ISO at:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/overcome-windows-8-1-upgrade-errors-with-a-legal-iso-download/
Let us know how it works out! 
Thanks jayesstee for the link. I'll share it with others and when I upgrade my other computer, give you feedback, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
It should be noted that installing from this ISO requires a genuine Windows 8.1 product key... a Windows 8 product key will not be accepted.
Thanks for the heads up Jim. BTW, would you or anyone else know how to get the Windows 8.1 key, if they purchased and have a valid Windows 8.0 key? Find it very odd to try and solve a problem by creating a problem, since the upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1 is free, or supposed to be free, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
As far as I know MB, there is no way to get a Windows 8.1 key from the free upgrade situation. I am assuming the original Windows 8 key carries over.
MS have not released an official upgrade ISO for Windows 8.1 so, although the little trick mentioned by JST will get you a Windows 8.1 ISO, that ISO is for clean installs only, requiring a genuine Windows 8.1 product key.
Hope that makes sense,
Cheers... Jim
Jim Hillier said
It should be noted that installing from this ISO requires a genuine Windows 8.1 product key... a Windows 8 product key will not be accepted.
I've been back and read all the comments on the page that I provided a link to in my #4 above.
The suggestion is that it will work with the key from a "retail" version of Win 8.0, but not with the key from an "pre-installed" or "OEM" copy.
I have both, but I am not in a hurry to up grade to 8.1. If and when I do, I will report back.
Anyway, sorry about the duff info. In future, if I post untried info, I will add a suitable disclaimer. 
No problem JST. I suspect the answer might lay somewhere in between.
I am just working off user comments as well. From what I've read, I'm pretty sure the 8.1 ISO requires a genuine Windows 8.1 product key if the original Windows 8 installation was an upgrade from a previous version of Windows, and perhaps including OEM too.
You may well be correct about it working with a Windows 8 retail key.
Cheers mate... Jim
Ideally, the 8.1 ISO should be able to do an install on a clean PC, and accept the 8.0/8.1 keys, since it's given FREE to registered 8.0 users. Anyone wishing to start from scratch, with less file clutter should be given this option, IMHO, but just maybe Microsoft, will see this too, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
Ideally, the 8.1 ISO should be able to do an install on a clean PC, and accept the 8.0/8.1 keys
Agreed, but unfortunately that's not the way an "upgrade" works MB, never has. An upgrade installation needs to 'see' an existing Windows operating system and associated genuine product key or it won't work. The difference with previous upgrades is that they were paid for and so came with a new product key. On the other hand, the Windows 8.1 upgrade was free and new product keys were not issued.
There have been a lot of complaints about MS not providing an official Windows 8.1 ISO. and with good reason. What about users such as myself who installed Windows 8 on multiple machines (3 in my case). The lack of any official ISO meant I was forced to download the full Windows 8.1 three times over, separately for each machine. Not good!!
Cheers mate... Jim
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A ISO would have been helpful. Had to download the 8 to 8.1 from the apps store for both of my machines. Had to reset my accounts but never had to input the product key, I guess it reads the product key that was used when windows 8 was installed. Running windows 8.1 on both machines now. Even got the latest KB2919355 update. Can't say it really helped much since I was already booting to the desktop.
Agreed, and agreed.
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If you are running windows 8 you can download the 8.1 update from the apps store. In this case the 8.1 update will install with very little input, it will even keep your files and programs but backup just in case. If you are running something other than windows 8 then you will have to purchase the 8.1 DVD with the product key or find a copy of a windows 8 upgrade DVD and upgrade from XP, Vista or Win7. That was cheaper for me than buying the 8.1 pro version. Getting hard to find the windows 8 pro upgrade. Hope this helps. Daniel.
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