The first update for Windows 8.1 is available for downloading from Windows Update. As previously discussed, this update consists mostly of changes to the user interface that should make keyboard/mouse (non-touch) users more comfortable with the O/S. There’s still no actual Start menu, although Microsoft is planning to return that much-missed feature in a future update.

Of particular note is the fact that this update is necessary for access to future updates, starting in May 2014.

Update 2014Apr09: Apparently Microsoft has pulled Windows 8.1 Update 1 from its servers, saying that the update is causing problems with the update system itself, in some cases preventing updated systems from checking for future updates.