Windows 8.1 'Boot to Desktop' Rumor

A Windows 8.1 option to boot to desktop? That seductive rumor has been making the rounds over the weekend. What could be a reflection of wishful thinking, a post at WinBeta (via Neowin), cites a Russian-language Web site as the source. Apparently, there is Windows 8.1 code that disables the Metro Start Screen and sends you "to the desktop automatically."

That is a feature that more than a few Windows 8 users would undoubtedly take advantage of since the tiled Metro screen is of questionable utility for some. Market researcher IDC, among others, has been making the case over the past month or so that this can be confusing to the average consumer, who is not used to a touch-centric Windows interface, and frustrating for more seasoned users who spend all their time in the Windows 7-like desktop mode.