Report says an update to Windows 8.1 could come as early as March

REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Microsoft's next update of Windows 8.1 could be released as early as March 11 and may include changes to let it run on cheaper tablets, tech watchers say.

Microsoft has been said to be working on memory and disk space requirements for to allow it to operate smoothly on cheaper small tablets, ZDNet reported Friday.

Among the update's tweaks will be the ability to pin thumbnail previews of Metro-style/Windows Store apps to desktop task bars

The rumored return of the classic Start menu apparently won't be part of the update, ZDNet said, but could arrive in a second update within the next 12 months, or next year when Microsoft releases a major update to Windows currently code-named "Threshold."

The original 8.1 update was seen as an attempt to respond to consumers' weak response to Windows 8, which underwhelmed the Windows faithful, who complained of the missing Start Button as well as constantly having to switch interfaces between Metro and the ordinary desktop.