Windows 8 Gets A Launch Date: October 26th
by Ryan Smith on July 19, 2012 12:15 AM ESTAfter previously announcing that Windows 8 would have a retail launch sometime in late October, Microsoft has nailed down a final date: Friday, October 26th. The launch on a Friday instead of a Thursday or Sunday is a bit of an odd move, but this is otherwise consistent with Microsoft's previous launches. The only real unknown at this point is when Microsoft will start taking pre-orders - Windows 7 saw fairly early pre-orders as part of a two-week pre-order promotion, but Windows 8's equivalent promotion runs until 2013.
Meanwhile Windows 8 is still on track to RTM in the first week of August, which means the OS will actually be finished within a couple of weeks. Since the Windows 8 Release Preview wasn't technically feature complete and Microsoft still hasn't gone into great detail about Windows 8's new and unnamed desktop visual theme that will be replacing Aero, RTM leaks will likely be our first chance to see the new theme in action.
Source: Microsoft
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Paul Tarnowski - Thursday, July 19, 2012 - link
If I understand it right, the license is down-gradable. So if that is the case I most likely will be using it to upgrade a bunch of XP machines to Windows 7.I would still move personally to Window 8 mostly because I really like some of the under-the-hood changes. I've gotten used to so many changes in computing in the last 20 years that I'm sure I could switch over to the start screen. Besides, it all works a little differently when you have 3 monitors.
GotThumbs - Thursday, July 19, 2012 - link
While you have some good points...You seem to be overlooking the simple fact that Apple is NOT just a software company. They make so much $$$$ selling you their hardware...that a 40.00 upgrade should really be free if stop to think about the total investment you've made using Apple products.
I think the fact that MS is coming out with their own tablet.....speaks to the simple recognition that Apple is making a KILLING by controlling not only the Hardware, but the software and the content access of its secured ecosystem. There is not one orifice that Apple is not squeezing money from its collective. Any company who doesn't see that Apple has successfully captured the interest of consumers who are more than willing to give away their options of choices and competitive market prices....its like Zombie land in real life. The average general consumer is fine having less freedom if its fashionable. How many Apple owners even have a remedial understanding of technology beyond the GUI?
Apple has a cult like following and they have used that power to manipulate its followers to continually buy rehashed units of the same products they already own...for the sake of a camera or a higher resolution screen. Forget the fact that its larger and heverir than its predecessor...and makes a good coffee warmer as well. (IPAD3 for you who haven't a clue)
If the public is willing to assimilate to this kind of controlled/restrictive ecosystem....then why would you not start to follow suit?
When a fool and their money is easily parted....who to you blame? The fool or the person/company taking full advantage of that fool?
GotThumbs - Thursday, July 19, 2012 - link
Actually...I'd say that Apple is NOT a software company at all.You can't buy and use their OS on any hardware other than Apple's. Its in thier licensing.
Hacintoshes are all but gone... except for those few hackers.....and I expect Apple will be more than happy to file suit on them for millions. Try and purchase Apples OS separately and without an ITunes account. You can't.
BSMonitor - Thursday, July 19, 2012 - link
Except that NOTHING productive truly gets done on Android and iOS platforms. Mac OS does charge for their upgrades, but it too is a niche...Microsoft cannot give away the technology that is the backbone for everyone in this generations' computing experience.
Azethoth - Friday, July 20, 2012 - link
Right, nothing truly productive gets done on my iPad.All technical manuals and books I now keep and read only on the iPad do not count for this of course. Especially not the pdf's for obscure or obsolete hardware.
Making doctor appointments and getting prescription refills quickly and accurately with my iOS devices any time of the day: not productive.
Reading AnandTech and Ars Technica at Starbucks so I can keep up with stuff: not productive.
A device that is finally good enough for me to bother with calendar appointments, reminders and electronic todo lists: priceless.
p05esto - Saturday, July 21, 2012 - link
You can CONSUME content, but you can not CREATE content on a tablet. Your idea of productive is making a doctor appt and reading Anandtech, lol. What a bubble head.Belard - Sunday, July 22, 2012 - link
So what? Most of the time... we are NOT creating content.I've posted messages here from my iPad, while laying down on my bed relaxing... even thou my Win8 desktop with quad-core intel, 24" monitor is in the same room.
We use our iPads for business as well, as its much easier to work with than a notebook computer... and we don't need anything more to get the job done.
tablets are simple devices... they don't have the bloat of a desktop OS, they have their place.
bull2760 - Thursday, July 19, 2012 - link
Ignorance is bliss! There is far less hatred than you think, and studies showed Microsoft that the traditional smart button was being used far less in favor of pinning apps to the taskbar. God I'm tired of reading winey little babies cry about the new interface. Hey let's stick with the ISA bus and legacy 16 bit cards too. While your at it lets move back to single core processor since 90% of the software out there can't take advantage of the extra cores anyway. Buy the stock now boys and girls cause Microsoft is gonna start a whole new way we interact with computers and mobile devices.Azethoth - Friday, July 20, 2012 - link
Tell it like it is bull2760. I for one cannot wait for the bloody irritating windows start button to die an unnatural death. What a useless waste of time interface metaphor it is.jnr0077 - Thursday, July 26, 2012 - link
the windows start menu button has allways been there the guy/woman who changed this must have worked on vista aswell and needs sackingwin 8 will fail just like vista :)