Windows 8 Release Preview

[idi banashapan]

good OS, bad OS, good OS, bad OS... it's the microsoft way! I look forward to Windows 9!

[Ken W]

Microsoft have announced Windows 8 in October 2012.

[LSainsbury]

Originally Posted by Ken W

Microsoft have announced Windows 8 in October 2012.

RTM in August actually.

Folks with Technet subs should be able to get their hands on it soon after...

Download / burn to DVD and then have a ritual burning at the stake of said DVD as an offering to the gods.

Goodbye Windows 8 - burn baby burn!!

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

RTM in August actually.

Folks with Technet subs should be able to get their hands on it soon after...

Download / burn to DVD and then have a ritual burning at the stake of said DVD as an offering to the gods.

Goodbye Windows 8 - burn baby burn!!

Excellent

[SnoopZ]

There is no way i am trading in my £45 full version of Windows 7 for Windows 8! I will buy it if they do it for £45 on pre order again though.

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

RTM in August actually.

Folks with Technet subs should be able to get their hands on it soon after...

Download / burn to DVD and then have a ritual burning at the stake of said DVD as an offering to the gods.

Goodbye Windows 8 - burn baby burn!!

I meant it will be available for the general retail market in October, as you sayTechnet subscribers and OEMs will get their hands on it earlier.

[AdamD]

I think Microsoft knows it won't be a popular OS, they're apparently planning a special offer for upgrade editions, which would make it cheap as chips

http://arstechnica.com/information-t...per-than-ever/
and
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b...for-39-99.aspx

We set out to make it as easy as possible for everyone to upgrade to Windows 8. Starting at general availability, if your PC is running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 you will qualify to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99

That way, loads of people will upgrade and Microsoft will turn around and say "It was our best selling operating system so far!", even if people end up hating it, hehe

[Russ]

People tend not to take to change very well so I can see initial uptake being slow but I reckon most people will eventually come around to 8.

Incidentally I found this bit interesting...

In Windows 8, the Media Center product is separate from the main operating system, and buyers of new systems will have to pay for it. Anyone upgrading with this promotion will, however, be able to install the Media Center add-on for free, avoiding the forfeiture of features that they currently use.

Does anyone really use the Media Centre to the extent that its loss will be awkward? I'm guessing there most be some people who consider it essential but I've never found it to have much point. I use WMP for most video clips/files and iTunes for my music. Not really interested in any other media functions.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Russ

Does anyone really use the Media Centre to the extent that its loss will be awkward? I'm guessing there most be some people who consider it essential but I've never found it to have much point. I use WMP for most video clips/files and iTunes for my music. Not really interested in any other media functions.

I, and a few friends do..

I use Windows Media Center to watch TV while I am working on the PC. The DTV stick I have does come with some software but it's absolutely awful, and has a strictly limited number of activations. Which I have probably exceeded over the years.

Incidentally, why do companies do that to software you need to run their devices? You can't use this software without the provided DTV stick, (which is what the company make the profit on), so having a limited number of activations seems silly.

On a side note, at work, we used to use proper broadcast quality video capture cards in our PCs. We also had a specific video editing program that would not work without one of these cards being present. As such, the card was essentially acting as a dongle that cost nearly £5,000. The software still needed activating though.

Anyhow, I digress.

I don't use WMC for anything else, but I know a few people who do use it to run their living room HTPCs, as the UI is a lot nicer than that provided by a lot of smart TVs and dedicated media players.

[tizmeinnit]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I, and a few friends do..

I use Windows Media Center to watch TV while I am working on the PC. The DTV stick I have does come with some software but it's absolutely awful, and has a strictly limited number of activations. Which I have probably exceeded over the years.

Incidentally, why do companies do that to software you need to run their devices? You can't use this software without the provided DTV stick, (which is what the company make the profit on), so having a limited number of activations seems silly.

On a side note, at work, we used to use proper broadcast quality video capture cards in our PCs. We also had a specific video editing program that would not work without one of these cards being present. As such, the card was essentially acting as a dongle that cost nearly £5,000. The software still needed activating though.

Anyhow, I digress.

I don't use WMC for anything else, but I know a few people who do use it to run their living room HTPCs, as the UI is a lot nicer than that provided by a lot of smart TVs and dedicated media players.

but you do have choice at least . Boxee for example or XBMC both come a long way over the years edit looks like boxee is no longer on the pc?

[carlwaring]

I certainly won't be upgrading as 8 doesn't seem to do much more than 7 and I don't have a tablet/touch-screen so Metro will be less than useless

[dilligaf1701]

I'm definitely getting it as the accessibility seems to actually be decent

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by tizmeinnit

but you do have choice at least . Boxee for example or XBMC both come a long way over the years edit looks like boxee is no longer on the pc?

True, although I don't believe either are an option for me, as I need the DTV stuff that I know that (at least) XBMC can't offer on Windows.

[bonzoe]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

I certainly won't be upgrading as 8 doesn't seem to do much more than 7 and I don't have a tablet/touch-screen so Metro will be less than useless

I'll second that

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by bonzoe

I'll second that

I have just seen what Carl wrote and for the first time EVER i have had to agree with him