Thursday, October 25th 2012
Windows 8 Arrives
Microsoft Corp. today announced the global availability of its popular Windows operating system, Windows 8. Beginning Friday, Oct. 26, consumers and businesses worldwide will be able to experience all that Windows 8 has to offer, including a beautiful new user interface and a wide range of applications with the grand opening of the Windows Store. As a result of close work with hardware partners, more than 1,000 certified PCs and tablets, including Microsoft Surface, will be available for the launch of Windows 8 - making it the best lineup of PCs ever across the Windows 8 and Windows RT ecosystem.
"We have reimagined Windows and the result is a stunning lineup of new PCs," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "Windows 8 brings together the best of the PC and the tablet. It works perfect for work and play and it is alive with your world. Every one of our customers will find a PC that they will absolutely love."
Windows 8 will be available for download to upgrade existing PCs in more than 140 markets and 37 languages at www.windows.com/buy beginning at 12:01 a.m. local time and at retail locations around the world. At retail, Windows 8 will be available in two primary versions - Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro - as well as Windows 8 Enterprise for large organizations. Launching at the same time is a new member of the Windows family - Windows RT - designed for ARM-based tablets and available pre-installed on new devices. In addition to Microsoft Office 2013, Windows RT is designed exclusively for apps in the new Windows Store. Windows 8 features the new fast and fluid Start screen that gives people one-click access to the apps and content they care most about. It also features an entirely new Internet Explorer 10 that is perfect for touch, and built-in cloud capabilities with SkyDrive.
Windows 8 can be purchased in a variety of ways from the world's leading retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy and Staples in the U.S., Casas Bahia in Brazil, Future Shop and Staples in Canada, Suning in China, Media Markt across Europe, FNAC in France, Yamada in Japan, Telmex in Mexico, Dixons in the U.K., and many more, which will feature a variety of offers for customers looking for great deals on Windows 8 PCs, devices and software. Consumers can go to www.windows.com/shop to learn about the large array of Windows 8 devices available and find the one that best fits their needs. More information on the great offers around the world is available at www.blogs.windows.com/.
In addition to the range of new Windows-based devices available, consumers can also upgrade their existing PCs. Through the end of January, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 are qualified to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$39.99. And eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between June 2, 2012, and Jan. 31, 2013, in more than 140 markets can download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$14.99 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/.
"We have reimagined Windows and the result is a stunning lineup of new PCs," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "Windows 8 brings together the best of the PC and the tablet. It works perfect for work and play and it is alive with your world. Every one of our customers will find a PC that they will absolutely love."
Windows 8 can be purchased in a variety of ways from the world's leading retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy and Staples in the U.S., Casas Bahia in Brazil, Future Shop and Staples in Canada, Suning in China, Media Markt across Europe, FNAC in France, Yamada in Japan, Telmex in Mexico, Dixons in the U.K., and many more, which will feature a variety of offers for customers looking for great deals on Windows 8 PCs, devices and software. Consumers can go to www.windows.com/shop to learn about the large array of Windows 8 devices available and find the one that best fits their needs. More information on the great offers around the world is available at www.blogs.windows.com/.
In addition to the range of new Windows-based devices available, consumers can also upgrade their existing PCs. Through the end of January, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 are qualified to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$39.99. And eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between June 2, 2012, and Jan. 31, 2013, in more than 140 markets can download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$14.99 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/.
67 Comments on Windows 8 Arrives
An OS with a backdoor kill switch; no thank you.
This announcement couldn't possibly be anymore underwhelming.
And kill switches? Ever heard of Apple iOS or Google Android? Those have kill switches and we entrust those devices to call 911 when we need them to.
to all the windows vista/8 haters, . . . . . . . its not windows me at least
not giving a blue screen when I unplug my keyboard or hit the damn power button to turn off the computer if scandisk did not start
Now im going to have to troll through event log just because some retarded people can't cope with all that info and need their screen to be filled with a bloody huge sadface!
Besides officially speaking the benchmarks on Windows 7 and Windows 8 are very little in difference for desktop PCs and all Windows 8 is a real benefit to is laptops and tablets more than they are to desktop PCs which a lot of users on here tend to use.
Make no mistakes Windows 8 is an improvement and is essentially a better version of Windows 8, although are some questionable features which works out being 'backwards' and a new unwanted issue overall; and also most on here have worked out getting the first release OS isn't the best idea if you want the best from Windows 8 or any Windows OS for that matter.
98SE
Windows 7
Horrible OS
ME
Vista
"Every one of our customers will find a PC that they will absolutely love."
hard to believe this quote
It is not the right of a service provider or my government to invade my property or privacy.
Perhaps all of that doesn't matter to most people as long as they continue to obtain cool, new technology...
also, windows 8 is the best microsoft os since windows 7 sp1 :)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20072497
Some answers... I laughed my ass off... Balmer is a joke... we need Bill back...
Windows XP wasn't good?
Vista wasn't a step in the right direction (You wouldn't have 7 if Vista didn't exist) ?
Windows 8 is a great OS. Try it for a significant amount of time before giving a horrible uneducated response to one of the biggest OS releases in the PC world. Windows 8 isn't just the desktop OS. It's the ecosystem it coexists with, its the Xbox 360 console that millions of people own across the globe, and lets not forget about Windows Phone 8.
This is an awesome time to be enthused about Microsoft. If you don't see it, you're BLIND.
I'm not saying everyone should ditch 7 and go for 8. I'm not saying that at all (That would be dumb).
What I'm saying is, look at the big picture.
When you see it, you'll see why this OS is very important for Microsoft, developers, and users. It's a pretty big deal.
Anyway personally, i don't like the style, but oh well.