Windows 8 officially lands 26th October 2012

The Gadget Show  Thursday 19 July 2012

Microsoft Windows 8 will finally be available on 26th October, Microsoft has confirmed. The software and operating system will be available in stores, and for existing Windows users to upgrade from their computer at a lesser cost.

The October date was confirmed by Windows leader Steve Sinofsky at Microsoft’s annual sales meeting.

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And as Microsoft also previously confirmed, current Windows users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 for a lower cost, without the need to purchase a physical copy of the software. Those able to upgrade include those on Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP on a PC.

Non Windows users, and those using versions of Windows not compatible, can purchase a copy of the software outright for a premium price of around £40.

Microsoft promises the transition from existing Windows versions, to Windows 8 will be as smooth as possible, with a Windows 8 assistant wizard part of the package to take users through each step of the way, and let them keep their existing Windows settings and personal files.

The confirmation ends a busy period for Microsoft following Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 announcements, and the unveiling of its brand new Microsoft Surface Tablet, which has still to get a release date and price.

Microsoft hopes Windows 8 will deliver a more universal experience between PCs, tablets, and Windows Phones, eliminating some of the fragmentation that would have otherwise existed. 


Will you be making the Windows 8 upgrade? 



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