Windows 8 To Be Released In October 2012

[george]

Windows 8 goes to manufacturers in August, will ship in October

It's the first time Microsoft gives the official shipping date for its new OS

Windows 8, the next major upgrade of Microsoft's operating system for PCs, tablets and laptops, will be released to manufacturers in August and will ship commercially in October, the company announced on Monday.

Microsoft had previously said that the OS would be commercially available before the end of the year but hadn't given a firm shipping date.

When Windows 8 is released to manufacturers (RTM), Microsoft will also activate the Windows Store and start charging for applications, which during the test period have been free, the company announced at its Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto.

In a keynote appearance at the conference, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that this is "an epic year" for Microsoft because of all the new product upgrades it's delivering, in particular Windows 8, which he called "the biggest deal for our company in at least 17 years."

Windows 8 will hit its RTM milestone in early August and will begin shipping commercially in late October, according to Microsoft. Those dates apply not only to the Windows 8 version for x86 chips from AMD and Intel, but also for Windows RT, the Windows 8 version that will run on ARM-based devices. Windows RT will ship embedded with its devices, which will be made by Microsoft and third-party hardware partners. It will not be sold as a stand-alone OS like Windows 8 for x86.

At the time of commercial availability, Windows 8 will also be available for upgrades for people with PCs running Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP. Microsoft has already provided details about upgrade options and prices.

Enterprise customers who participate in the Software Assurance program will get access to Windows 8 as early as August via download, according to Microsoft.

The RTM and shipping dates didn't come as a surprise to at least two analysts.

"The dates are where we would expect them to be," said IDC analyst Al Gillen. "Microsoft had to hit an August RTM for Windows 8 devices to be ready for the holiday shopping season."

Gillen doesn't expect enterprises to rush to adopt Windows 8, primarily because most enterprises have either recently migrated or are in the midst of migrating to Windows 7.

It will be a different story in the consumer market, where makers of PCs, laptops and tablets will quickly adopt Windows 8, making it difficult for individual buyers to find a Windows 7 machine in a matter of months after the new OS becomes available, he said.

Michael Silver, a Gartner analyst, also said the milestone dates are in line with his expectations, and that he doesn't see CIOs and IT managers hurrying to roll out Windows 8 to their users.

Full story: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9228925/Windows_8_goes_to_manufacturers_in_August_will_ship_in_October

[woodyleonhard]

I predict that IDC will change its tune shortly after Win8 ships.

This is malarkey: "It will be a different story in the consumer market, where makers of PCs, laptops and tablets will quickly adopt Windows 8, making it difficult for individual buyers to find a Windows 7 machine in a matter of months after the new OS becomes available, he said."

[thaimite]

If you find a copy of Windows 7, will your Secure Boot Motherboard permit it to be installed?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

If you find a copy of Windows 7, will your Secure Boot Motherboard permit it to be installed?

Yes, secure boot can be disabled. Do note that this is a hardware thing, delivered by the manufacturer of your PC or other device; most hardware will allow you to disable it, but ultimately it depends on the hardware.

[thaimite]

If you find a copy of Windows 7, will your Secure Boot Motherboard permit it to be installed?

Yes, secure boot can be disabled. Do note that this is a hardware thing, delivered by the manufacturer of your PC or other device; most hardware will allow you to disable it, but ultimately it depends on the hardware.

Exactly

[hml367]

If you find a copy of Windows 7, will your Secure Boot Motherboard permit it to be installed?

Yes, secure boot can be disabled. Do note that this is a hardware thing, delivered by the manufacturer of your PC or other device; most hardware will allow you to disable it, but ultimately it depends on the hardware.

That will ruin the day for some Windows bashers.

MSPain

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Another comment though is that Windows 8 may refer to both the next version of traditional x86 windows, but also the RT-only tablets.

I would expect to be able to boot a different operating system on an x86 device if that was my choice, but not in an RT-only tablet per se. This would be the same as for Apple, who allow you to dual-boot Windows on a MacOS computer but who do not allow for anything else on their tablets (and phones).

As for microsoft's own x86 'Surface' tablet, I think it's anyone's guess which way they will go with secure boot.. As the whole point of their own hardware seems to be to make it fit Windows 8 as tightly as possible, completely 'as intended' to run Win 8 with as much secutity and a minimum of other distractions and bloatware, it may be that it is not (easily) disabled on that particular device. Wait and see, I suppose.

But the likes of Acer, ASUS and most other manufacturers would be nuts to pass on the market share that comes from allowing other operating systems. Not to mention the preferred Asian business model of being able to cut a couple thousand baht off the selling price by offering it 'without OS', or with some Linux or Android based OS as a fig leaf to hide everyone's understanding that users in Asia will proceed to load a less genuine version of Windows, often before leaving the store.