Windows 8 To RTM In August, Retail In October
by Ryan Smith on July 9, 2012 9:15 PM ESTOn the heels of last week’s announcement of Microsoft’s promotional Windows 8 upgrade pricing, Microsoft has announced a tentative delivery schedule for Windows 8 today at their Worldwide Partner Conference
As it currently stands Microsoft is on track to have Windows 8 reach Release To Manufacturing (RTM) in the first week of August. Retail availability will follow in turn in late October, in order to give Microsoft time to certify additional language packs and to give OEMs time to prepare Windows 8 systems. Unsurprisingly this roughly parallels Windows 7’s release schedule, which saw it go RTM in late July and hit retail in late October, which ended up working out rather well for Microsoft and their partners.
As for those of you on the inside track looking to test Windows 8, while Microsoft hasn’t announced the complete release plans for MSDN and TechNet, Enterprise Software Assurance customers are being told that they’ll have access as early as August. MSDN, TechNet, and Software Assurance typically receive software at roughly the same time, and the release of Windows 8 is widely expected to be similar.
Source: Microsoft
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Pirks - Monday, July 9, 2012 - link
My crapware loaded Sony Vaio S is begging for W8Pro upgrade, need Bitlocker too (corporate policy) and getting all that goodness for just $39.99? WHERE DO I SIGN UP?!Here I come baby! Time to learn some new kbd shortcuts to navigate myself around Metro.
Come on MSDN, spill it already! Can't wait.
buzznut - Monday, July 9, 2012 - link
I'm not that excited but I am looking forward to this. I find Metro to be mostly useless, but it doesn't bother me either.inighthawki - Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - link
After using windows 8 for a few weeks now, I can honestly say I believe it's an upgrade in almost every way.On the desktop, metro does feel a little less useful than it could be, but the desktop is still there, and the lack of a start menu is barely an issue. Right clicking where the start menu used to be brings up the power list of commonly accessed places such as computer, control panel, etc.
And running programs through the start screen doesn't feel nearly as intrusive as I once suspected. In fact, the start screen is so fast, smooth, and responsive, it's far easier to hit the windows key, type the first few letters of the app, and hit enter than it has been on previous versions of windows.
My only real worry so far is the lack of aero, I do really like the theme. Oh well, shouldn't be too hard to find a hack after release that re-enables transparency.
Makaveli - Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - link
Wake me up when you can find the goddamn shutdown button.So I don't have to go searching thru multiple menu's just to find the control panel.
I don't know about you guys but I like being able to have multiple windows open and still being able to use the start button while having it all on screen at the same time.
I'm going to pass on windows 8 and stick to 7.
I've ran all releases of 8 so far and that disjointed feeling of flipping back and forth between metro hasn't left.
Like that feeling you get of the room spinning after having to many drinks just to hit your bed and to try and sleep it off. Then you wake up an hour later and your still spinning.
crispbp04 - Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - link
your resistance is futile. Do a google/bing search if you're having issues with simple tasks. Alt+F4 on the desktop still brings up the shutdown menu. If that isn't enough for you, move your mouse to the bottom right or top right, go to settings on the sidebar, and click on the power buttonMakaveli - Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - link
i'm not going to google search it I'm just not going to use windows 8 problem solved.I've seen all these work arounds and why should I have to do all that shit just to do simple task that I can do in 7.
I check back to see what windows 9 has to offer until then i'm happy to stay in 7.
Lord 666 - Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - link
I'm waiting for crisp to suggest you open up a powershell console and enter some obscure command lines to get to the control panel.inighthawki - Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - link
Going to the charms menu is not "a work around." There are like a dozen ways u can shut down your PC but the two easiest in 8 would likely be the charms>settings menu or just ctrl+alt+del and click the power icon in the corner.B3an - Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - link
Right click where the Start menu used to be > Control Panel. By right clicking there a new menu pops up with many common tasks, it has more than the Start menu ever had. Or use CTRL + X. Cant get any easier.TRY READING UP ON THINGS before making even more stupid complaints. Always the same with you idiots when it takes a few mins to look this stuff up on Google and you'll NEVER have to learn it again.
Almost all the complaints about Win 8 are like this when theres a simple quick way to it but the idiot user is too lazy to learn anything new.
yyrkoon - Thursday, July 12, 2012 - link
I know right ? As if ALT + F4 is too complicated, And has been in every version of windows since . . . well I dont even remember it has been so long. I am thinking Win95, but I could be wrong.It just sounds as if to me this person needs to actually learn how to use his operating system. Then I half expected some Ubuntu/Linux rant in there as well . . .