[DJGM]

Today, Microsoft have officially announced that Windows 8 has been finalised, and is now "Release To Manfacturing".

Here are the official dates for developers and others to get early download access to the finalised Windows 8
software before it hits the retail channels with it's general public release coming up on Friday 26th October.


August 15th: Developers will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 via your MSDN subs.
August 15th: IT professionals testing Windows 8 in organizations will be able to access the final
version of Windows 8 through your TechNet subs.

August 16th: Customers with existing Microsoft Software Assurance for Windows will be able to
download Windows 8 Enterprise edition through the Volume License Service Center (VLSC),
allowing you to test, pilot and begin adopting Windows 8 Enterprise within your organization.
August 16th: Microsoft Partner Network members will have access to Windows 8.

August 20th: Microsoft Action Pack Providers (MAPS) receive access to Windows 8.

September 1st: Volume License customers without Software Assurance will be able
to purchase Windows 8 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers.

WindowsTeamBlog.com - Windows 8 has reached the RTM milestone.
Neowin.net - Microsoft confirms Windows 8 has hit RTM.

[whoever,hey]

Bring on August 15th for free w8 time

[James2001]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

Bring on August 15th for free w8 time

Well, I can't see how people will be willing to pay for it!

[anniebrion]

Originally Posted by James2001

Well, I can't see how people will be willing to pay for it!

I will be paying for it on Oct 26th and will be getting a surface pro if the price is right, when they come out!

[davethorp]

Shouldn't take that long to manufacture the required 4 copies should it?

[wavy-davy]

They'd need to pay me to ditch W7 in favour of this heap of tablet obsessed junk.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by James2001

Well, I can't see how people will be willing to pay for it!

I shall be buying a Surface however.

[Kal_El]

I hear they are likely to be very expensive. I quite fancy one though.

[The Rat]

As someone who people here on DS have described as a Microsoft fanboy, I can honestly say this is the first version of Windows for a very long time that I have little interest in in any way shape or form (I have previously been critical at this stage, but always been interested). Pity really.

Dave

[Stig]

Originally Posted by wavy-davy

They'd need to pay me to ditch W7 in favour of this heap of tablet obsessed junk.

Wow, if anyone thought the Vista hate was bad, this takes it to a whole new level.

At this point it wouldn't matter if Windows 8 was brilliant; a vocal minority have decided it's rubbish.

[Neda_Turk]

Originally Posted by davethorp

Shouldn't take that long to manufacture the required 4 copies should it?

I think they will get left with it if they massively over-stock like that!

[wavy-davy]

Originally Posted by Stig

Wow, if anyone thought the Vista hate was bad, this takes it to a whole new level.

At this point it wouldn't matter if Windows 8 was brilliant; a vocal minority have decided it's rubbish.

At least Vista had some worthwhile improvements over XP like much better security and a more attractive desktop experience.

For the average desktop/laptop user running Windows 7 i would expect upgrading to Windows 8 is about as attractive as eating a curry prepared by Danielle Lloyd.

[Neda_Turk]

Originally Posted by Kal_El

I hear they are likely to be very expensive. I quite fancy one though.

I agree! they really do think that everyone is a gadget obsessed moron with an I-phone. (Or the like)

Children like big brightly coloured plastic buttons and that is all this version is. Teenies with touch-screen gadgets is all it's suitable for.

It's not for the serious computer user over 25.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by Neda_Turk

It's not for the serious computer user over 25.

I've not been complemented like that for a long time.

Do you think only casual under 25 year olds buy ipads then?

[TheBigM]

Originally Posted by wavy-davy

At least Vista had some worthwhile improvements over XP like much better security and a more attractive desktop experience.

For the average desktop/laptop user running Windows 7 i would expect upgrading to Windows 8 is about as attractive as eating a curry prepared by Danielle Lloyd.

Then you're ill-informed. Windows 8 has plenty of improvements in the desktop experience compared to Windows 7 especially for businesses.

[cnbcwatcher]

Originally Posted by wavy-davy

At least Vista had some worthwhile improvements over XP like much better security and a more attractive desktop experience.

For the average desktop/laptop user running Windows 7 i would expect upgrading to Windows 8 is about as attractive as eating a curry prepared by Danielle Lloyd.

.....

[sy278]

I have tried W8 a few times already and its bloody awful. It could be good but needs an option to disable the tablet based interface so you can use a standard desktop on laptops and desktop PCs.

[tghe-retford]

Originally Posted by sy278

I have tried W8 a few times already and its bloody awful. It could be good but needs an option to disable the tablet based interface so you can use a standard desktop on laptops and desktop PCs.

Not going to happen - the tablet market is growing whilst the desktop and laptop market is shrinking. If anything, should there be a Windows 9 in future, I would hazard a guess they'll shift more towards ARM based tablets and eventually drop the standard desktop/laptop interface. Apple has also recognised this and is going the same way. Even Linux desktop environments are experimenting with tablet version of DE's, even though thanks to Microsoft, any Windows 8+ ARM tablet will not allow LInux to be installed on it thanks to secure boot.

[TheBigM]

Originally Posted by sy278

I have tried W8 a few times already and its bloody awful. It could be good but needs an option to disable the tablet based interface so you can use a standard desktop on laptops and desktop PCs.

There is a standard desktop in Windows 8 and it's pretty easy to stay inside that and avoid Metro for the most part if you want to.

[The Rat]

Originally Posted by tghe-retford

Apple has also recognised this and is going the same way.

Apple's and Microsoft's approaches are very different.

Apple is integrating tablet-like features on-top of the normal desktop model. Microsoft is building the traditional desktop into a full tablet model - the desktop is for all purposes a (very advanced) app.

Dave

[Ed R.Marley]

Will it still have command prompt? Will you be able to configure it to how you want it and not how Microsoft think's you want it? I realise this is the way it's going, but I do hope it doesn't mean less personal configuration.

[Magic Cottage]

Originally Posted by TheBigM

Then you're ill-informed. Windows 8 has plenty of improvements in the desktop experience compared to Windows 7 especially for businesses.

It may well be the case. But we invested in Tablets at the beginning of the year and are now totally Android orientated, so W8 is too late for us. I have no intention of spending out again for what will only be a replacement of what we have already got... and I have to say, is working extremely well.

Our tablets have just updated to Android 4.1.1 [Jelly Bean] free!! Why would we now want to change?

[alanwarwic]

Most consumers bought a Vista laptop in preference to Windows XP so obviously they will flock to Windows 8 near immediately too.

I guess I'm a bit of a luddite seeing things as quite irrelevant with the actual software I use the main priority.

[TheBigM]

Originally Posted by Magic Cottage

It may well be the case. But we invested in Tablets at the beginning of the year and are now totally Android orientated, so W8 is too late for us. I have no intention of spending out again for what will only be a replacement of what we have already got... and I have to say, is working extremely well.

Our tablets have just updated to Android 4.1.1 [Jelly Bean] free!! Why would we now want to change?

When you say "we"? Are you talking personal use or business use?

What do your tablets get used for? There are several major reasons for getting Windows tablets: print class drivers that let it work with almost any printer, superior networking, superior management and security, Office.

[Magic Cottage]

Originally Posted by TheBigM

When you say "we"? Are you talking personal use or business use?

What do your tablets get used for? There are several major reasons for getting Windows tablets: print class drivers that let it work with almost any printer, superior networking, superior management and security, Office.

Both! With a relatively small amount of expenditure on apps and desktop add-ins my tech friend soon had us synced with Outlook. Printing from tablets is no problem using Google Drive etc.