Windows 8 Preview Launching Today!

[Ace]

Microsoft is making the the Windows 8 developer preview available to everyone later today.

That’s right - Microsoft is making the 32-bit and 64-bit builds of Windows 8, both with and without development tools, available for download from 8PM PT today.

The ISOs will be available from: http://dev.windows.com/

Some big caveats:

• This is a developer preview, not a beta, so it’s not finished, not feature-complete and is buggy.
• Only clean installs are supported, no upgrades.
• No ARM version available.

Why is Microsoft doing this? Two reasons:

• It was going to be leaked anyway.
• Huge PR!

Source

So we have a brand new OS that takes almost half the RAM of its predecessor and is a WHOLE LOT MORE tablet friendly...

So, who’s going to be checking it out?

EDIT: "P" boxes are broken by the list tags, so I used header tags instead

 

[Dimensional]

This looks like a good thing to check out. I just hope it can be installed on a virtual machine.

 

[_Chaz_]

I might test this out.

 

[4-leaf-clover]

It looks alot like the new Xbox dashboard update that is coming...
but it looks pretty nice.

 

[Wabsta]

Nice! I was waiting for a leak actually. So I will be downloading it as soon as it is on any torrent site.

 

[prowler]

Might check it out, I know it's suited more for tablets but I think it'll look good on my HDTV.

It looks alot like the new Xbox dashboard update that is coming...
but it looks pretty nice.

It's Microsofts new thing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_%28design_language%29

 

[Kiekoes]

So if this is released by Microsoft, how can I get this running on my pc?

 

[Ace]

So if this is released by Microsoft, how can I get this running on my pc?

As it says in the OP, you need to do a clean install. Although I'm fairly certain technologically-minded people will find a way to virtualize it.

 

[SifJar]

So if this is released by Microsoft, how can I get this running on my pc?

It'll be an ISO. You download it, burn it to a disc and boot your computer from that disc. From there you'll be able to install it. You'll probably want to partition your hard drive and dual boot it with your current OS, seeing as this is a very early developer preview, and will be really buggy most likely.

Or alternatively you could install it within a virtual machine, using software such as VMWare Player or VirtualBox. This would have it running alongside your current OS, rather than choosing between them at boot. If you just want to try it out, this is probably the better option.

 

[Kiekoes]

Hmmm then I guess I'll pass it.

 

[AlanJohn]

Wait, I thought it was for those tablet-pc's or something.

I really cant imagine using this on a computer.

 

[Erdnaxela]

I really hate tablet, guess I'll be waiting windows 9 >.

 

[TheDarkSeed]

I have a tablet, Time to Dual-boot!

 

[spotanjo3]

Wait, I thought it was for those tablet-pc's or something.

I really cant imagine using this on a computer.

Come on.. Not only you but some of you. Patience is a virtue and anything can be amazing things. Rolling eyes.

 

[Ace]

I have a tablet, Time to Dual-boot!

Is that even possible in W7 tablets? Gosh, technology sure is amazing....

 

[nl255]

Wait, I thought it was for those tablet-pc's or something.

I really cant imagine using this on a computer.

Well, it is a developers preview so even if it was intended for tablets only you would still run it on your regular computer (in a VM) for testing purposes. At least this doesn't require a specially written emulator like PalmOS (ancient) or Android does.

 

[TheDarkSeed]

I have a tablet, Time to Dual-boot!

Is that even possible in W7 tablets? Gosh, technology sure is amazing....

It's just like a netbook! I've dual booted with Ubuntu before, I hope it lets me do this with windows 8

The only problem is that I'll have very little space due to the SSD in my tablet only being 30 gbs. I want to see how the touch screen operates in Win8 and the accelerometer if possible.

 

[Ace]

A note of concern to pirates: They've upgraded the licensing software for Windows 8, so it's apparently going to get MUCH harder to pirate and crack W8. I'll applaud the ones who can do this succesfully, though

 

[notmeanymore]

I'll hear a bit of the reviews before I go installing this. It's intriguing, but I'm not sure if it's worth installing on my laptop. (Not a tablet.)

 

[raulpica]

I'll install this on my secondary HD, which I've reserved exactly for OS experimentation.

Will report later, as soon as it gets available.