Windows 8's delivery date: October 26
Summary: Microsoft and
partners will make Windows 8 available on new PCs and via various upgrade
programs on October 26, officials are saying.
By Mary Jo Foley | July 18, 2012 -- Updated 21:00 GMT (14:00
PDT)
Microsoft is continuing to
eke out the Windows 8 news.
The latest tidbit is
Windows 8's exact availability date is going to be October 26. (The last we
heard at the Microsoft Partner Conference a week ago is it would be in
"late October.")
October 26 will be the
date Windows 8 will be available preloaded on new PCs and also to those
purchasing it through one of the upgrade programs Microsoft has announced
recently. Based on previous Microsoft statements, it also seems October 26 will
be the date that Windows RT-based Surface PCs/tablets from Microsoft will be
available via the Microsoft Stores and select online outlets.
Microsoft officials shared
the exact date on July 18 with the thousands of Microsoft salespeople attending
the Microsoft Global Exchange Conference in Atlanta, according to a July 18
post on the Windows team blog.
Windows 8 is on track to
be released to manufacturing by the first week of August, officials said last
week. Windows Server 2012 and Visual Studio 2012 also will be released to
manufacturing at the same time. But Windows Server 2012 won't be available to
customers until September, Microsoft officials have said. Execs have declined
to say when developers will be able to start using the final Visual Studio
bits.
Microsoft officials said
last week that business users with volume-licensing contracts will be able to
get their hands on the final Windows 8 bits shortly after the product is
released to manufacturing, which will be two-plus months before the product is
generally available via retail. Microsoft officials are declining to say when
those with MSDN and TechNet subscriptions will be able to obtain the final
Windows 8 bits.
Microsoft officials have
said those upgrading from Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and the Windows
8 Release Preview will be able to buy upgrade copies of Windows 8 for $40 each.
Microsoft officials have not said how much the promised System Builder SKU will
be for those who want to build their own PCs. They also have not said whether a
full, non-upgrade version will be available via retail and how much it will
cost. But the unofficial word is Microsoft may be dropping full packaged
product at retail with Windows 8.
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