Prices and packaging for Windows 8 officially announced

For those of you who hate not-Metro, I should mention that it is possible to import the Windows 7 explorer.exe into 8, thus replacing not-Metro with an actual start menu. Plus, with Windows 8, it seems like my hard drive isn't as bogged down as it is with older versions of Windows, so I'm thinking Microsoft decided to implement better RAM management or something.

All of the $40 and $15 pricings seem to be "download only" versions, by the way. I was thinking Microsoft was going to be TRUE geniuses but, no, I was giving them far too much credit...

Yes that is true, but included in the download versions is the option to save an .ISO file and burn it to a disc for later installation, where you can reformat your HDD or SSD and do a clean install, the only downside to this process is, it must be started from a working and legal copy of either Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7. you will never be able to install this "Upgrade version" on a new computer. I guess that makes sense.
Regards

hey Christine,

With a retail box like that, Windows 8 is bound to be 50% faster!

Freq, YES!

I think it's entirely reasonable to argue that packaging could make Windows 50% just as likely as any paid-for report by an anti-virus company would.

In fact... with a few tweaks to packaging, I think we might even pump out a 51 or even 54% faster speeds.

For example, throw even this latest and greatest Win8 packaging out of a Roswell-based balloon at, about, oh, 88,000 feet. The rectangular shape would not make it the fastest possible descent.

However, put it in a tear drop shaped package, with a sufficiently long tail to reduce the drag coefficient, and I think we'd come a lot closer to that ideal "32-feet-per-second-squared" actual speed (from Moment Of Drop to Moment Of Splatdown).

Useability should still be a concern - after all, what's speed without useability? So, let's toss a Win8 User out of that balloon, maybe with a desk and chair, too... a UPS for the battery-powered Win8 Install during the descent, getting wireless signals for the Win8 Updates (there are already quite a few!), etc.

THEN we could really see Speed AND Useability!

And to think - some people argue that PCs are dead!! HA!

Gosh - it'd be like Professor Fate - "Let's see the Great Leslie try THAT one!!"

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV...640_SY493_.jpg

No retail version in the line up upgrade only or Oem I wish they had a full retail version of pro that could be bought so the key could be transferred to another pc if I build one the upgrades even priced at 40.00 I hate.

I wonder maybe someone knows if I do upgrade from windows 7 will that deactivate my windows 7 retail key permanently?

@xorsists
The OEM version from retailers is actually the new "system builder" version of Windows 8.

The system builder eula states you can put this on any computer you build, or install as a virtual machine on an existing machine. If you have to transfer it to a new machine sometime later, you might have to tell Microsoft that the first machine broke down and you're reinstalling, but that tactic has been used for years. Of course, you're only allowed to have one installation at a time.

If the upgrade works as in the past, the install just checks to see if an earlier version of Windows is installed. It doesn't phone home with the details of the earlier install.

Thanks Kerry the new windows 8 is a little different than previous windows offering Retail being the most expensive I never bought a OEM install though they were cheaper because the fact they were tied to a specific machine.

I think I will opt for the upgrade for 39.99 on October 26th then probably buy a system builders pro for later use.

Thanks again.

"... you will never be able to install this "Upgrade version" on a new computer ..." I don't think this is true. I think you can start an installation with the Windows 8 Upgrade DVD, and when it doesn't find an eligible version of Windows to upgrade, it will ask for it's location. You can then insert an installation disk for the eligible version, tell the Windows 8 installation where it is, and once verified, it will go ahead and install Windows 8. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is right. (I'm planning to buy the upgrade download, so I'll try this after I get it, and if I remember will come back here and post whether it works or not.)

Brad's version of 'upgrade on clean PC and load in eligible Win7 disk for verification' is how our programmers have understood it as well. But we're still in the 'wait and see' camp - Microsoft's made many claims over many years, and few have been delivered, especially on Day 1. Or even Year 1.

He even failed in this famous quote with Windows 8

Microsoft failed BIG This time around no one in their right mind would spend 40.00 to upgrade from even Vista to windows 8 pro that runs a desktop PC which windows 8 was not made for.

The surface tablet is grossly over priced for it's features I will pass there are too many very good tablet Pc's for a lot less money.

I really think Microsoft will lose more money on this new OS than they did on Vista they have a proven track record Xp big Hit, Vista Big loss, Windows 7 Big hit, Windows 8 big loss...maybe they will get windows 9 right and listen to the people who test their OS's out.

Will they get windows 9 right or will that flop as well and break their win loose streak.

I like windows 8, and I was a part of the Windows 8 development. My work involved the new services management with the new Dynamic Services.

The biggest problem is everyone is used to the same bread formula. With windows 8 Microsoft is going after the Apple market with the shoehorn approach of the forced Metro shell. The problem though is Microsoft does not have only 7& of the computer market ( apple's computers numbers on the market keep sliding now that apple is only focused on cell phones), the problem is Microsoft has 93 % of the desktop computer market so a lot is at stake here with tying their windows 8 phone to the windows 8 desktop.

Apple can not compete with Microsoft on the desktop, that is why they skewed away from the computer market, they even changed their corp name here in the USA to APPLE inc. Apple is full steam head to small devices. So now that Microsoft is headed that way what will happen to the Computer Desktop?

For the IT users Microsoft finally gave us the Live OS version that I know personally many IT people were using Live Linux flash booting devices. Windows 8 TO GO is a live windows 8 install that runs off a 32 gig flash drive, like the Puppy Linux, Slitaz, DSL linux distros.. However Windows 8 TO GO has very big advantages, since the hardware will more supported, live accounts will be on there as well, and machine profiles will be on there was well.


Windows 8 adds the new riboon toolbar which saves you a lot of cliking around for relevant folder options and controls.

All my systems have it installed at my Computer store, as I also have been testing the Windows 8 TO GO flash boot version to boot into dead or problematic systems. We still use Puppy Linux on small 8 gig flash drives to boot into systems that we repair and fix untill we finish the Windows 8 TO GO testing, as then we will make a Super LITED version of it.


Microsoft's biggest mistake with Windows 8 that I did not like, but is not a hard workaround to fix with so many classic shells around, is the Metro shell.
However keep in mind why they are trying to get users to use it, it is to push their phone market.

What happened to finding out how a computer works BY OPENING IT!!!!. I formly believe that the world is becoming more dumb with this smart phones.

Remember after 5000 years we still grow our food in dirt. Should we not use our technology and marry it with agriculture? Who will be left in 20 years to put up a brick? Who will be working the fields with Tractors ?
Aprenticeships are dead. Kids these days are not interested in cutting a wire splicing it together and turn on the hydro to see a light go on.

I still do not have a cell phone, we have phones at my Computer store only. i will not get cell phone service here untill it is like in Europe where you can walk in, buy a phone with 500 minutes already in, in the box is an info card with your cell phone number and a pin number that you can walk up to any atm machine and add minutes to your phone right from your bank account. The internet in Europe is 50 years ahead of us. Their wireless Internet service is just a small USB stick that uses their cell phone sim, so you can go back and fourth using the same SIM for cell phone or internet service.

Technology is dooming our future........................