Windows 8 Consumer Preview Thread
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Cool! The upgrade is the cheapest way to go for most of us. I can juts upgrade each machine on-line and it gets it own copy.
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I wonder what the full price might be. The upgrade with a disk seems to be about £50 in October but upgrade copies of Windows 7 are going at not that much more - £60 or juts under where I just looked for Home premium. (OCUK does have any upgrades mentioned.) At that rate the Windows Pro with a disc is probably near the normal price.
I was talking to a Microsoft representative yesterday who maintained that all versions of Windows 8 will be 'full' versions which can be used as either an upgrade or on a new installation.
If this is true then it certainly clarifies some of the apparent pricing anomalies we are seeing at the moment, and makes the pre-order, or initial, offers even more attractive.
If this is true then it certainly clarifies some of the apparent pricing anomalies we are seeing at the moment, and makes the pre-order, or initial, offers even more attractive.
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Well, that certainly goes against what we are being told officially by Microsoft. I suppose it means that we need a qualifying product to get the 'upgrades' but can that do a complete reformat of the boot drive - something I favour as it gets rid of junk.
I can't wait to see if it is true.....
Well, he did appear to be looking at an official Microsoft webpage at the time... I should have noted the URL!
I am sure that someone said earlier (I think it was on here) that an upgrade installation creates a new Windows folder anyway, and then just sort of imports any existing data it can find, so it is virtually the same thing as doing a completely new install anyway.
I am sure that someone said earlier (I think it was on here) that an upgrade installation creates a new Windows folder anyway, and then just sort of imports any existing data it can find, so it is virtually the same thing as doing a completely new install anyway.
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The boxed Windows 8 upgrade is to Pro for £49.99, the Windows 7 Pro upgrade rrp is around £150 so it is far cheaper. The £60 upgrade you are looking at is probably the Windows 7 Home Premium anytime upgrade which is not the proper upgrade which is around £80 for Home premium.
The Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer either be it download or boxed are stupidly cheap.
I'm loving it. The desktop experience reminds me of BeOS !Im in the same boat as you, just finished installing it on my laptop after watching the WP8 stuff today and Im impressed, also added office 2013 as well which has some very nice touches. not quite sure about metro on a laptop, but as I get used to it Im hoping I will love it..
8/10 so far with potential to improve - heck, I even like IE, seems a lot faster..
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It's a minor point but that's not easier than pressing start and clicking on the shut down button. In an ideal world you'll just press the power button on the computer or use alt+f4 (although this doesn't work in every metro app e.g. the start screen and some bits of IE) but its location under charms - settings is done for the benefits of tablets where you rarely want to shut down to the slight detriment of the PC.
It wasn't FUD, he put his father in front of Windows 8 and without any help I expect the same from most computer illiterate users especially parents because they don't know anything about Metro or desktop they just want to do whatever they're trying to do and there's no visual queue for this stuff you're just supposed to know going to the bottom left corner allows you to bring up the start screen.
Perhaps in an ideal world they'll never see the desktop and can move around each Metro app but how do they know to return to their list of programs? Now the start button is gone someone needs to explain what they're supposed to do instead and yes it's very simple but it's also not clear (same goes for controlling settings in Metro apps).
Not yet, it's still an uncomfortable mix of the two but I expect they'll have things further improved in the next version.
To be honest its exactly the same ... but ... Is it not a bit daft to have to click "start" when you want the PC to stop?
Well isn't it more daft to have the power command/control in the settings menu? It's not a setting, is it?
And as mentioned it's an extra click... and it's not "more intuitive" than the old solution, which is now widespread and well-known.
In short, moving the shutdown command hasn't accomplished anything.
Okay so this whole upgrade/retail thing is getting confusing.
I have Windows 8 RTM installed at the moment, what version of Windows 8 would I need to get to install it from this? Am I right in saying that you can't upgrade from the RTM version? So I thought the download version was just going to be the full thing and I could put it on my usb and do a fresh install from there but it seems that its going to be an upgrade only version?
Confused myself
Anyone shed some light?
I have Windows 8 RTM installed at the moment, what version of Windows 8 would I need to get to install it from this? Am I right in saying that you can't upgrade from the RTM version? So I thought the download version was just going to be the full thing and I could put it on my usb and do a fresh install from there but it seems that its going to be an upgrade only version?
Confused myself
Anyone shed some light?Okay so this whole upgrade/retail thing is getting confusing.
I have Windows 8 RTM installed at the moment, what version of Windows 8 would I need to get to install it from this? Am I right in saying that you can't upgrade from the RTM version? So I thought the download version was just going to be the full thing and I could put it on my usb and do a fresh install from there but it seems that its going to be an upgrade only version?
Confused myself
Where did u get your rtm version from?
RTM = release to manufaturers -> same as on DVD for sale.
My RTM version was called windows 8 professional 64bit build 9200. What build number is yours?
Got it from the Microsoft Website. Same version as yours.
Surely these free pre release 'versions' only have a 90 day 'life' though, if I recall correctly?
Apart from that particular limitation they are, as mentioned above, exactly what will eventually go on sale.
Once the product is officially released you will then have to buy an 'upgrade' of some sort if you wish to continue using it with full functionality.
Apart from that particular limitation they are, as mentioned above, exactly what will eventually go on sale.
Once the product is officially released you will then have to buy an 'upgrade' of some sort if you wish to continue using it with full functionality.
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nope the RTM versions are full released and not limited in any way.
If your a student you get free windows licences for windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP, Server everything.
The developer preview and consumer preview will stop working once windows 8 is properly released but not the 9200 builds if u get a valid CD key
if its the same as mine then its teh full official release and youve got it till whenever
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What version is it? Sounds like the 90 day Enterprise trial. I'm guessing you'd know if you have VL, MSDN, TechNet or Dreamspark accounts.
The 90 day Enterprise cannot be upgraded, and whilst it is the same as the release version, Enterprise won't be made available through retail channels.
Just looking at the build number isn't enough. The 90 day enterprise trial cannot be upgraded simply by using a valid key as you won't be able to buy one through retail. You will need to reinstall, and having Windows 8 DP/CP/RP/trial doesn't qualify for a Win8 upgrade.