I've been a MSDN/Technet junkie for most of my professional life, so maybe I got this wrong and just haven't noticed before...

But is this the first time Microsoft actually put up a download page for their OS. A simple page where people can just go, buy and download stuff, without the need for any special MSDN/Technet account?

If so, that's both cool and about time.

Windows 7 is available through direct download, but the presentation / ease-to-buy wasn't as slick as this.

Another cool thing it had was that you could upgrade the OS (e.g. from Pro to Ultimate) or activate a pirated version from the OS itself, over the air.

Actually, I bought Windows 7 and Office 2010 directly from the Microsoft Store online, and downloaded it directly back when it first came out.

Thank Apple for making them offer what their competition offers for half the price.

I'm a Mac and PC person ... I'd download this if it was similarly priced to the OS X downloads.

The $20 you save on OS/X over Windows is more than made up by the more expensive hardware.

Windows isn't released as often. So in the end, it's cheaper.

(And Apple doesn't need to make money from their OS, Microsoft does)

Not to mention that this is a major update unlike the minor addons that Apple use to justify an upgrade. I would live very happy with snow leopard, the only reason I upgrade is because Apple force us in order to keep developing on latest iOS devices.

For a man who thinks $40 is too expensive for a good OS, you'll love Linux.

It's $40...that isn't bad at all.

All i saw when I loaded the page was $69.99, which i quickly hit the back button and went to read the comments here.

Whose at fault .. their UI and messaging I say.

The title of this is misleading. It says "available to download" but the link says "coming soon" (when you click on the price).

You're right, I didn't actually click the Download button, since I have no incentive to buy Windows 8 right now.

The release version is available through TechNet subscriber downloads

I just purchased it, and it appears to be downloading now. Note that I had pre-applied for a reduced price offer since I had just purchased a new Windows 7 PC. The URL I used was through here: https://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-US/MyOrder

It is currently downloading through a "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant" program. This program took all of my information and charged my credit card, and is downloading the files as I write this. ETA 15 minutes total.

Screenshot: http://cl.ly/image/2t3T2M261P2a

Ah.. yes.... the ever-reliable windows upgrade offer dot com. Why, I think I shall plug my CC into whatever app it downloads.

For those wondering, it really is an official MS-owned website. http://www.whoismind.com/whois/windowsupgradeoffer.com.html It just has a terrible name.

Wait, you can download it? Then why do I get a "coming soon" page?

Mind sharing where you're located? Perhaps MS is pulling a $ENTERTAINMENT_COMPANY and restricting downloads to certain countries.

It looks like you can only get it through the "upgrade offer" page.

They should sell windows 8 (vm) in the Mac App Store :)

Well obviously Microsoft wouldn't want to give a cut to Apple but the underlying idea is not so bad. Parallels Desktop and VMware (virtualization software for the OSX) already include an easy Windows purchase option in their installation process. I'd love to purchase a 'Windows 8 for Mac' edition directly from Microsoft if it means they'll have drivers and everything supported. I'm waiting for proper Windows HiDPI support in Bootcamp for my Macbook Pro retina as it is.

While I am a *nix fan, I do wish good luck to MS! Ballsy move.

I don't need on my desktop, but I can totally see my next laptop to be a laptop/tablet mix if the OS can really run great on both mode it would be fantastic.

A very nice looking site, ruined by 135px tall persistent header.

Maybe you should rename the title to 'Windows 8 available for purchase'? Just sayin..But a pretty good bargain hard to beat I say!!

I renamed the title, but with a slightly different wording, since you can't, in fact, even buy it yet.

It seems that you can buy the upgrade version through "Windows Upgrade Offer" right now, as some other users are reporting. I can confirm that I am able to download the upgrade assistant with my code, but I don't have access to the laptop I am upgrading right now, so I can't actually run it.

Great, thanks matey.

Looks like the download version is an upgrade not a full retail license.

It doesn't make it clear whether the 'shipped' version is a full stand alone thing or not.

I have an existing boxed copy of Windows 7 Retail that is installed on a PC. I'd like to install Windows 8 on there but free up the Windows 7 license to put in a VM or on another PC.

> Or you can get Windows 8 Pro shipped to you for $69.99

That's the full version as far as I can tell (and you can't get it yet via that link).

Also, the "upgrade" version only works for 64-bit versions of installed media... If you're running a 32-bit Windows version, you'll have to wait for the full version.

If it's anything like the Windows 7 upgrade licences, since I was doing a clean install, wiping out the existing XP installtion, the way I got it installed was to install it once, then upgrade the existing installation.

I seem to recall this was even a Microsoft endorsed upgrade path.

Nice. I like the colorful Windows 7 box on the right hand side.

But two things are bugging me: The "Download Pro for .." link at the bottom of the page is not working (the "http:// is missing the "h"), and the system requirements "Internet Access (fees may apply)" sounds too legalese.

true. Unbelievable but true.

1366 × 768 screen resolution

So this OS is specifically designed around 16:9?

Any ideas how well it would work on a 4:3 monitor if at all?

Your screen's aspect ratio doesn't really matter. Desktop apps work like they used to. "Modern" apps expand to fit the space given. The minimum resolution for such apps is 1024x768, which is 4:3.

yup, minimum to run modern apps: 1024 x 768

minimum to run modern apps with snap view (1/3 | 2/3 side-by-side): 1366 × 768

Yes, and the "snap view" feature practically demands it. They made an interesting compromise with their new Surface tablet to accommodate it. http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/10/microsofts-first-stab... Sinofsky said that this [10.1" screen] made Windows' snapped view, where two Metro applications run side-by-side, too small. 11.1-inch screens solved that problem but used more power... The 10.6-inch screen is supposed to make snap view big enough while also permitting "all-day" battery life. You'll only need a 13" diagonal 4:3 screen to be as wide as a 10.6" 16:9 screen, but then you'll probably be using it from further away... So it might look awkward but you should be able to see all the content just fine.

No idea, but you could try it in a VM (it runs in VirtualBox and in VMWare as well) if you are really curious (and don't want to install it on bare hardware before it). There's beta still available http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/windows-8/download

> Any ideas how well it would work on a 4:3 monitor if at all?

Well, hopefully they won't do Pan & Scan. ;-)

Like all quoted resolutions, just assume it's a floor for each respective dimension.

1024 x 768 - no

1366 x 1024 - yes

Just remember this:

1) Escape doesn't bring up the shutdown menu 2) Windows key doesn't 3) Mouse to the left, top or bottom doesn't 4) Mouse to the start menu doesnt

Only to the right will you find the menu. Why a simple button couldn't have been added defies me.

The old alt+f4 in desktop works too (or at least worked in all dev builds I tried. I rebooted a lot so I just used win+d, alt+f4, scroll to the last option and pressed enter.

If we count the number of clicks then there is no difference. In win 7 too user had to do two clicks and only after the first click would you see shutdown button. Same goes for win 8.

Win+I also brings the settings slide-out on the right, with the shutdown button at the bottom.

Does this offer a full ISO image to burn? Or is this an in-place upgrade type of a deal?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-to-wind...

> Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows 8?

> Yes, but you can't do this using Upgrade Assistant. If your PC has a 64-bit capable processor (CPU) but is currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can install a 64-bit version of Windows 8, but you'll need to buy Windows 8 as a DVD.

I guess not, otherwise you'd be able to just burn a full version DVD and boot from that.

The text in the download button isn't vertically centered. Not a good start: http://cl.ly/image/2B3K3J3u2r0C

I don't see that. Text is centered when I look at it.

Lately all Microsoft sites seem to break in Chrome for me. http://imgur.com/DLV4m

I'd start by looking at the extensions you've got installed. You seem to have a bunch (and also a custom skin?). 413 is a strange error code to be getting. I would try disabling all extensions and see if the problem goes away.

If that doesn't do it, try clearing cookies, as corrupt oversized cookies might cause this (or so some random forum claims).

So the user friendly statement on why RT can't run old apps is this:

"Refers to programs built for mouse and keyboard that run in the classic Windows desktop environment."

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/compare

Scroll down to the "* * *"

That's a really nice looking box. I'm tempted to buy a physical copy just for the packaging.

Seemingly unavailable to buy, at least in the UK.

$39 should be the standard price... Not the special upgrade deal. I am a Linux/unix user, but anyways; Success to them

I think it should be $52

Upgrade Assistant isn't available for everybody or just my country? I'm from Brazil.

It shouldn't be available for anybody yet. The Windows 8 launch event is in another 30 minutes in New York, and official sales don't start until tomorrow.

Is there any real reason to if I just use my Windows PC to play games?

Faster cold boots, less power usage (and longer battery life if it's a laptop), some serious security improvements, new Explorer, faster file copies... It's a whole new OS, not just a new UI.

I'm having to upgrade my Win XP machine because the new XCom game doesn't run on less than Win Vista.

I only use windows for games so I only tend to upgrade when I find a game that wont work.

Depends if you want to play Metro based games or not. Not sure how many there are and if the ones that exist will play well on a PC rather than tablet.

There's also some performance benefits like faster bootup etc, depends if these are valuable to you or not.

There are certain games that will not run on Windows 8. The only one I've personally run into was Grand Theft Auto 4. I had Windows 8 installed on my desktop, could not get the game to run, and moved back to Windows 7.

I assume this is a temporary thing and that either MS or the game vendor will patch it soon enough.

The trouble with GTA seemed to be in the Securom DRM. With GTA5 on the way and knowing the business Securom operates in, I wouldn't be surprised if a patch never came.

However, all of the other games I've tried have worked with Windows 8 on my laptop. It does make me wonder about the future of companies like Securom in a Windows 8 world.

No.