Microsoft Said to Be Aiming for Oct. Launch for Windows 8

By Jane McEntegart
published

According to the latest rumors, Microsoft is prepping Windows 8 for a Q4 2012 launch.

The Consumer Preview for Windows 8 was launched on February 29, a day that only comes around once every four years. However, you don't have to wait until 2016 for Microsoft to launch the OS properly. It's common knowledge that Microsoft is aiming to get the final build of Windows 8 out the door by the end of this year. What we don't know, is when exactly it might happen.

Today brings rumors that Microsoft is eying an October release date. Word comes via Bloomberg, which gets its information from people with knowledge of Microsoft's schedule. According to Bloomberg's sources, Redmond will finish work on Windows 8 this summer, which will set the stage for PCs and tablets running on Windows 8 going on sale around October.

This would fit in with both the Windows 7 launch, which was October 22 of 2008, but also ensure that manufacturers were able to ship products in time for the all important holiday shopping season. It also gels quite nicely with last week's rumors that Lenovo wanted to be first out the door with a Windows tablet and was aiming for an October launch.

Bloomberg's sources say Microsoft has scheduled an early April event for its industry partners. The company will reportedly spill the beans on its Windows 8 release strategy, offering details on timing and strategy. April is only two weeks away, guys. Hopefully it will bring with it something solid on the Windows 8 release.

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Jane McEntegart
60 Comments Comment from the forums
  • DjEaZy
    ... and build in the option to choose between clasic windows 7 style aero UI and the metro UI... and M$ haz a winner...
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    i am sure they would. when windows 95 came out they had an option go back to the old windows 3.1 UI
    Reply
  • jprahman
    For a range of reasons I'm skipping Windows 8, in fact, I will do everything in my power to get PCs with Windows 7, rather than Windows 8. I don't like the new UI, and while Windows 8 may have to option to use the old interface I still don't like metro as the default. And then there's the UEFI secure boot issue. Unless OEMs include the option to disable it in the BIOS I won't be able to dual-boot Linux, which is important to me as a programmer.
    Reply
  • memadmax
    I love windows server 8. Its powerful.
    But......
    They put the stupid metro in it as well.....
    Reply
  • jayracer7474
    im getting ivybridge and windows 8 and 2 ssd's in raid 0, I'm think under 10 secs. to boot. It's funny how people hate change, really the only pain that comes from change is the resistance to it.
    Reply
  • masop
    The date referenced in the article above for Windows 7 is incorrect. It went RTM on July 22nd 2009 and then to the general public on October 22nd 2009, not 2008 as stated.
    Reply
  • This will be the first iteration of windows that I will skip. I have the consumer preview and as far as being able to do what "I WANT" and "Intuitiveness" it makes me cringe. They can try and force their way into the tablet market this way but I don't think it is going to work. You just have to read the comments about it every where to see people already don't like it. I don't see how they cannot take all the negative feedback and put in a updated "Classic" interface with a start button and option to disable metro altogether. Very curious as to what the final release will look like and if the have be listening to the feedback.
    Reply
  • eddieroolz
    Kind of captain obvious right there.
    Reply
  • I got Windows 7 few days ago.

    End of mainstream support: 2015
    End of extended support: 2020

    I'll pass Windows 8, thanks.
    Reply
  • CaedenV
    really, why all the hate for metro? Are people so backwards that they really used the start menu for anything other than shutting down and control panel (both of which are easy to access using the Charms menu)? All of the metro programs are 'extras' which are not really required, and while different it does not hurt the usability of Windows as a whole, and adds some potential capability (though I am not entirely sold on that point yet, but we will see what developers come up with).

    I am sure there will be plenty of ways to get around Secure Boot shortly after it is released. Granted it will void warranty, but I am pretty sure that duel booting, or loading any OS other than what came with your machine in the first place, would void the warranty in the first place.
    Reply