Will any of you upgrade to Windows 8 when it's out next year?

[supanut200042]

Windows 8 will probably be out before Christmas next year, so I want to know if any of you guys will be planning to upgrade.
For me, yes I may upgrade, but if I can get a hand on the RTM build early, I will test it in a virtual machine or do a dual-boot to test things, then after around a month of testing, I may decide to erase my Windows 7 and replace it with Windows 8; if my testings were good. But if not, I will stay with Windows 7.

[techairlines]

Definitely, assuming they improve the experience of the OS when using a mouse and keyboard. Metro as the start menu isn't mouse/keyboard friendly at all.

I'm hoping a public beta and/or RC will be available sometime during the first half of 2012, similar to Windows 7 Beta/RC during 2009.

In 2009, I ran Windows 7 RC via dual boot with Vista and used it as my main OS during the RC period. I'm planning to do the same for Windows 8.

[jpolito51]

Absolutely not. I feel that Metro is a huge step backward for Windows and plan to stay with Windows 7 as long as possible, even if I end up being a technological hermit in the process.

[Darkmere]

You guys shouldnt have a problem running windows 8 ... I called up Microsofts Customer support to see if I could get an Idea if Windows 8 would run on my Windows 7 machines and they told me there is very little to no difference in Windows 7 and 8. They said the system requirements will be the same and any windows 7 capable machine will run 8 no problems.

[m.stratford86]

Anyone know if the beta will cost anything?

[essellar]

Betas don't, no -- they're not released products. There's usually some restriction on getting them (like an MSDN subscription or being a member of the BizSpark program, etc.) and there may be a cost to that part of it. Your license to use the beta (or release candidate, etc.) evaporates the minute that the product is released in your market.

[alexanderbuckland71]

Definitely, assuming they improve the experience of the OS when using a mouse and keyboard. Metro as the start menu isn't mouse/keyboard friendly at all.

I'm hoping a public beta and/or RC will be available sometime during the first half of 2012, similar to Windows 7 Beta/RC during 2009.

In 2009, I ran Windows 7 RC via dual boot with Vista and used it as my main OS during the RC period. I'm planning to do the same for Windows 8.

A public BETA has been around for a while now, in the form of the Windows 8 Developer Preview...

[Dead-i]

Anybody watched this preview Microsoft posted on YouTube?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92QfWOw88I

Looks a bit tablet and not specifically designed for keyboard/mouse. Obviously keyboard/mouse still work..... hmmm..... not sure if I'm so keen with the whole 'touch' idea.

[cybrax]

Are Micro$oft buying shares in screen wipes I wonder?

[techairlines]

A public BETA has been around for a while now, in the form of the Windows 8 Developer Preview...

It was labeled as a pre-beta. It seemed more like a preview of the Metro UI and development for Metro. Without a touch screen, the experience of using the developer preview isn't that great.

Anybody watched this preview Microsoft posted on YouTube?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92QfWOw88I

Looks a bit tablet and not specifically designed for keyboard/mouse. Obviously keyboard/mouse still work..... hmmm..... not sure if I'm so keen with the whole 'touch' idea.

You can try it out yourself here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516

Microsoft seems to want to create one OS for both regular keyboard/mouse and touch, which I personally think is a great idea. This might create a lot of tablets that come with a keyboard dock, similar to the Asus Eee Pad Transformer.