Installing the Windows 8 Release Preview

Early reports have shown that the Windows 8 Release Preview (released yesterday), is a very solid operating system and could (if you're brave) be used on your primary computer. With that said, as this is still pre-release software and driver support (specifically graphics) is not yet optimised, I would still recommend installing on a test system.

One of the best ways to do this is to install the Windows 8 Release Preview as a virtual machine (VM), therefore not impacting the integrity of your primary operating system. The great thing about this approach is that it can also be done on a Mac, using virtualisation software such as VMware Fusion or Parallels Desktop.

The video below shows the Windows 8 Release Preview (x64) installation process from start to finish on a Mid 2011 MacBook Air using VMware Fusion v4.1.2. The video also shows the installation of VMware Tools as the final phase, which should offer better graphics performance.

As you can see from the video, the entire process took approximately 10 minutes (not bad for a VM) and is very simple using the new Windows 8 setup wizard. The only thing you want to ensure is that you configure your virtual machine correctly by selecting the corresponding Windows 7 version at the start (as a Windows 8 profile is not yet available). For example, for the 64-bit version of Windows 8, select "Windows 7 x64".

You now have a fully working version of Windows 8, safe in the knowledge that if anything goes wrong you can simply delete and start over without impacting your primary system. In my opinion that offers the best of both worlds!

Windows 8 Release Preview - Launched

In the last hour (one day ahead of schedule) Microsoft officially launched the Windows 8 Release Preview. Think of this build as the release candidate (RC) and the last major milestone before the final build, expected in September 2012.

Like the previous preview builds, the Windows 8 Release Preview is available to download for free, for anyone with a standard x86 or x64 system. Unfortunately the ARM version is reserved for hardware partners only. The download links and universal product key can be found below:

• Windows 8 Release Preview x86
• Windows 8 Release Preview x64

Product Key: TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF

As expected, the Windows 8 Release Preview does not include any radical changes from the previous build and the new "Metro Style" Start Screen is still the primary focus. What you can expect is a more polished product, with performance and reliability improvements, as well as few new features, such as better support for the mouse and keyboard (especially in a multi-monitor setups).

Microsoft continue to strive for their "one operating system to rule them all" vision and have release a new marketing video showing the Windows 8 Release Preview running on the three major device types: Tablet, Laptop and Desktop. The video looks great, I'm just not sure this experience reflects reality.

Although the Windows 8 Release Preview is near feature complete, Microsoft have stated that the new desktop user interface (replacing Aero) has not yet been implement. As a result we can expected to see at least a couple of tweaks before Windows 8 is released to manufacturing (RTM).

Windows 8 User Experiance

A few weeks ago Microsoft announced that the Windows 8 Release Preview (AKA Release Candidate) will be made available in the first week of June 2012. This will likely be the final milestone before the official launch later in the year (expected in September).

As we draw closer to the June date, the Microsoft team have continued to update their "Building Windows 8 Blog", which includes the most recent novel (I mean article) about the Windows 8 User experience. As with previous posts the team have gone into excruciating detail about the decisions they have made. However buried deep in the article is a single screenshot showing the new Desktop user interface that is set to replace Aero (used in Windows Vista and 7).

As you can see, the new desktop user interface has a flatter, more metro look (which I guess is to be expected), but still retains a familiar feel. Hopefully this change will help to bridge the gap between the desktop and Metro, which I still see as the biggest challenge for Windows 8.

As previously stated, the Windows 8 Release Preview will be available to everyone for free in the first week of June, with the final release expected in September.

Windows 8 Release Preview

Last night Microsoft revealed that the next public Windows 8 build, known as the Release Preview will be made available in June 2012. There was no additional information regarding specific updates from the Consumer Preview, but due to the rapid turnaround, I think it's safe to assume that any changes will be evolutionary.

Personally I am still on the fence regarding Windows 8 and its split personality. To learn more I recommend you check out my previous articles:

• Windows 8 - First Impressions
• The Windows 8 Dilemma
• Windows 8 Consumer Preview - Review

One good thing about this latest announcement is that it proves Microsoft are still on track for the rumoured September / October 2012 release date. Watch this space for more details on Windows 8.

Windows 8 Editions

Today Microsoft officially announced that Windows 8 will be called...Windows 8! They also detailed the editions that will be available at the end of year launch:

Windows 8

• Microsoft start by keeping things simple, "Windows 8" is the standard edition for home users. It will be available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, with a direct upgrade path from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic and Home Premium. It has all the features you would expect from a home edition, but does not include any business features such as Remote Desktop, Group Policy, Virtualisation or Drive Encryption.

Windows 8 Pro

• As the name suggests, Windows 8 Pro is the business and enthusiast focused edition that is also available in 32-bit and 64-bit. It has a direct upgrade path from Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate, including comparable features (encryption, etc).

Windows RT

• The final edition is Windows RT, previously known as Windows on ARM or WOA. Apart from the horrible name, Windows RT has been specifically designed for touch based ARM tablets and comes bundled with a sub-set of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote).

Overall I'm pleased to see that Microsoft have simplified the number of editions, going back to a similar setup as Windows XP (Home / Professional). Personally I would still love to see Microsoft release a single edition, similar to Apple with OS X, as this would not only simplify the buying process, but would also guarantee that users always have the best features (instead of an edition of Windows that is crippled in some way).

My one disappointment is that "Windows 8" seems to lose a lot of basic business features, such as Group Policy and Drive Encryption. Personally, with the drive towards Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in the Enterprise I feel this omission could be a mistake as it means many businesses may not be comfortable opening their corporate network to home Windows 8 devices, requiring users to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro.