It took long enough, but Windows 8 has finally made its grand entrance.
Those looking to upgrade to Microsoft's tile-centric new look can do so from today -- if you take the plunge with the new software, tell us whether you're impressed or not in the comments below, or on our Facebook wall.
Windows 8 comes in four flavours -- Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise (for businesses) and Windows RT, which is the tablet-bound version that will be running on tablets like the Microsoft Surface.
If you've got a PC running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, you can download Windows 8 Pro for a modest £25. Before you can get the software you'll need to comply with the officious-sounding Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, which will calculate whether your machine has the guts to handle the colourful new platform.
If you're on Windows 7, your files, settings and software will be transferred over when you upgrade. If you're running an older version of Windows, you'll need to reinstall programs after making the switch.
If you own a PC purchased after 2 June, you can get Windows 8 Pro for the slightly cheaper price of £15, but you need to fill out an online form first.
If you're looking to buy a fresh computer, my heroic colleague Andrew has made a list of the top five Windows 8 computers. If, however, you're observing Windows 8 from the sidelines rather than downloading the new software yourself, you'll be interested to read our history of how Windows took over the world.
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Comments 13
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anonymous 26 October, 2012 10:15
I just hope we get the choice to not install Windows 8 when buying a new PC/laptop as I will be doing early next year.
anonymous 26 October, 2012 11:29
I do not know whether to jump from Windows 7 to Windows 8 - I like 7, it works well and I can do things quickly but the Geek in me says, is Windows 8 any better?
anonymous 26 October, 2012 11:33
with the upgrade, can you install from fresh and it will prompt for a cd as old versions did. or does it need to be upgraded all messyover the old OS?
anonymous 26 October, 2012 11:36
I have a question, will the update be 32 or 64bit?
anonymous 26 October, 2012 11:45
I wonder how many people who don't want Windows 8 are saying that because a few guys on the internet have said it's no good. From what I can tell most of the guys saying this have not even used Windows 8, and yet the myth spreads like a wild fire. A lot of the reasons given for not liking it are not even true, or have some truth but are very tenuous or ignorant (oh no, I have to click a large, colourful tile to access the desktop, this will take an extra 3 seconds, which is offset by the faster boot times! But I like to pretend this isn't true...).
At some point we'll all need to be running Windows 8 or higher, so upgrading now for a rock bottom price just makes sense. I'll be getting mine in the next week, just as soon as I've got time to actually do it.
anonymous 26 October, 2012 11:52
Windows 8 is the most advanced SO, it is great for productivity and content consumption.
Are you tired to have many gadgets around, switching from one to another according your needs? WINDOWS 8 is the solution.
No more tablets phones laptops, 1 device all progras.
Most important SHIPER apps than iOS!
Late8 26 October, 2012 12:10
Well I used the previews etc on my Laptop for a good month or two and couldnt get used to it.
On a touch screen it will be great. But the UI is all over the place and I didnt find it any way near as quick to get stuf done as Windows 7.
A lot of the time I needed the desktop and this was a pain having to log in, then almost log in / swap over again before you even got started trying to find you rprogram with no Start button.
Late8 26 October, 2012 12:14
.... oh I forgot to add. with a mouse it stinks. What was wrong with the simple double or single click to open a program via a icon?
When using Win8 I hated the swipe hear.. swipe there and everywhere thing going on - especially with a mouse.
If you have a Desktop or Laptop with no touch facility - SERIOUSLY dont bother with Windows 8.
Karl 26 October, 2012 13:30
I'm a Mac user and I used a trial version of Windows 8 and I really liked it, it was quick and clean (it did freeze with 2007 Access but there shouldn't be any issue with the full version). I'll be buying the upgrade for use on my Bootcamp partition.
anonymous 26 October, 2012 17:04
Its okay, not a patch on windows 7 if you're looking to upgrade from XP. You can still have your desktop as it was before but the start button has gone...unless you install an app to correct it.
The upgrade pack comes with 32 bit & 64 bit disks, so just check your system before shoving an install disk. you can choose to load over the top of an existing OS or go for a fresh install...but back up all your old software and files and then reinstall.
anonymous 26 October, 2012 17:37
Can't wait to use a full fat Windows 8 tablet - they are all released today and there are loads of prices for them
But - you can't buy them in the UK only in the US - how very disappointing all that hype and no substance
When are they going to be available in the UK??? no-one knows.
anonymous 28 October, 2012 04:37
Was going to stick with Windows 7 till the bitter end but defensives were broken down Day One (25 quid...bit of a bargain!).
Installed the Windows 8 Upgrade. Quick and easy.
Installed a start button app (Start8). Quick, easy and works.
Using desktop 99% of time. Happy bunny.
anonymous 7 December, 2012 14:44
I have windows 95, windows XP (Desktop), Windows Vista (Laptop), Windows 7 (Laptop) and Windows 8 (laptop), and I can honestly say that Windows XP is the best of the lot; except for that time when Microsoft Office 2010 first cam out; and by error I copied a document to my Office 2000 on XP and for weeks I had major documents I was working on all smash to bits every day at every half hour leaving me with shattered nerves and a devastated workload. I nearly had all my hair turn while and fall out. It was a bug in the auto-save. Quite a nasty trick, but it was not XP at fault really.