News - Microsoft announces four Windows 8 editions

[miniyazz]

As cjs150 said, Microsoft does not have an 80+% share of the ARM market. They are currently about as far from a monopoly in this market as you can get. There is no need or point in the EU getting involved, unlike when they intervened with Windows 7 (which I disagreed about but understood their reasons). If they ever do become involved Microsoft would be happy as Larry because it would mean they'd done extremely well in this competitive market.. enough to have more market share than Android and iOS combined.

[anselhelm]

Apart from a few small techy tidbits, I've not seen anything to convince me that Windows 8 will be worthwhile upgrading to for desktops or worthwhile in general beyond tablets.

I suppose time will tell, but I get the feeling that this could well be another Vista for Microsoft if Metro doesn't come across as well as Microsoft hopes.

[Iron Sights]

From a Pc gaming stand point is there any reason to get win 8 because I certainly can't see one.

[Spud1]

I'd expect the RT version to cost around £50 a licence tbh - the same as Windows Embedded. I would expect a very similar licensing model too, which isn't really a bad thing.

If the EU makes another monumentally idiotic decision and has another go at Microsoft for selling a product bundled with another produce (ala virtually every other operating system vendor!) then it will be time to strongly consider moving out of the EU. It's really stupid when all this type of thing does is confuse people, make life more difficult, and penalise the vendor for having good software that people want to buy. In this particular case there isn't even a weak monopoly argument like that had with the IE case, as Microsoft have less than 1% of the current tablet market, and are not doing much better with smartphones.

So we should be safe to see mobile office bundled with Windows (I hope!). As to whether I upgrade..I will do on my PC, but I don't see this first version of tablets/ultrabooks as being that attractive..from what I have seen and read so far they just won't be quite as integrated as I want it all to be.

[dfour]

If its cheap enough I might get it for my desktop just incase I might need it later or if it sux sell it back off.

[TheAnimus]

I'd expect the RT version to cost around £50 a licence tbh - the same as Windows Embedded. I would expect a very similar licensing model too, which isn't really a bad thing.

I really doubt that.

This will be priced along with windows CE pricing, or at most, the netbook XP pricing.

Apple and like can make a massive margin on an iPad thanks to volume and shocking lack of features. Other people can't. Imagine if they didn't put an SD/MicroSD or similar port? All of these other features people will demand add up.

[shaithis]

Shame the only pertinent bit of info is missing.....

Are they going to force metro on desktop users?

[oolon]

I seem to skip every other windows generation, so i guess I shall look forward to windows 9.

[cheesemp]

I'd expect the RT version to cost around £50 a licence tbh - the same as Windows Embedded. I would expect a very similar licensing model too, which isn't really a bad thing.

If they do its dead before it started - No I think they'll almost give it away to try and get Android tablet manufactures to give it a go. At £50 its going to make selling a Windows tablet over an ipad impossible as even with a near free OS (android) its hard for other manufactures to complete with the ipad on cost. I think Microsoft know this and will do what they did with the first netbooks where they virtual gave XP away to stop Linux getting a foothold.

[TheAnimus]

I seem to skip every other windows generation, so i guess I shall look forward to windows 9.

I really don't think there is anything new enough here to make someone go out and buy a license for desktop use tbh.

Most of the improvements under the hood target power management and other portable device related optomisations.

That said, I think by drawing a clear line between Metro and Desktop they are able to optomise the hell out of certain OS functions as they've no backwards compatability. Myself I wouldn't mind say using Lightroom in Metro, in theory, it would run faster than it would in a desktop mode. Same could be said about certain games, as the desktop component won't have even been loaded. However I really doubt that would matter to anyone as the performance hit of the dormant desktop on a modern game is minimal compared to the graphics cost, same with power useage.

However I really don't mind not having to upgrade the OS every year, if I wanted that experiance I'd buy a mac.

[wasabi]

Group policy would have made the ARM version an acceptable choice for businesses. As it is they might as well buy some other random poser toy for the execs.

[digit]

I don't see Media Centre or an equivalent on that list of features? Is there any other indication that it will be included? Might put HTPC users off.

Mobile broadband features could be useful particularly if it helps to manage data use with tethering as well. Last thing you want is to log on and have windows download 500mb of updates.

I read somewhere it will be available as an additional download going to have a quick scan to see if I can find it...

Yep have a look here http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/new...rt-for-arm.ars

Windows 8 Pro builds on Windows 8 to include support for BitLocker, domain membership, Hyper-V virtualization, Group Policy support, and certain other high-end features. No edition of Windows 8 will ship with Windows Media Center. It will, however, be available as an "economical" add-on to Windows 8 Pro.