The upcoming release of Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system may be sooner than expected; the company announced that a "release preview," or a nearly-finished copy, would be available by the first week of June, and to those who already own Windows 7.
CNET reported in an article last week that Microsoft will launch the release preview on or around June 2, 2012. The first people, according to a new report by the Supersite for Windows website, who will get to test-try the new operating system will be those who currently own Windows 7 for PCs - for a price of $14.99. Those consumers, after receiving redeemable "coupons," will have the option of choosing between Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, the latter of which will be aimed towards business and technical professionals.
Windows 8 Pro will include, according to CNET, "encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity, as well as support for a separately priced Media Pack for Windows Media Center."
"In addition to this PC upgrade offer, Microsoft will also provide in-the-box upgrades to Windows 8 users in the form of upgrade "packs" that provide Windows 8 Pro and Windows Media Center capabilities," Paul Thurrott, editor of Supersite for Windows wrote in a May 14th article. "These upgrade packs replace the old Windows Anywhere Upgrade system and will be available through a new interface called Add Features to Windows 8.
The promotion is nothing new for Microsoft, as CNET stated that the company always provided a paid incentive to PC buyers months before the release of a new Windows operating system. The website presumed that the June release of the Windows 8 upgrade was a marketing strategy to capitalize on the back-to-school market, despite the fact that Windows 8 itself as a package may not be available until well after the 2012 fall school semester begins.
Business news website ZDNet reported in April that an expected release timeframe for Windows 8 would be around October, right in time for the Christmas holidays to help boost sales for Microsoft. However, all the dates being thrown out are speculative, as Microsoft has not commented on a release date for the new operating system. There is also no price set for Windows 8, for the home version or Pro.
