October 26: The Day Windows 8 Hits GA
Microsoft announced that its Windows 8 operating system will hit General Availability (GA) on the 26th of October, the current year. So mark your calendars if you’ve been waiting on the OS, because Windows 8 will hit the stores on October 26, 2012.
Steven Sinofsky, President of the Windows and Windows Live Division, announced at Microsoft’s annual sales meeting that customers will be able to get Windows 8 starting with the 26th of October, 2012. By “get Windows 8” I mean that customers will be able to purchase new PCs powered by the Windows 8 operating system or purchase an upgrade to Windows 8.
The fact that Windows 8 will hit GA in October is not exactly something new. We’ve known that the OS would be rolled out to the public late October since the start of the month. What we did not know was precisely when the OS would hit the stores. So what’s new is that a precise date for the operating system’s release has been provided.
Earlier this month, Windows Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer Tami Reller made two announcements at Microsoft’s annual Worldwide Partners Conference:
The Windows 8 OS will be made available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide.
Microsoft will sell an upgrade option for close to $40 – customers will be able to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro via windows.com for the price of $39.99. Customers who take advantage of this offer will also be offered the chance to get Windows Media Center for free.
Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc touted the fact that the company prepared a Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant that "makes upgrading simple by walking you through the upgrade process step-by-step from purchase to download and then of course installation."
Steven Sinofsky, President of the Windows and Windows Live Division, announced at Microsoft’s annual sales meeting that customers will be able to get Windows 8 starting with the 26th of October, 2012. By “get Windows 8” I mean that customers will be able to purchase new PCs powered by the Windows 8 operating system or purchase an upgrade to Windows 8.
The fact that Windows 8 will hit GA in October is not exactly something new. We’ve known that the OS would be rolled out to the public late October since the start of the month. What we did not know was precisely when the OS would hit the stores. So what’s new is that a precise date for the operating system’s release has been provided.
Earlier this month, Windows Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer Tami Reller made two announcements at Microsoft’s annual Worldwide Partners Conference:
- That Windows 8 will hit RTM (Release to Manufacturing) status in the first week of August, 2012
- And that Windows 8 will reach GA (General Availability) status by the end of October.
The Windows 8 OS will be made available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide.
Microsoft will sell an upgrade option for close to $40 – customers will be able to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro via windows.com for the price of $39.99. Customers who take advantage of this offer will also be offered the chance to get Windows Media Center for free.
Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc touted the fact that the company prepared a Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant that "makes upgrading simple by walking you through the upgrade process step-by-step from purchase to download and then of course installation."
