Windows 7: Windows 8: Ready, set, preorder

If we already have the Windows 8 Pro CD then we should get another discount for not downloading because we only require the CD key activation number. How much is it then 12.95? That's about right.

You can see the preorder prices available now at Newegg.com - ppssWindows8

A good number of other places also have their preorder listings as well. Note the page there six options two for the upgrade one being the product key card only suggesting you download 8 and are simply buying the key. The other four OEM items are for W8 what would be the Home Premium equivalent apparently along with two for the 32bit and 64bit 8 Pro.

Haven't found any listings for a Pro Plus or the 8 Ultimate editions as far as preordering since most vendors will generally only carry the Home and Pro editions. W8 will be seeing two additional editions however. Microsoft to Release Windows 8 Professional Plus, Ultimate Versions - Softpedia

There is no 8 Ultimate edition this time.
Windows 8
Windows 8 Pro
Windows 8 Enterprise

Can't find the link now but pretty sure this is correct.
The Windows 8 Pro upgrade w/DVD is 69.99
The Windows 8 Pro upgrade download 39.99

Well before running into the Softpedia report with some obvious errors seen there I had already read one report on the Pro Plus being the replacement for the Ultimate edition simply being renamed as Plus. That reminds you of years past as far as the two Legacy versions that each saw a PLUS! releasse being 95PLUS! and 98PLUS!

The ARM edition is another one that was indicated but mainly aimed at the corporate world while us private user folks are stuck with the limited options of the Home or Home Premium equivalent and Pro being sold in stores as upgrade and OEM for System Builders in media form. The rest is by electronic purchase and download if not preinstalled.

8 is certainly being marketed as far as availabiliity in retail outlets differently from previous versions simply being a newer version but not being promoted to the custom builder to much with only the OEM for full install being made available over a full retail on media as you would have seen with any previous version. MS must already realize that the bulk of 8 sales will be preinstalled or embedded or as an upgrade over rather then seeing it made available in all flavors as widely as any other version to date.

Another reason for the hugh price difference being seen from XP Home sold originally for $180- down to $99 for OEM media is they know the gui change will be the largest turn off 8 will see while MS wants to get a touchscreen OS out they can use on various portables which still covers laptops and netbooks, Tablet and Tablet PC, Windows Phone, etc. as they try ad creep into the mobile market.

The stripping away of the Media Center and dvd playback support in WMP shows the main goal is not for desktop at all while still providing a desktop equivalent but limited and explaining the low prices! To replace 7 MS already knows that the next to follow however will have to be a mind storm that draws people to it and not steer them away to get back to the desktop crowd of users.

It stands to reason that since 7 was a hugh success story this would be the time to "EX per i ment" a little while reserving the good stuff for the next planned replacement for the desktop. Will that be even called 9? or whatever be the next for desktop while dropping not so desktop friendly versions inbetween just to stay on a 2-3yrs. time frand for each new version?

Well if you are simply looking for something new. want to run a second OS, or on a tight budgit you won't complain about the low prices too much!

10 Windows 8 apps you should download first | PCWorld

Out of that entire list I would tend to believe minesweeper and SmartGlass would be the two downloaded the most! The Clock and IM+ items would follow more so for the Clock. The number #1 would be SmartGlass since the main complaint by many is the lack of any options to customize the Start screen.

Is there an actual Classic Shell graphical user interface in the Pro package?

Is it me or is there not a lot of Windows 8 exhilaration in the air? This is a major OS release and in EightForums it's like the sound of crickets. Even though many people there are members here I don't want to ask over there because I don't want to antagonize. But I'm curious. This place was hopping before and after 7 came out.

What a bag of red wigglers. Is their/there a Microsoft site that will inform us what you can buy, when you can buy and how much? So far all I get out of all this is; If you got this and want that do this and pay what ever. But now if you downloaded that and want to up graded to this or that you could do this unless you already got that and want to upgrade to this. Of course if you have got that you must wait for that and this in a upgrade.

Yeah there didn't seem to be a lot of fanfare when it was released. I didn't realize it was released until I walked into my local electronics store to preview some notebooks and notice all of them were featuring Windows 8. I was like wow it's out.

But yeah, there's not a bunch of fanfare, even from Microsoft. And I haven't even been to the 8 forums yet.