Windows 8 Pre-Alpha build 7312-FAKE

I think it is entirely possible that it is real.

Think about it. How long does an OS take to make? If they base W8 off of MinWin (like they SHOULD), then they have the base code all set there. All thats left is the GUI and a little over half the OS to construct. (Correct me if I am wrong about anything here)

Now, think about how long it has been since Seven went Beta, to RC. Not release Beta, the first beta build, just out of Alpha. I don't have the dates, but I bet it was at least a year, year and a half ago. If the OS replacement cycle is 2-4 years, this fits it. M$ HAS to have W8 in alpha NOW, in order to have it ready in 2 or 3 years.

~Lordbob

redsoxm16 said:

I think i found the date and you're right:
6.1.5025.winmain.050111-2030

What is the date on that?

And I remember reading somewhere that eight was in alpha. I will try to dig up the article and post it. Think its time for John to start on that new Forum yet?

~Lordbob

Here is that article. It is about a job posting, but it counts. So it may not have been Alpha as of the article, but it is very likely to be by now.
Windows 8 starts to come into focus | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com

Also, here is a neat-o site (with that video) for Windows 8. I'm bookmarking it.
Windows 8 Center

~Lordbob

Speaking of 8,. . . .I'm hungry

redsoxm16 said:

I believe it's November 1st, 2005

WHOAH. I was thinking it would have been sooner. Anyways. M$'s cycle for new OS's is about 3-5 years. So that would put W7 from Beta to RTM at 4 years (roughly). So, think about it. If Eight is (very very very tenatively) around 2012, 2013, that means it would be Beta (following Seven's timeframe) around 2009! Which is obviously not going to happen, but I might guess at around late 2010. So another year roughly until Beta (closed or release, I don't know). That just doesn't seem right.

redsoxm, is that Beta build pre-release Beta, or just an early compile?

~Lordbob