Microsoft has opened up pre-orders for retail copies of Windows 8, which is scheduled to become publically available on October 26. While the best way to acquire Windows 8 is to do so digitally via Windows.com – netting you an upgrade copy of Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99 - you’ll still be able to purchase a boxed copy through traditional retailers for $69.99 and up. The packaging looks exactly like the leaked images from early August, presenting a fresh take on Microsoft’s operating system.
The OS will be sold through a variety of retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, and the Microsoft Store. In the hours since pre-orders went live, Windows 8 Pro has already rocketed to the No. 1 spot on Amazon’s Software Best Seller list. Microsoft is pricing physical copies of Windows 8 at $99.99 for the baseline version, $139.99 for the Pro version, $69.99 for the Pro upgrade, and $69.99 for the Pro Pack with a product key card.
PC and device manufacturers have also begun putting their hardware up for pre-order, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Samsung, and Sony. The Surface, for now, still remains a mystery. With any luck, Microsoft will announce more details soon; possibly in conjunction with its $1.5-1.8 billion marketing blitz, which will reportedly be kicked off this weekend.
Sounds like a good gift for those who still runs Windows Me and I know a few
I can’t wait to try windows 8 out. I think microsoft is doing something very bold in this OS. I hope they succeed. The upgrade price is very afordable for everyone.
I like the direction they’re going but I’m personally going to wait to see if there are any kinks before diving in.
I’m glad they’re reducing the number of variants – 4 instead of 6. They really should just release one version – the splitting/crippling just reeks of nickel-and-diming. “Oh, these are features most people won’t need,” they say. Tell that to the students in my class who had Windows 7 Home and could not install the software required for the class, and had to buy Windows again.
Getting really excited for this now. Seems stupid the pricing of the physical copy is so much more than the digital copy