Windows 8 Consumer Preview: Download Now and Take a Look for Yourself!

Published on 03-01-2012 06:17 AM

Microsoft officially releases Windows 8 Consumer Preview, giving Windows users a chance to take an early test drive of the forthcoming new edition of the Windows OS for themselves. Just when Windows users grew comfortable with Windows 7, and the bad memories of Windows Vista were almost forgotten, today Microsoft quietly announced the release of the Consumer Preview for its latest and greatest version of Windows – Windows 8.

The release comes on the heels of the Developer Preview it made available late last year, and is intended to secure a “more robust experience” for testing the new OS by making it available to the public.

Windows 8 does away with all the standard traits of a Windows OS like taskbar, Start menu, and more, opting instead for an entirely different user interface that uses tiles that link to important tasks, programs, and services. The move is intended to create a uniform user experience across multiple devices like laptops, phones, tablets, and desktop PCs.

“With Windows 8, we reimagined the different ways people interact with their PC and how to make everything feel like a natural extension of the device, whether using a Windows 8 tablet, laptop or all-in-one,” said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft. “The Windows 8 Consumer Preview brings a no-compromises approach to using your PC.”

Some of the new features of Windows 8 include

Ability to take apps and settings across multiple PCs, making it easy to discover and try new apps while offering developers the greatest opportunity of any platform.
Seamless content integration across devices.
Microsoft account provides access to a host of features, including the ability to roam all settings, use cloud storage, communicate with email, calendar and contacts, and connect to a broad range of services.
Re-imagined Internet Explorer 10 to create a new experience designed specifically for Windows 8 devices. It provides an edge-to-edge user interface that is all about less browser and more Web. Fast and fluid, Internet Explorer is hardware-accelerated to enable Web performance.
Right-click app uninstall.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview comes as a .ISO file, and Microsoft offers a separate Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup .EXE file that will scan your PC to determine which download is right for you.
I recommend creating a temporary separate partition to install it on or using VM Ware before you commit to a full installation.

Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Categories:
Software

8 Comments

duke0102 - 03-01-2012, 11:48 AM
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I can appreciate that the metro UI is simple for new users like the way phones are leaning to but for me I find it cumbersome, after playing with the pre-release, so I think I'll be skipping this version unless I have to (new direct X etc)

bobbintb - 03-01-2012, 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by duke0102

I can appreciate that the metro UI is simple for new users like the way phones are leaning to but for me I find it cumbersome, after playing with the pre-release, so I think I'll be skipping this version unless I have to (new direct X etc)

i completely agree. metro is just too dumbed down, making it too cumbersome for a power user or even a moderate user to do anything short of basic common tasks. although i dont know if i will skip it. i may just look for a way to disable all that metro bs.

attackdog - 03-01-2012, 05:23 PM
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I used the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup to scan one of my laptops, and it seems that Microsoft Security Essentials is wont work with this version of windows 8. That already tells me something when their own products wont work.

bobbintb - 03-01-2012, 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by attackdog

I used the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup to scan one of my laptops, and it seems that Microsoft Security Essentials is wont work with this version of windows 8. That already tells me something when their own products wont work.

not really. windows 8 includes a newer version or iteration or something to that effect. that has happened with the last few versions of windows. when vista came out windows defender didnt work with it because defender came built in where as it didnt with xp. besides, microsoft has some of the most mediocre, if not just useless security products anyway. i find it funny that third parties seem too know their way around the windows system better than microsoft itself.

sclerozo - 03-02-2012, 05:58 PM
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They got me with Vista so I will be in no hurry to jump on their Windows 8 bandwagon. And unless their is a compelling benefit I will choose to stay with Windows 7.

imasoldier - 03-03-2012, 09:05 PM
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Guys you can switch to the old look....

mjmacky - 03-04-2012, 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by imasoldier

Guys you can switch to the old look....

How did you find this this treasure trove of a direct link to Microsoft OS developers?