Windows 8 RTM now my primary!

[BunnyJ]

I wish I could use 8 as primary, but unfortunatly I need to run my business on 7 yet. I don't trust 8 totally (stable though) and I need to upgrade my Office 2000 Pro. That runs fine on 7, but can't seem to load it on 8. OS files missing to do so. I don't want to upgrade Office 2013 yet until they get the kinks out and until final release. I did run the preview on 8 for a while until it expired. I liked it and it ran fine. Certainly don't want to buy Office 2010 for that would be a waste of money at this point. The only qualms I have with 8 is the lousy email app and not enough apps yet.

Stuck in the middle for now I guess. "Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with You"................

If I was running a business I would stick with Win7. It's a known and Win8 still might have issues that can't happen in a business environment. As for the Email.. I use GMAIL and to access it I use Thunderbird - Mozilla Thunderbird

It's free and works great.

 

[Coke Robot]

If given the option, I'd go with Windows 8 for business usage. Don't see any problems doing so, in fact, I know of a business that is trying it out on a couple of machines and might install on all their puters. Works fine for them.

Office 2000?! Wow! You know the 2013 preview will let you use it for more than 30 days.

 

[Coke Robot]

Oh, c'mon!

The DP sucked to the point of unusability, and that's being generous.

It was the CP when things started to come together.

Still running the CP on the other laptop. Geez it looks
good compared to the RTM on this machine....and it
runs as sweet as a kitten...

The Developer Preview actually ran real fine for me. The only issue I really had other than the typical kinks was hot swapping hard drives. You had to restart to get Windows detect it. I once installed the DP on a hard drive and connected it to my puter to transfer data and then plugged it back into the puter. Completely killed it! It suffered an NTFS file system error because of the hybrid boot since I didn't cleanly shut it down.

 

[Frank1]

I hope that everyone will be able to put their older operating system back on, because if you get the upgrade you will not be able to install it over the evaluation issue that you have now. You can only install the upgrade over a previous version of Windows. I believe it has to be XP or newer. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that I am.

You can upgrade the RP to the RTM.

It's my understanding that you cannot install the update of Windows 8 over the evaluation version. The evaluation must be removed and your prior version of Windows must be put back. The update can be unstalled over the prior version. Please check the link below which is from MS. Read the second line under "Things to Know Before Your start." Then tell me what I am misunderstanding? If I'm wrong, it won't be the first time, but the way it reads, I don't think that I am.
Download Windows 8 Enterprise Evaluation

 

[TheGrantFitz]

I hope that everyone will be able to put their older operating system back on, because if you get the upgrade you will not be able to install it over the evaluation issue that you have now. You can only install the upgrade over a previous version of Windows. I believe it has to be XP or newer. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that I am.

You can upgrade the RP to the RTM.

It's my understanding that you cannot install the update of Windows 8 over the evaluation version. The evaluation must be removed.

RP is the only acceptation to the rule. Actually if you had a previous Windows XP, Vista, or 7 installation and a Product Key. (OEM's count too!)

 

[BunnyJ]

I hope that everyone will be able to put their older operating system back on, because if you get the upgrade you will not be able to install it over the evaluation issue that you have now. You can only install the upgrade over a previous version of Windows. I believe it has to be XP or newer. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that I am.

You can upgrade the RP to the RTM.

It's my understanding that you cannot install the update of Windows 8 over the evaluation version. The evaluation must be removed and your prior version of Windows must be put back. The update can be unstalled over the prior version. Please check the link below which is from MS. Read the second line under "Things to Know Before Your start." Then tell me what I am misunderstanding? If I'm wrong, it won't be the first time, but the way it reads, I don't think that I am.
Download Windows 8 Enterprise Evaluation

Read posts #13 and #14 in this thread. Yes you can. You're referring to the "Windows 8 evaluation for developers". That has a 90 day evaluation period and prevents the upgrade. That does not apply to the Release Preview. See the links below.

Windows 8 Release Preview users can upgrade to final edition for $39.99 with prior valid license | The Verge

Microsoft's Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer will also apply to users of the Release Preview edition, the company has revealed. The deal, that lets Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99, will be offered to Release Preview users once the final version is available. However, a previous valid license of Windows will be required for upgrade eligibility.


Microsoft tells us that if you had a "previous version of Windows that qualified on the PC already and installed Windows 8 Release Preview on top of it, you still qualify for the upgrade," because of the previous installation of Windows. Users who clean install a version of Release Preview "on top" of a previous version of Windows (Xp, Vista, Windows 7) will also be eligible for the upgrade. The software maker cites a method of installing Windows 8 Release Preview on a Mac running OS X as an example of how you would have to pay for a full copy of Windows 8. "You would need to get the System Builder version instead of the upgrade to run on that Mac," says a Microsoft spokesperson.


The cheaper upgrade path is expected to be made available primarily through online downloads when Windows 8 launches later this year. Microsoft is currently preparing final builds of Windows 8, with an expected RTM due later this month and a release to the public tentatively scheduled for mid-October, according to those familiar with the company's plans.

Windows 8 Release Preview users eligible for $40 RTM upgrade, require past license - Neowin

It recently came to light that the upgrade from previous versions of Windows to Windows 8 Pro would cost just $39.99 until January 31, 2013; a surprising bargain considering previous upgrades cost more than $100. With the deal, anyone can upgrade their copy of Windows XP, Vista or 7 to the full version of Windows 8 Pro. A physical upgrade DVD will also be available in retailers for $69.99.

At the time of the announcement it was unclear if you would be able to upgrade from the Release Preview to the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) final version of Windows 8 for this low price, but since then it has been revealed by Mary Jo Foley that this is indeed possible. Speaking on the Windows Weekly podcast, Foley mentions that the $39.99 upgrade deal also applies for those people testing Windows 8.

...[$39.99] is also the price for people who are testing Windows 8... I just asked to make sure and they're saying yes, if you have been testing the Windows 8 Release Preview you can upgrade for the $40 too.

​

This means that you can effectively get a full copy of Windows 8 before January 31, 2013 for $40 by simply downloading and installing the Release Preview for free, and then upgrading to Windows 8 Pro for the low price of $39.99. That said, it is good to see Microsoft is rewarding all those who have spent time testing Windows in the months leading up to the release.


Update: Brandon LeBlanc mentions on the Microsoft blog that to upgrade from the Release Preview you need "an underlying license for either Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7". Luckily for most people, finding a Windows license from the past 11 years shouldn't be that hard, still enabling you to upgrade extremely cheaply.


It should also be noted that those who upgrade from the Release Preview will only be able to keep their documents and files, with previously installed applications not making it through the update process. Thanks for the update, lcg, in the comments.

 

[Frank1]

Well--I read those posts and clicked on the links. According to what it said, you don't necessarily have to have an older version to install over. The information provided was dated July of 2012. I suppose the link that I provided was older news. Maybe MS changed their mind--or I misunderstood what I read. So it seems that I stand corrected--and that's good because it's better this way as we don't have to jump through as many hoops to get it installed.

 

[BunnyJ]

Well--I read those posts and clicked on the links. According to what it said, you don't necessarily have to have an older version to install over. The information provided was dated July of 2012. I suppose the link that I provided was older news. Maybe MS changed their mind--or I misunderstood what I read. So it seems that I stand corrected--and that's good because it's better this way as we don't have to jump through as many hoops to get it installed.

I still think you'll need a key/license for either Xp,Vista or 7 to do the upgrade to Win8 RTM. But I could be wrong. Worst case for me is I have to re-install Win7 and upgrade to Win8 RTM. Not a big deal.

 

[R0bR]

I've been testing Windows 8 for work for some time on my work hardware through a direct boot to VHD dual boot scenario. Last night I imaged my Windows 7 install, wiped out my HD and am running Windows 8 Enterprise. I am also using Office 2013 preview but with Lync 2010. I've configured my Logitech mouse multiple buttons to access charms, app launcher, start screen and close applications which has made navigation incredibly efficient.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Very cool, R0bR. I've heard of others configuring Logitech mice. Seems the way to go. I'm a shortcut keys guy myself. I fly around in 8 as quick as previous OSs.