Yes, that's curious.

Perhaps it is so they can change it again if it meets fierce criticism - then release another ( changed ) version which they can call the beta.

If there isn't too much violent objection - then they can say - well that was the beta all along - just under a different name.

They must be pretty worried about it.

Originally Posted by Dave76

They are leaving more wiggle room to add UI changes if the masses really start an uproar.

Will be interesting.

And there will be uproar. Question is whether it will help. They may be too late in the cycle to make any significant changes.

They might had done that because beta sounds too, techy for most people. Even Developer Preview daunts some. A Consumer Preview is a preview for consumers. That branding sounds more like it's targeted for everyone else who wants to test it, not just developers, testers, or enthusiasts.

They are definitely headed for the less technically inclined crowd. They know little about systems and spend money more easily. These future devices will be marketed at McDo as part of the happy meals.

Originally Posted by A Guy

Summary: The coming Windows 8 beta is looking more and more like it will be called the “consumer preview.” Why the change in nomenclature?

Is Microsoft going to position the coming Windows 8 beta as a “consumer preview”? And if so, why?

Microsoft officials have repeated recently that the Windows 8 beta release is on track for late February 2012. But one public relations official with the Windows team provided a slightly different message — and one that escaped notice by most of those who read her quote — during the Consumer Electronics Show.

Source

A Guy

A "consumer preview" means essentially that MS would not be looking for any input from users. Assuming that millions would download this package, MS would only be looking for bugs, not suggestions. A true beta would go to persons whose technical expertise is respected by the company. In this preview, there would be hundreds of thousands of opinions, just too many for any company to make sense of. This is a marketing exercise, a way to get noticed and create excitement for Win8.

For all those here who disagree with the course MS is taking: Your opinion does not count. Microsoft knows your opinion and does not care. The company has already decided that it would not get much income from upgraders and that this is just fine. Win7 was the only OS for which MS got any measurable revenue from upgrades and it can do without it. If you are going to buy a new computer, it would come with Win8 or you can downgrade to Win7, the same sum of money to Microsoft. So, uproar or no uproar from current users is not important. MS is after the mobile market and it is willing to antagonize the desktop for a few years to gain a foothold in the mobile market.

The question is if MS would actually gain any foothold in the mobile market (tablets and phones). With heavy marketing, it may. But it would go against iOS 6.0 (with unknown enhancements over iOS 5.0) and against Android 4.0 and Android 5.0. Android 4.0 can run various apps in windows when implemented in tablets, a feat that Win8 cannot master (not yet, anyway). So, this would be interesting to see.

The question for you (and Microsoft) is: if you are going to buy a tablet, would you choose an Android 4/5 one, an iPad (likely 3.0) or a Win8 one? If MS thinks that it has sold you on Win8 for tablets, then the company would be very happy.