Windows 8 GA in Fall 2012, Possibly September, Microsoft Hints

Microsoft could release Windows 8 to market months ahead of the three years anniversary of Windows 7’s launch, according to a company executive.

The Redmond company has yet to confirm officially a general availability deadline for Windows 8, but the software giant has offered a few hints as to when users should expect the platform to hit store shelves.

From the get go the plan was to launch Windows 8 within three years after Windows 7’s GA.

Dan'l Lewin, Corporate Vice President, Strategic and Emerging Business Development re-confirmed the fact that the Redmond company is right on track to TechRadar

"We will be in market - if you look at the crystal ball and just say what happened in the past is a reasonable indicator of what our forward looking timelines will be and just speculate - we've made the point about having a developer conference later this year, and then typically we enter a beta phase, and then in 12 months we're in the market, so let's make that assumption," Lewin said.

The quote above can be interpreted to infer that Windows 8’s availability will happen sometime in the fall of 2012, possibly September.

In mid-September 2011 Microsoft will provide the first complete insight into Windows 8 at the BUILD conference, the evolution of the Professional Developers Conference.

Rumors indicate that the software giant is also planning to release the public Beta of Windows 8 later this year, perhaps even at BUILD, with the company completely mute on the matter.

The way I see it, Windows 8 GA in fall 2012 is certainly something that could become reality.

Source: Windows 8 GA in Fall 2012, Possibly September, Microsoft Hints - Softpedia

 

[Lebon14]

I still think it's too early... Windows 7 only starts to be widely popular and starts replacing Windows XP (that needs to die) and they release yet another OS. A good move, for me, would be releasing the mobile/tablet OS (SoC/ARM) then a year later, the desktop/laptop OS.

I understand that Microsoft don't want to do the same thing that happened with XP but at the same time, it's the consumers like us that says "Woah! Slow down!". I would precipitate another OS only if the one preceding the new version is unpopular (like Vista and Millenium were).

 

[JMC1]

is there a video showing the DESKTOP version of Win8? I dont give a rubbish for tablet version that microsoft posted a video, i wanna see an DESKTOP version running.

 

[echrada]

I still say that this is going to be the new Vista......

 

[whs]

Rumors indicate that the software giant is also planning to release the public Beta of Windows 8 later this year, perhaps even at BUILD, with the company completely mute on the matter.

This is the good news - if it holds.

 

[Dave76]

Public Beta is very good news, I am patiently waiting... OK .... just waiting.

Three years between versions may be too close for some and too long for others.
If it's too long, there's not much you can do. If it's too close, easy, just wait until your ready.

 

[jebuchanan]

I have to agree though, a desktop version seperate from the tablet version would be the way to go here.