ITWire

Hankering to get your hands on the final, release version of Windows 8?

Well, unless you have a friend who can supply you with a properly working copy from the first week of August when Windows 8’s code goes to golden RTM status, or unless you’re willing to illegally brave the pirate laden seven seas of stolen software – which is NOT recommended – the date for Windows 8’s GA or general availability release is Friday the 26th of October, 2012.

The news was announced at Microsoft’s all-knowing Windows Team Blog, where the announcement from Microsoft’s Windows supremo, Steven Sinofsky, during Microsoft’s annual sales meeting, and which was relayed by Brendan LeBlanc, the Windows Team Blogger extraordinare.

This will be for boxed retail copies, downloadable upgrade copies and copies pre-loaded onto brand new Windows 8 machines – many of which will, presumably to Microsoft’s chagrin – be offered with Windows 7 downgrade rights.

It will also, however be the day that two flavours of Windows go live at retail – Windows 8 for x86/x64 systems using Intel or AMD processors, and Windows RT for tablets running ARM processors.

We should see Microsoft’s Surface tablet running Windows RT appear at this time, too – and unless Microsoft has a surprise up its sleeve, we’ll then have another long wait – 90 more days until Microsoft’s Surface Tablet running Windows 8 Pro launches, with 90 days putting it firmly into an early 2013 timeframe.

Which sucks – who wants to wait until 2013 to try a Windows 8 Pro Surface tablet? Everyone will want to try them from Windows 8’s release date, but alas – Microsoft is either pandering to its OEM partners so they get some hybrid ultrabook/tablet action of their own, or it simply couldn’t get its act together for a simultaneous release.

Or it’s a planned thing so that early 2013 – which is usually filled with CES hoopla and news – is also filled with Windows 8 Pro Surface Tablet views and reviews.

So… from the RTM in “the first week of August” to the finally nailed down October 26 launch date for Microsoft’s most ambitiously re-imagined version of Windows yet, Windows 8… Microsoft’s “world without walls” that still manages to presumably have “floating” Windows in it is nearly upon us, at last!