You can buy a new desktop, laptop and tablet computers with Windows 8. Several PC manufacturers including Samsung, Lenovo, Hewlett-Packard and Dell already have announced details of their new launches. Those who have bought a Windows 7 PC (other than the Starter Edition) since June 2 will be able to buy Windows 8 Pro for Rs 699. The offer applies to Windows 7 PCs sold until January 31, and the upgrade must be claimed by February 28. To claim the offer, register the machine at https://windowsupgradeoffer.com. You will get an e-mail with a promo code, which you can use to get the Windows 8 upgrade online. Those who bought a Windows PC before June 2 will be able to upgrade for $39.99 (Rs 2,150 approximately). You must already have Windows XP with Service Pack 3, Windows Vista or Windows 7. Those who prefer buying a DVD to upgrade will have to pay Rs 3,999 approximately.
Can all existing users of Windows upgrade?
Before spending money on an upgrade, ensure that your machine is strong enough to run Windows 8. If you want to run Windows 8 on your PC, it should have a 1 gigahertz (GHz) processor or faster (Intel or AMD), 1 gigabyte RAM, hard disk space of 16 GB and Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device. If you are not sure, Microsoft has an upgrade tool that will stop you if you try to buy Windows 8 without the requirements.
What's new?
Win 8 brings the tablet and smartphone experience on the PC. Swipes and multi-touch gestures (whether on a touch screen or a touchpad) are also intrinsic to the new OS. There is no start button, to begin with. It is lighter and quicker, loads faster, and is more power- and CPU-efficient. New features include Windows To Go, which fits your work environment and files securely on a bootable flash drive; Microsoft Live ID sign-in, which lets you back up your data and photos to SkyDrive and configures e-mail, and lots more.
Different versions
There are four versions. There’s a basic version. Windows Pro is for more tech-savvy users and businesses. It has features such as encryption and group account management. Large companies with volume-licensing deals with Microsoft will want Windows 8 Enterprise, which has additional tools for IT staff to manage machines. There is also Windows RT for ARM-based chips which power the vast majority of tablets and smartphones in use today