Windows 8 Release Date is October 26

18.07.2012
Windows 8 will be released on October 26, 2012.

Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows division, made the announcement during the company's annual sales meeting, according to the . The company had already announced for the new operating system, but did not give a specific date until today.

The release date applies to new Windows 8 PCs and to , which will cost $40 through January 31 for users running Windows XP or later. No specific launch day hardware was mentioned, but should be available around that time.

Microsoft still hasn't announced non-upgrade Windows 8 pricing for users who build their own PCs or want to run the OS on Mac hardware. There's been some chatter that Microsoft will sell a "System Builder" or OEM version of the OS, but not a .

Windows 8 is a major overhaul, with a new Start screen optimized for touch screens and an app store for tablet-friendly "Metro-style" programs. The is still available for anyone who wants to give it a try, or you can read up on .

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