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Windows 8 Release Preview

Windows 8 Release Preview

CNET Editors Take

Windows 8. It sounds so innocent.
The name of Microsofts coming operating system, updated today to Windows 8 Release Preview, implies just another version of an OS once much loved and now much maligned. But Windows 8 means much more to Microsoft: Its a bold attempt to build an Apple-proof operating system with modern visual elements via the risky Metro design language. Its a salvo in the war for tablet relevance. It insists that touch screens matter, and it sets the stage for upcoming versions of Windows Mobile.

For Microsoft to succeed with Windows on all platforms, Windows 8 has to work. The changes in todays Release Preview take a step in the right direction, tightening up the operating system and introducing new apps to showcase just what Windows 8 can do. But Microsoft isnt there yet. This is more "beta two" than "release candidate."

Its true that the Windows 8 Release Preview has a lot going for it, and people are curious. Microsoft says the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which debuted at Mobile World Congress in February, is "the most tested Microsoft operating system of all time," with more than 1 million downloads during its first 24 hours of public availability. Its tricked out with social networking and synchronization, its robust enough to handle monster suites like Adobes, it gracefully moves from touch to keyboard and mouse, and its got some top-notch security. What youll find in the Release Preview is a stable, fast operating system thats ready to compete, but a selection of default apps that are far from complete.

You can get the Windows 8 Release Preview from Microsofts site, or CNET Download.com. Microsoft has revealed the Windows 8 upgrade plan for Windows 7 computers purchased after June 2.

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