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| Windows 8 RTM relased to MSDN; Evaluation version released |
| By Thom Holwerda on 2012-08-15 21:30:05 |
| Microsoft has made Windows 8's final release available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers, so if you are one of those - have fun. The 90-day trial has also been released, so us mere mortals can have a go at it as well. The evaluation version is Windows 8 Enterprise, so it contains a number of features regular users normally won't see. As far as I can tell - it's a bit unclear - the trial version cannot be upgraded to a final version a few months down the line. Happy testing! |
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| No upgrades |
| By jessesmith on 2012-08-16 11:40:58 |
|
>> "As far as I can tell - it's a bit unclear - the trial version cannot be upgraded to a final version a few months down the line." One of the first bullet points on the page linked to in the summary says "The evaluation edition will expire and cannot be upgraded." Seems pretty clear. If you run the evaluation provided and you decide to purchase Win8 later, you'll have to perform a fresh install. |
 - Score: 4 |
| RE: No upgrades |
| By Thom_Holwerda on 2012-08-16 11:43:35 |
|
Yes, but it's followed by: "To upgrade, the evaluation must be uninstalled and a non-evaluation version of Windows must be re-installed from your original installation media." ...which made me think of the original installation media - which, at this point, is Windows 7. |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE[3]: To PAE or not to PAE? That is the question! |
| By judgen on 2012-08-16 11:44:35 |
|
PAE is enforced as many companies still have to work with 16bit PLC devices with correspongind software and the 64bit systems does not support that. So this is just a way to enforce that the drivers are compatible with PAE. You might say that dosbox or some virtualization might do the trick, and indeed in some cases it will, but some devices and industrial hardware indeed need direct contact. It is not only about the ram size, but also about the exact placement of registers available with old un-updated software (Siemens, i hate you for being the biggest culprit in this) in direct access to the named industrial hardware. In PAE 32+extra bits the initial bits for the conventional memory is in the same place, in a x64bit system this is not always the case. Have a lovely day. |
| - Score: 5 |
| RE[2]: No upgrades |
| By MOS6510 on 2012-08-16 12:09:26 |
|
Unless you buy a original Windows 8 medium I guess. Still, it's a bit weird the mighty Microsoft can't code something that allows you to turn a time limited demo in to a full product, because well, it already is a full product with a timer. My guess is the timer is made so hacker proof that it just can't be removed/deactivated without blowing up the computer. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE[3]: No upgrades |
| By Thom_Holwerda on 2012-08-16 12:16:52 |
| Yeah it's ridiculous. I mean, why not just offer up a enter-your-serial when the 90 days run out? Shouldn't be too hard. |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE[4]: No upgrades |
| By MOS6510 on 2012-08-16 12:20:03 |
|
Talking of which, has anyone noticed that Microsoft has improved the serial number entry process over the years? It would be even better if it also had auto correct. If you make a mistake entering the code it would correct it for you. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE: Pass |
| By potential on 2012-08-16 12:21:58 |
|
My current laptop was bought after Windows 7 came out, but it has a Windows Vista license (Read: I bought a second-hand laptop). So, I am still running Vista Business. If Microsoft comes through with the upgrade incentive in my country, I will gladly upgrade to Windows 8, at a fraction of the cost of buying a new license. I tried the RP ISO and was able to make it work for me by doing the following: 1. Uninstalled all the Metro apps. 2. Learned a few new keyboard shortcuts. 3. Installed Vistart. I can live with seeing the new startup menu before clicking on the Desktop icon. Granted, if my current laptop came with Windows 7, I would be sticking with that. |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE[2]: Why would you want it on your PC? |
| By smokeelaa on 2012-08-16 12:50:19 |
|
I will definitely be doing the $40 upgrade from Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 8 Pro. Hyper-V, Remote Desktop host, and Bitlocker FVE are well worth the upgrade price for me. |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE[5]: No upgrades |
| By Soulbender on 2012-08-16 12:58:17 |
| I miss the times when a Windows serial made up of only 1's would work. |
| - Score: 4 |
| RE[3]: Pass |
| By adinas on 2012-08-16 13:07:11 |
|
"Compared to previous releases it finally appears that Microsoft understands the concept of fit and finish" Seriously? you have two totally different GUIs running at the same time. You jump between them depending on which app you are running. One of these GUIS is really inconvenient on a desktop PC and its best "feature" is that it shows you less information instead of more on the screen. |
| - Score: 8 |
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