Windows 8 coming in 2012

Techspot has discovered this week that Microsoft will release its upcoming Windows 8 operating system in late 2012, likely around the anniversary of 7's launch in October.

The proof comes via a blog post in which Microsoft says (translated roughly): "Furthermore, Microsoft is on course with the next version of Windows. But it will take about two years before "Windows 8" hits the market."

Microsoft has not commented on the post.

The timing makes sense, though, as Microsoft has openly said they hoped to return to a three-year product cycle after the delayed cycle that caused Vista to be released seven years after Windows XP.

Microsoft's latest iteration, Windows 7, has sold 240 million licenses in just one year of release.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 26 Oct 2010 22:54

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24 comments

KillerBug

So...Windows 2000 was (at the time) the best windows by far...and then ME came out and it was even worse than windows 98. Then XP comes out, and it is even better than 2000, then Vista comes out and it is worse than windows 98, then Windows 7 comes out and it is even better than XP...given this pattern, Windows 8 will probably be worse than vista. I'm waiting for Windows 9.

26.10.2010 22:57 #1

Joshewah

^Except if it's following an inadvertent cycle it's doubtful they'll keep using a number scheme and, instead, will probably substitute the number scheme with whatever new techie buzz word is prevalent at the time. For instance if it were released now It would be called either iWindows, Windows HD, or Windows 4G (whether it somehow supports 4G connectivity or not is irrelevant because 4g sounds EXCITING).

X360 - iXtreme1.4 ||| Xbox - EvoX Dash ||| PS2 - CC 2.0 PRO SLE ||| Dreamcast ...lol ||| NDS - Acekard 2/M3 Simply/EZ Flash 3-1 ||| Rooted HTC Hero with Ic3rom

26.10.2010 23:25 #2

GryphB

I wonder if it will become what win7 was to Vista, a polished up version of the previous....

But I think what will happen is windows will start to look and feel more and more like a cross between Linux and Mac O/S's. Pinning apps that you use to the tool bar is something like that of the Ubuntu interface (add launcher application to panel)

Eventually, all platforms will look and feel the same, maybe except Linux since by principle of the O/S that licenses shall remain free, so only developers and die hards will embrace it.

27.10.2010 00:34 #3

GuestNo1 (unverified)

Originally posted by KillerBug: So...Windows 2000 was (at the time) the best windows by far...and then ME came out and it was even worse than windows 98. Then XP comes out, and it is even better than 2000, then Vista comes out and it is worse than windows 98, then Windows 7 comes out and it is even better than XP...given this pattern, Windows 8 will probably be worse than vista. I'm waiting for Windows 9. Such a great idea man. I think it is ridiculous that Microsoft will publish Windows 8 in 2012. By that time, most of people have still not been familiar with Widnows 7

27.10.2010 00:41 #4

Mysttic

This is MS, they'll delay it like they did for both Vista and 7, then once released it'll be buggy as edited by ddp and crap like hell.

27.10.2010 01:31 #5

iamgq

too soon

True thug Afterdawn memeber since 05! Shout out to all those old school member still in the ranks of Newbie! Represent!

27.10.2010 04:01 #6

Sudds

Meh... couldn't care less.
Runnin Hackintosh 100% perfect, no more windows for me.

27.10.2010 04:38 #7

airman

Anything more than every 8 or 10 years causes people to upgrade when what they have is far more than sufficient. it also obsoletes hardware, which may not be replaceable at any cost as other technologies change.

Take for instance the move from XP to Vista, to Win 7. Printers and scanners that worked well on XP do not even have drivers for Vista or Win 7. Worse, in the photography line which has made the move from film to digital scanners and particularly film and slide scanners are no longer in demand. This means few if any new high end scanners, and no drivers for the older high end scanners. This means photographers who wish to scan slides and film have no choice but to use XP even though it is no longer supported making a portion of their business a bit on the shaky side which in this economy is already shaky enough.

Airman

27.10.2010 05:21 #8

juventini

Originally posted by iamgq: too soon Agree, but I think Micro$oft is felling the market pressure.

Forza Juve!!

27.10.2010 09:25 #9

airman

Originally posted by GryphB: I wonder if it will become what win7 was to Vista, a polished up version of the previous....

But I think what will happen is windows will start to look and feel more and more like a cross between Linux and Mac O/S's. Pinning apps that you use to the tool bar is something like that of the Ubuntu interface (add launcher application to panel)

Eventually, all platforms will look and feel the same, maybe except Linux since by principle of the O/S that licenses shall remain free, so only developers and die hards will embrace it. Using various flavors of LINUX is much like using Windows already except for the wallpaper and the windows layout. IOW things may be in a different place but using one is like using the other, except for maybe network configuration.

By the time Win 8 (or what ever they call it, just skip every other release)is released maybe Win 7 will start playing nice on the network with other operating systems. It's very easy to set up to work with other Win 7 systems although I normally do not use the network neighborhood and use static IPs. However as soon as one of the machines switches to XP or LINUX the Win 7 machines don't know it's there. Same IP and same MAC but they can't seem to find it although it often finds them.

Airman

27.10.2010 09:54 #10

cart0181

airman, I networked an XP machine and a Win7 machine the other day. It was extraordinarily easy. You just don't use the HomeGroup and just use classic networking. The only slight hangup was I had to disable password protection on the Win7 machine so the XP computer could access it. But Win7 could access XP instantly. All done wireless.

Also, regarding your previous post. I have installed MANY printers designed for XP on Vista and Windows 7 without any problems whatsoever. You just have to read exactly how to do it on the manufacturers website. And there ARE some variances depending on the printer. I only encountered problems occasionally during the first year of Vista's release, never again since that time. I'm sure there are some out there that just won't play nice. Like you say, perhaps with some professional photography products or scanners, I just haven't encountered them myself. Usually, even if an official driver hasn't been released for Vista, you can use the BASIC one for Windows Server 2008 or Windows 2000. At worst, you'll have to extract the .inf file and use the "Have Disk" option to select it. Good Luck!

27.10.2010 11:55 #11

dEwMe

It's funny how many people and especialy companies are still hapily using XP.

Just my $0.02,

dEwMe

27.10.2010 13:48 #12

Mysttic

Quote:Also, regarding your previous post. I have installed MANY printers designed for XP on Vista and Windows 7 without any problems whatsoever. You just have to read exactly how to do it on the manufacturers website. And there ARE some variances depending on the printer. I only encountered problems occasionally during the first year of Vista's release, never again since that time. I'm sure there are some out there that just won't play nice. Like you say, perhaps with some professional photography products or scanners, I just haven't encountered them myself. Usually, even if an official driver hasn't been released for Vista, you can use the BASIC one for Windows Server 2008 or Windows 2000. At worst, you'll have to extract the .inf file and use the "Have Disk" option to select it. Good Luck!
The first year Vista was released I was working for Dell, the biggest printer issue of em all. LEXMARK. None of em would work, and Dell was advertising the units that they were 100% compatible with Vista despite Lexmark sending official letters to Dell to stop selling those units. It was hilarious as it was sad; yet Dell claimed to consumers that their tech's were magical and they could get anything to work.

27.10.2010 14:08 #13

ST2006

Ok so we get the debate that Windows 8 might be crappier than Windows 7 or it might be buggy, or interfaces wil become generic etc etc..

but tbh, what I really want to know is what more can Microsoft build on what's in Windows 7 that can be done with a service pack upgrade? I mean XP was sufficient for many, many years. The fact they took 7 years or we to get Vista out isn't even a biggie.

What would you want from a new OS?

I think Microsoft should run a campaign like this...

27.10.2010 19:32 #14

juventini

Originally posted by My_News: They should not produce another OS for awhile allow Windows 7 to run the market when computer have come farther produce a more user friendly OS. Windows 7 is a very user friendly OS that I personally think is the best OS Microsoft has put out. Sound resoundable.

Forza Juve!!

27.10.2010 22:57 #15

blivetNC

Originally posted by dEwMe: It's funny how many people and especialy companies are still hapily using XP.

5 computers (two desk tops, 2 netbooks, one laptop. 3 XP 2 Win 7, one printer, one scanner, one wireless router, 2 network storage drives, no problems. Will continue to use XP until the machine dies. XP is fine, wouldn't upgrade to Vista under any circumstances,Win 7 only because the computer came with it.
My company still uses XP and sees no need to upgrade at all.....
What real features are lacking in XP?

27.10.2010 22:57 #16

DXR88

Originally posted by Joshewah: ^Except if it's following an inadvertent cycle it's doubtful they'll keep using a number scheme and, instead, will probably substitute the number scheme with whatever new techie buzz word is prevalent at the time. For instance if it were released now It would be called either iWindows, Windows HD, or Windows 4G (whether it somehow supports 4G connectivity or not is irrelevant because 4g sounds EXCITING). Windows Hotdog edition. now with 10x more mechanically Separated Bloatware.

28.10.2010 01:07 #17

xnonsuchx

Originally posted by dEwMe: It's funny how many people and especialy companies are still hapily using XP. ...and so many companies are planning to use XP for a while that MS extended their support for it yet again. Companies very frequently are at least 2 and up to 4 or more years behind the current OS because they 1) want to save money and 2) believe if it ain't broken, don't fix it (which kinda goes back to 1). Especially any that have proprietary software don't want to invest all the time and money into making sure their software works as well on a newer OS. Up to 30-40% of companies were still using Win2000 until 2004/2005 before upgrading to XP.

28.10.2010 01:25 #18

PR (unverified)

Originally posted by blivetNC: Originally posted by dEwMe: It's funny how many people and especialy companies are still hapily using XP.

5 computers (two desk tops, 2 netbooks, one laptop. 3 XP 2 Win 7, one printer, one scanner, one wireless router, 2 network storage drives, no problems. Will continue to use XP until the machine dies. XP is fine, wouldn't upgrade to Vista under any circumstances,Win 7 only because the computer came with it.
My company still uses XP and sees no need to upgrade at all.....
What real features are lacking in XP? Microsoft profits and competitiveness. .can't think of anything else that is missing in xp.

28.10.2010 04:21 #19

ribbie149

5 computers (3 desktops, one laptop, one netbook) All on XP- NO PROBLEMS. If it ain't broke.....

4.11.2010 11:47 #20

airman

I also have 5 computers...all desktops, well they'd be called that but they are all full size towers on a gigabit network. All but one have Win 7, 3 of them are dual boot, Win 7 and XP Pro and 2 also have FEDORA LINUX making two machines with three operating systems. The system that gets used the most? XP Pro.

Actually I do like Win 7, it's much faster to boot but it's a PITA to network with the *other* operating systems. The 64 bit version (which I use) is incompatible with a fair amount of hardware that only works with the 32 bit version.

All that said, Do we even need Win 8? What will it offer that would encourage any one to change when the old, outdated, no longer supported, XP will do most if not all of what the average user needs and wants.

Will we and particularly businesses, have any reason to upgrade other than being forced to through planned obsolescence of older soft ware.

Airman

4.11.2010 14:09 #21

ralphdown

Microsoft will continue to cripple XP with "updates" until it is completely unusable!

4.11.2010 17:22 #22

bratcher

Originally posted by Mysttic: Quote:Also, regarding your previous post. I have installed MANY printers designed for XP on Vista and Windows 7 without any problems whatsoever. You just have to read exactly how to do it on the manufacturers website. And there ARE some variances depending on the printer. I only encountered problems occasionally during the first year of Vista's release, never again since that time. I'm sure there are some out there that just won't play nice. Like you say, perhaps with some professional photography products or scanners, I just haven't encountered them myself. Usually, even if an official driver hasn't been released for Vista, you can use the BASIC one for Windows Server 2008 or Windows 2000. At worst, you'll have to extract the .inf file and use the "Have Disk" option to select it. Good Luck!
The first year Vista was released I was working for Dell, the biggest printer issue of em all. LEXMARK. None of em would work, and Dell was advertising the units that they were 100% compatible with Vista despite Lexmark sending official letters to Dell to stop selling those units. It was hilarious as it was sad; yet Dell claimed to consumers that their tech's were magical and they could get anything to work. My old Lexmark X73 that worked fine on Vista never had drivers for Win 7 so I just bought a new Epson RX680 that worked great on Win 7. Haven't bought a Lexmark product since.

4.11.2010 17:48 #23

creaky

Originally posted by dEwMe: It's funny how many people and especialy companies are still hapily using XP.

Indeed. And at work a good chunk of our servers are still on Windows 2000, a few are 2003 and the rest are linux. Everything on 2000 server still works perfectly. Who needs new OSes eh. We still have many Windows 2000 desktops at many of our branches, though to be fair when those machines die we put XP on the new replacement machines. Windows 7 is only really if someone specifically requests it (not that often though).

Originally posted by ralphdown: Microsoft will continue to cripple XP with "updates" until it is completely unusable! That's easy, just don't use their updates. I never have.

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6.11.2010 16:03 #24

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