Win 8, in with the new and ... what, exactly, with the old?

Forums › Microsoft Windows › Win 8, in with the new and ... what, exactly, with the old?

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

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#101819 9-May-2012 17:13

Please brace yourself as I may well be asking the most naive question ever posted on this forum.

So, I am currently looking to buy a new laptop. The old one is about four years old and while it goes it isn't going, with it's second hard drive, to go much longer and I want to get a new one before the old one dies not after.

But ... I know Windows 8 is coming, almost certainly this year, and I want to wait for that before I buy a new computer. What is the point of buying something that will soon be out of date?

But this got me to thinking, what will happen to all the computers which retailers have in stock when Windows 8 is released?

Do they simply load new software, change the sticker and sell? Is this even possible?

Do they sell them off fire-sale cheap?

Do they do something completely different?

I wasn't anywhere near the market, had a lot going on at the time, when Vista changed to Seven so I can't remember.

And, as usual, I'm curious.

Thanks

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

billgates

4705 posts

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#622370 9-May-2012 17:19

Retailers cannot load the new OS, change the stick and sell it like that. They will sell it as it is possibly for a discounted price. If you were eagerly waiting for Windows 8 then I suggest for Windows 8 to launch sometime late this year as you will get latest and greatest hardware. UEFI firmware for faster booting, possibly NFC, touch screen on ultrabooks etc.

Do whatever you want to do man.

jonb

1771 posts

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#622372 9-May-2012 17:24

I got a laptop at the Vista/Windows 7 transition. There was no firesale at the time I remember.. I got a 'free' upgrade to windows 7, 'free' as in still had to pay $20 as p&p for the Win 7 dvd.

Windows 8 looks like a total dogs dinner, so who knows how it will end up this time?

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#622382 9-May-2012 17:35

Yeah, I think my work PC is on XP.

So you know where I'm coming from, I'm not a coder. I come from a 'what does a consumer/enterprise actually do with it?' perspective.

I have read a lot of the press around Win8 (can I be the first to call it: Wait?) and it looks like the under the hood stuff is good. The idea it can work on ARM chips, the idea it is one unified system across all devices; PC, phone, tab.

But, and it is a big but, everything I have so far read about Metro on the PC is bad. Even the idea: 'It's like a touch screen interface for keyboard and mouse' sounds completely wrong. Fine for tablets and phones but all the reviews are saying "Yeah, but why make us work this way on an actual PC?". I don't understand it either.

Oh, well, we'll see. And this time I'll pay attention.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

simplestuff

84 posts

Master Geek

#633918 1-Jun-2012 09:43

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso

Just released see Pc world for review

garvani

1873 posts

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#633953 1-Jun-2012 10:31

That is the release candidate for those not in the know, there is usually 2 release candidates then a RTM build (release to manufacturing). So although most things will be set there will be minor changes between that version and the final build you will get on a pc in a shop.

See the news item on the front of Geekzone

trig42

5809 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#633963 1-Jun-2012 10:39

crackrdbycracku: Please brace yourself as I may well be asking the most naive question ever posted on this forum.

So, I am currently looking to buy a new laptop. The old one is about four years old and while it goes it isn't going, with it's second hard drive, to go much longer and I want to get a new one before the old one dies not after.

But ... I know Windows 8 is coming, almost certainly this year, and I want to wait for that before I buy a new computer. What is the point of buying something that will soon be out of date?

But this got me to thinking, what will happen to all the computers which retailers have in stock when Windows 8 is released?

Do they simply load new software, change the sticker and sell? Is this even possible?

Do they sell them off fire-sale cheap?

Do they do something completely different?

I wasn't anywhere near the market, had a lot going on at the time, when Vista changed to Seven so I can't remember.

And, as usual, I'm curious.

Thanks

They don't sell them off firesale cheap. Usually the manufacturers have got plenty of notice and the buyers for the big stores know it's coming, so they will run stocks low. The manufacturers will also have a period in which wevery purchase includes an 'upgrade' to Windows8 (plus p&p as mentioned above)

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#633964 1-Jun-2012 10:39

I heard a rumour on the NZ Tech podcast that if you buy a PC now with you can upgrade to Win 8 when it comes out for a nominal fee, say $30. This was very much a 'we just heard so don't quote us' type of thing.

This raises two questions, first should anybody be buying a Windows PC now? At the very least until a deal like this actually gets sorted. Second, will all PCs able to run Win 7 be able to run Win 8? Or could you get stuck with a PC only able to run 7?

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

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garvani

1873 posts

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#633968 1-Jun-2012 10:43

The deal you are speaking of is only if you buy a pc from the official microsoft store. **

Closer to the time of release other manufactures will offer "free" upgrades.

** Edit: found the artice here

If you can run win7 you can run win8, although there are a lot of changes, fundamentally its Windows 7 with a new interface.

dclegg

2806 posts

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#634020 1-Jun-2012 11:38

jonb: I got a laptop at the Vista/Windows 7 transition. There was no firesale at the time I remember.. I got a 'free' upgrade to windows 7, 'free' as in still had to pay $20 as p&p for the Win 7 dvd.

Windows 8 looks like a total dogs dinner, so who knows how it will end up this time?

I had the same thing with the notebook we bought for my daughter. It had Vista installed, but HP provided a "free" upgrade to Win7. IIRC, I had to pay USD $20 for p&p.

mthand

148 posts

Master Geek

#634081 1-Jun-2012 12:30

My honest opinion is that Win 8 will deliver a pretty sharp experience for tablet users. Desktop users could stay with Win 7 for quite some time yet. MS probably know this, and will perhaps just be targeting the idle XP and Vista users to move on. To this end Win 7 and Win 8 could cost the same, making people think that newer will be better and price is not a deciding factor

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#634096 1-Jun-2012 12:42

My, arguably uninformed, opinion is that the rubber will meet the road in the PC - smartphone interface.

With phones getting bigger and ultrabooks getting better and cheaper I think the tablet's days are numbered.

If MS can get the phone - computer integration right, it will be pretty hard not to be buying into that eco-system.

That is a reasonably big 'if' mind you.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

sidefx

3711 posts

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#634137 1-Jun-2012 13:18

mthand: My honest opinion is that Win 8 will deliver a pretty sharp experience for tablet users.

I'm interested to see how it does in the 10-foot-UI space too, perhaps combined with kinect or similar devices...

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

beehappy

104 posts

Master Geek

#634258 1-Jun-2012 16:00

Maybe a dumb question can you install windows on an Android tablet like Samsung 10.1 etc as some of them seem to have quite high Spec's, or do you have to buy a "Windows" tablet
Thanks Pete