It will run great on the same hardware as Windows 7 before it

Feb 29, 2012 15:55 GMT  ·  By

Today, Microsoft has made available for download the latest milestone of Windows 8, namely the Consumer Preview version, which offers a better look at what the final flavor of the platform will be about.

The Redmond-based company has made available for download the ISO images of both x86 and x64 versions of Windows 8, so that users can download and install them on their computers.

For that, they will need to burn the image on a DVD or emulator, or they can use the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup tool that Microsoft made available for download.

The utility will check their PCs to see whether they are compatible with the new platform release, and will also check on application compatibility.

If all goes according to plan, the tool will start downloading the new Windows 8 release, so that you can have a taste of it. As long as users will try to install the new OS on the same hardware on which they run Windows 7, all should be good.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview can be installed on computers featuring 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processors, and requires at least 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit).

It will also need 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) of storage space on the hard disk, as well as Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher.

Users will be able to install the new platform release on devices that do not feature touch capabilities, but will also get the chance to install it on devices that support the feature, including tablets or PCs with touch monitors.

“To access Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768 pixels,” Microsoft notes. “To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.”

Apparently, the Build tablets that were handed to application builders with Win 8 Developer Preview on them will not receive an automatic update to the new Consumer Preview. People will need to download and install new bits.

Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview

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