Windows 8 Release Preview is now available for download. It’s available in 14 languages and 32-bit and 64-bit builds for computers with x86 or x64 processors.

This is the third pre-release version of Windows Microsoft has made available for testing — and it’s the last release Microsoft will offer to the public before Windows 8 officially launches this fall.

Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant

That’s not to say Windows 8 is done. The next version will be the RTM, or Release To Manufacturing build, and Microsoft says it will continue working on the operating system so that the RTM release could look different from the Release Preview. For instance, Aero desktop effects are still available in today’s release, but they’re expected to go away by the time the RTM rolls around.

For the most part the Release Preview looks a lot like the Windows 8 Consumer Preview that was launched in February. Most of the changes are under the hood.

But Microsoft has updated a number of its Windows 8 apps, and says there are now hundreds of new and updated apps available for download from the Windows Store.

One of the key differences between Windows 8 and earlier versions of the operating system is the inclusion of a new touch-friendly start menu and full-screen app framework called Metro. It makes Windows 8 much easier to use on touchscreen tablets than earlier versions of Windows… although I’m still not convinced Metro-style apps are all that useful on computers that don’t have touchscreens.

Microsoft will also offer a version of Windows for devices with ARM-based processors later this year. That version will be called Windows RT. That’s the first time the company is taking this step. But Windows RT won’t be able to run apps compiled for x86 processors — and it won’t be user installable.

Instead you’ll only be able to use it if you buy a tablet or other device that comes with the software preloaded, which is why there’s no Release Preview of Windows RT.

To tryout the new release preview you’ll need a computer with a 1 GHz or faster x86 processor, 1GB of RAM or more, and 16GB of hard drive space or more. If you want to try the 64-bit version you’ll need 2GB of RAM and 20GB of disk space.

You’ll also need a PC with a DirectX 9 compatible graphics card. Users will get the best experience on a computer with a 1366 x 768 pixel or higher resolution display, although you can access the Windows Store if you have a display that can at least handle 1024 x 768 pixel resolutions.

If you’re using a netbook with a 1024 x 600 pixel screen you may be able to find a display driver tweak that lets you mimic a higher resolution display for purposes of accessing the Windows Store.

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,547 other subscribers

8 replies on “Microsoft launches Windows 8 Release Preview (next up: full release)”

  1. But what is the diff between release preview and consumer preview

  2. Timmymac – I agree with themeatcleaver – install virtualbox and you’ll be able to run Windows 8 Release Preview (or the older Consumer Preview) as a guest OS – I currently have Ubuntu 12.04, Kubuntu 12.04, Linux Mint 13 (both Cinnamon & Mate desktops), Fedora 17, openSUSE 12.1, Mageia 2, Windows XP and Windows 8 Release Preview running on my ASUS Windows 7-based laptop.  Just make sure that you give the systems enough memory and space (as well as installing the Virtualbox extensions after you’ve got the systems up and runnning…)

  3. @timmymac just install virtualbox–windows 8 installed fine for me on it!

  4. I wanted to try the Consumer Preview on my computer in a virtual PC using VMWare Workstation 7.  Unfortunately, Windows 8 doesn’t work as a virtual machine unless you’re running Workstation 8. 

    I’ve decided not to bother upgrading until Windows 8 SP1. Between Win7 as the host OS, and Ubuntu/Mint13/WinServer/XP on virtual machines, I can do pretty much anything I need with what I have now.  

  5. Unfortunately, the display tweak that worked before doesn’t work anymore – even on installing the Intel drivers I only have 1024 x 600 as the highest res option for my Dell 10v. Hopefully someone will figure out a fix for this!

    1. This hack ( change in the registry) metro app for running higher resolution used to work in my netbook for the consumer preview release version ( released some time in march 2012).

      But in the end May release I,e window 8 release preview seems to be not working. I have tried at least four. Five times . After making the change when I reboot the system , the system never boots. Every occasion had to run repair or re set. And then only window 8 sarts. When I run reset or repair. The registry automatically changes. To the old numbers I,e value ZERO and not ONE.

      Does that mean. This end May release does not permits to change the registry or. Only I am facing the problem.

      Please let me know anybody could run a net book after making such changes for the. May 2012 release and not March 2012 release.

Comments are closed.