News

Windows 8 Consumer Preview hits 1 million downloads on day 1

Weekend tally likely to top 3 million

Windows 8 Consumer Preview hits 1 million downloads on day 1
Microsoft has revealed downloads of its Windows 8 Consumer Preview surpassed 1 million in the beta's first 24 hours.

The firm used its Windows 8 Twitter account to detail the numbers, with the preview designed to give potential customers a hands-on with its Metro UI before it rolls out later in 2012.

Windows winner

The beta itself was extensively detailed during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, with Windows division president Steven Sinofsky claiming the platform will be the first OS to scale seamlessly across multiple forms of hardware.

"This show is the best of mobile, but as exciting as these devices are, we all face some yearning," said Sinofsky.

"We choose between productivity and consumption. A tablet or a laptop? A touch interface or a tablet and a mouse? The problem is the the industry has made you make this choice. But you should make this choice based on the form factor."

Early accounts, however, suggest Windows 8 may be better suited to touchscreen devices than the  typical keyboard and mouse set up, with tablets the main benefactor.

The preview can be downloaded from Microsoft's website.



[source: PC Advisor]

With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.