Microsoft Previews Windows 8 and New Devices

[btarunr]

Microsoft Corp. kicked off global Windows 8 launch celebrations today in China. In the first of a series of celebrations around the world, Microsoft customers and partners joined top company executives at a gathering at Shanghai's 1933 Grand Theatre to give consumers and commercial customers a sneak peek at new hardware and apps in advance of the Windows 8 worldwide general availability on Oct. 26. Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft, and Ralph Haupter, corporate vice president of Microsoft and CEO of Microsoft Greater China Region, attended the celebration.

"Microsoft has a more than 20-year history in the Greater China Region, and we are excited to start our Windows 8 launch series in Shanghai, China, the largest PC market in the world," Haupter said. He reaffirmed the importance that Microsoft is giving to China and complimented the commitment of our hardware and developers in preparing for Windows 8 over the last couple of months. "Windows 8 ushers in a new era with amazing experiences for Chinese consumers and commercial customers and creates new opportunities for Microsoft partners," he said.



Windows 8 Is Windows Reimagined
Windows 8 offers a beautiful, new user interface and a wide range of apps with the grand opening of the Windows Store on Oct. 26. Today on display were 52 new devices, designed and optimized for Windows 8 by 15 Microsoft OEM partners. All these devices and more, pre-installed with Windows 8, will be available in China starting Oct. 26.

Microsoft also showed Microsoft Surface with Windows RT, in China, following the announcement of its availability in China on Oct. 16.

Microsoft Surface with Windows RT will be available in China at the Suning stores or http://www.suning.com and the recently launched Microsoft Online Store, www.MicrosoftStore.com.cn.

The new Microsoft Online Store will provide an easy access for a broad range of Microsoft products to Chinese consumers.

Windows 8 also provides opportunities for Chinese developers. They have contributed to the Windows Store with a broad range of apps making China No. 2 market worldwide for all apps available at launch, Haupter pointed out. At today's event, people are excited to interact with Windows 8 apps and games on Windows 8 devices, including AutoNavi Map, BanBao, China Telecom e Surfacing, Ctrip, PPTV, Renren, QQ, QQ Games, QQ Finance, Sina Weibo, Weather China and Youdao Dictionary. These apps fully displayed the power of the new Windows 8 technology and talent in China.

[arterius2]

im in china and i bought myself a legit copy of windows 8 enterprise here for about 250RMB (~40$) which allows me to install on 20 different computers (or 20 reinstalls)

been using it for about 2 weeks now with start8 (by stardock) which brings back the start menu/button, i can boot to desktop in about 3 seconds on my 256g vertex 4 SSD.

win8 feels very responsive and lightweight compared to win7, and im really liking the new interface which is a lot more minimalistic. so overall i'm very satisfied with it.

[Completely Bonkers]

Apple stole the PR show with iPad 4, mini iPad, and retina 13". Poor old Windows 8. Nobody is interested, and nobody is watching. We are all excited about Apple's launches. Go back to the data-centre MS Research, and try to think about how to make your OS appealing... and NOT KINDERGARTEN Fischer-Price.

[arterius2]

Originally Posted by Completely Bonkers

Apple stole the PR show with iPad 4, mini iPad, and retina 13". Poor old Windows 8. Nobody is interested, and nobody is watching. We are all excited about Apple's launches. Go back to the data-centre MS Research, and try to think about how to make your OS appealing... and NOT KINDERGARTEN Fischer-Price.

meh, Apple products are uninteresting for me, as they are mostly targeted at soccer moms and jobless teens. IF I were to buy a mac, id probably end up installing windows on it anyways as non of the softwares I use on windows runs on a mac, then id probably have to do a round of upgrading the hardware myself as most apple products come with subpar specs for the types of work i do.

[mediasorcerer]

Global windows 8 launch in China?

[tacosRcool]

I can't wait to get my dirty hands on these new computers tonight