Windows 8

Windows 8 is the next version of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablets, and home theater PCs. The release to manufacturing (RTM) is expected in August 2012 although Windows 8 will be available to users only after general availability in October. Windows 8's server counterpart, Windows Server 2012, is in development concurrently with Windows 8. The most recent official pre-release version of Windows 8 is theRelease Preview, which was released on May 31, 2012.

According to the Windows Design Team, Windows 8 has been "reimagined from the chipset to the user experience,"whereas Windows 7 was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line. Windows 8 features a new user interface based on Microsoft's Metro design language, similar to that in Windows Phone. The new interface is designed to better suit touchscreeninput, along with traditional mouse and keyboard input. A version of Windows 8, called Windows RT, also adds support for the ARM processor architecture in addition to the previously supported x86 microprocessors from Intel, AMD andVIA.