Microsoft on Thursday launched its new operating system (OS), Windows 8, which will make desktops and notebooks work like tablets with its unique touch feature. Starting Friday, more than 250 Windows 8 devices will be available in 2,500 stores across 100 cities in India.
Windows 8, like its predecessors, will run on Intel chips and AMD and will be available in various versions. Original equipment manufacturers like HCL Infosystems, Acer, Lenovo, Asus, Zenith and Sony have started rolling out new personal computing devices based on the new OS.
HCL Infosystems is looking to launch five devices?desktops, notebooks and ultrabooks- in a few weeks? time. The new OS comes with an application for the SkyDrive cloud-storage service which means users can carry their personal computers in a storage device and plug it on any other computer.
? Windows 8 will run on the existing devices which have hardware requirements similar to Windows 7. The prices of devices using the OS will range between R23,000 to R1 lakh,? Microsoft India chairman, Bhaskar Pramanik said.
As for the upgrades, those who have bought a Windows 7 PC since June 2 will be able to buy Windows 8 for R699. For the Windows XP and Windows 7 users, the DVD upgrade to the new OS will cost R3,999 while an electronic upgrade would be R1,999.
?The conversion rate from the existing OS to the new one will depend on the supply from OEMs but from a consumers’ standpoint, the conversion could be anywhere around 25-30% in a few months’ time,? said Sandeep Aurora, Director Marketing, Intel, South Asia.