I have the Microsoft WPC App installed in my Facebook. This morning, I eagerly poured a cup of coffee, got onto the app and began watching the Keynotes. Steve Ballmer spoke extensively about the new Surface tablet coming out soon. Then he turned over the presentation to Tami Reller — VP at Microsoft. Tami and I worked together when I was at FRx Software and she was at Great Plains.
She demonstrated the Windows 8 applications, OS and hardware. She announced that Windows 8 will release to manufacturing in August and on machines by end of October, 2012. She demonstrated many touchscreen machines and one that I liked a lot, the Lenovo Yoga — a laptop that folds into a Tablet form factor.
If you buy a Windows 7 PC today you can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99 (she said 1499… I believe that would be $14.99 and not $1,499!) Every PC will have a Skydrive account which is an awesome Cloud file storage application that will give you “on the go” capabilities. Apps are the heart of Windows 8. Every app’s touch response seems to be very quick. The Windows App store with e-commerce sellability will be open with the release of Windows 8.
She showed Windows RT running on a Qualcomm device (tablet). She demonstrated all the regular business productivity applications you would want. Instead of going through each, let’s just say that for my demands, there is more than sufficient functionality for my needs.
WOW! I was going to refill my cup of coffee but I waited! I am glad that I did. Tami is now showing Windows To Go — Windows 8 on a thumb drive. This is a 32 GB thumb drive plugged into a Windows 7 machine but now the machine is booting up with Windows 8 Professional with all the IT Security built into it! She booted into Windows 8 with all of her apps, security and personalization! Okay, now I will refill the coffee. That was totally cool!