10 best affordable Windows 8 laptops
Our pick of the latest budget Windows 8 ready laptops and buying advice
How do I get Windows 8 and how much does it cost?
Microsoft to offer Windows 8 upgrade for just £25. Want Windows Pro instead? It's yours for £49.
Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 users will be able to upgrade online for a special price. Microsoft have said that existing Windows users can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99 (£25).
Bargain
If your PC is running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 you will qualify to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just £25. This offer will be available across the world in 131 markets.
Upon visiting Windows.com users can purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro using the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant.
Once Windows 8 has been downloaded users will be able to create their own bootable USB or .ISO file which can be burned onto a DVD for upgrade and backup purposes. There is also the option to purchase a backup DVD for $15 (about £9.50) plus shipping and handling.
A fully-packaged DVD version of Windows 8 Pro will also be available for £49.99 throughout the promotion.
The Windows 8 upgrade offer will run until 31 January 2013.
Buy Windows 8 from the Microsoft Store
Prices for system builders
If you're not upgrading from a prior version of Windows and are building your own PC or installing Windows 8 in a virtual machine or a separate partition, you will be able to purchase and install the Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro System Builder product instead.
Get Windows Media Center for free
After upgrading to Windows 8 you will be able to add Windows Media Center for free through the "add features" option in Windows.
Want a Surface too?
Prior to 26 October if you want Microsoft's new tablet - Surface - you can place a preorder at the UK Microsoft Store. Following the launch of Windows 8 you can use the same link to pick one up (provided Microsoft still have stock!)
Buy Windows 8 from the Microsoft Store
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104Comments
22/10/2012 17:23
Having tried all pre release version of windows 8, I can confirm it is awkward to navigate and has big compatibility issues.
Windows 8 is tailored for smartphones and tablets for amateur users, the main serious computer user has been well and truly spit on.
The fact of being a computer technician and the reduced pre order price is the only reason i will be ordering a copy for testing purposes.
But I will not be using it as my own operating system.
Windows 8 is tailored for smartphones and tablets for amateur users, the main serious computer user has been well and truly spit on.
The fact of being a computer technician and the reduced pre order price is the only reason i will be ordering a copy for testing purposes.
But I will not be using it as my own operating system.
23/10/2012 06:32
23/10/2012 03:20
25/10/2012 11:26
These constant upgrades are like a Stealth Tax, Granted £50 quid may seem cheap to a billionaire but not to us pensioners. I started with windows 5 and as a wwweb and general computer enthusiast I have bought every subsequent up grade. These days however they seem to be coming thick and fast and at even shorter intervals, I would love to say no more I'm not buying this one, but I know and suspect Microsoft are aware people like myself will be constantly wondering what they're missing, so in the end we will cough up once again, giving Bill and the misses more money for "good causes" HA ! don't make me laugh ! Can't even say I'll go to Apple Bill has a questionable 45/50% of the worlds Biggest Corp in his back pocket. Rockefeller with all his un taxable "institutions" got nowt on this modern mogul.
24/10/2012 22:52
25/10/2012 15:15
I have a sneaky feeling that Windows 8 may be a case of mending something that doesn't need to be fixed. I find it hard to believe that Windows 7 isn't good enough for 90% of users. Perhaps a little "Mac Head" mentality, "It's new, I must have it; It's got more red lights, I must have it; It's a mark 8, I must have it", is creeping in. And while I'm on the subject, I've just recieved my Kindle Fire HD and you can shove your iPad mini up your jacksie. The Kindle is amazing.
24/10/2012 15:36
24/10/2012 13:36
22/10/2012 16:18
Its £24.99 on release day download direct only. If U want dvd and box its gonna set U back £49.99.
If U buy a pc, laptop, tablet with windows now U can upgrade to win 8pro for £14.99.
These R ur options the writer is right but did not explain clearly the options.
So my advice is wait till Oct 26 and direct download for £24.99 make ur own usb or dvd.
Or if ur installing on multiple machines and not sure about making ur own disk buy one at £49.99 with disk and buy the rest at £24.99 online and use the one disk to install multiple times using different product keys per machine.
25/10/2012 22:27
25/10/2012 22:22
26/10/2012 00:11
25/10/2012 15:47
25/10/2012 11:10
I haven't long been on Windows 7, so I'll be not be going for Windows8.
My Acer netbook and Samsung laptop are W7, they've treated me well.
The desktop computer is 13 yrs old...didn't realise we've had it so long is not too bad, but that when our 20 year old son whose currently in Spain can slow it down and then deny it, but when he's not at home...all is well!
30/10/2012 17:17
25/10/2012 17:15
i aggree with after testing via beta tests ect i think its a leap backwards, its great if you want the "apple" touchy feely style of doing things, but no use whatsover to the average user, navigation is awful and very different from windows 7, i can see many people struggle using this especially if they are new users or older users who have used previous versions of windows i have a funny feeling we will be witnessing similar problems to those on windows ME and vista, sorry Microsoft but you have scored a own goal with this.
27/10/2012 02:22
22/10/2012 15:45
Actually Polymath I believe that you are referring to the offer of £14.99 upgrade when you BUY a new Windows 7 PC.
This article however is in my opinion, aimed at those of us who already have a Windows XP, Vista or 7 pc bought before Windows 8 was offered as an upgrade on our current PC's.
Those who want to upgrade OS rather than buy a new PC to get a discounted Windows 8 upgrade, or a PC with Windows 8 preinstalled can now obtain Windows 8 Pro for as little as £25 (approx) or Windows 8 (base) would be cheaper one would expect.
This article however is in my opinion, aimed at those of us who already have a Windows XP, Vista or 7 pc bought before Windows 8 was offered as an upgrade on our current PC's.
Those who want to upgrade OS rather than buy a new PC to get a discounted Windows 8 upgrade, or a PC with Windows 8 preinstalled can now obtain Windows 8 Pro for as little as £25 (approx) or Windows 8 (base) would be cheaper one would expect.
23/10/2012 08:23
25/10/2012 10:09
I'll stick with vista after using the preview version for a couple of months on my secondary PC I found the interface to be cumbersome, ill laid out and just a pain in the backside.
This is the advantage of having 2 computers I can evaluate new Operating systems on the "nd system which Is mainly used for photo editing and music downloads while everything else is on my primary system.
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