Windows 8 Available in October

I have been using the Windows 8 beta on my secondary machine for some weeks. Initially, I was really a fan of metro, but in the end the context switching that a single-task environment requires (yes, I know, you can split the screen) is annoying when doing serious work on a desktop. Taking aside Metro, Windows 8 is really an incremental upgrade for regular desktop use.<p>I do believe Metro is great for tablets. As a five-year long OS X user (and Linux before), I'd seriously consider buying a Surface tablet if they nail things right: I'd like to be able to use it like an iPad on the road, connect it to a screen and Bluetooth mouse/keyboard at home/work to use it as a traditional desktop.<p>We will see ;).

Although I have a Windows 7 machine sitting next to me, and while I consider Ubuntu to be my primary operating system, I still use XP for much of my work. XP will for a very long time be the OS I most feel at home with. My comfort zone. It reminds me of back in the day when I was clinging onto Windows 3.11 for dear life -- never wanting to upgrade to Windows 95. Memories.

So this means I can get my hands on Windows 8 in August. However, the more pressing matter is when I can get my hands on a Surface tablet.

Been using Win 8 as my main OS (because i'm developing a WinRT app) for about 4 months now and it's great. Eagerly awaiting the RTM build.

Been using win8 in a VM for testing and ... it's fine. I'd like to be able to pay for it, and the 'upgrade price is $40' is a nice step, but really... I'd just like to be able to pay $40 for it full stop. I'm not 'upgrading' from anything, and this will mean I've got to shell out $200+ for it if I want to use it legally.<p>I do have an old vista ultimate license, but I don't have it installed and probably won't install it again because I moved VM too many times and the process for reactivation was annoying. Maybe I'll have to suck it up again?<p>Given that most people just get Windows installed on a machine, and the mfg aren't paying more than $50 per license, why can't we have lower retail prices? $50 for a copy of Windows - I'd have no incentive to pirate. $200+... ??<p>Will I be able to upgrade to Win8 with a Vista license key? Does anyone know for sure?

Hope that they're still keeping the Win 8 Pro upgrade deal available until the end of Jan 2013.

Has there been any info/rumors on the release date for Windows Phone 8?

I've been using Windows 8 recently and have found no discernible increase in my work flow. It looks nice and I get comments on it, but I've found using an app launcher like executor or launchy has all but diminished the usefulness of Win 8. Of course this is just on my desktop, and will wait to see how the Surface tablet pans out.<p>Full disclosure: I've grown to like the metro interface on my WIN7 phone.