The final, Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 8 is now available to developers, IT professionals and businesses with volume licences (or to intrepid testers who don't mind an evaluation version that expires after 90 days and can't be upgraded, downloaded from here).
The rest of us will have to wait until later this month when Windows 8 upgrades, new Windows 8 PCs and Windows RT devices will be released - but this is the final version that you'll get then, so we can finally review the full, finished Windows 8 operating system.
If you've been following Windows 8 through the development process, especially if you've tried the Release Preview, Windows 8 won't surprise you. The changes between the Release Preview and RTM aren't major, except possibly the removal of Aero Glass transparency from desktop windows and turning Do Not Track (DNT) on by default.
New to Windows 8?Windows 8 represents a fundamental shift in the way Windows works and is far more touchscreen-orientated for use on tablets as well as traditional PCs. If you're completely new to Windows 8 and haven't used a preview version, we'd recommend you check out our guide to the new features you'll find in Windows 8 vs Windows 7 and Windows 8: what you'll need to relearn.
Note: This review has been completely revised for the Windows 8 RTM release and we'll be updating it as we learn more about the Windows 8 apps and also about Windows RT for ARM devices.
The real difference between this and previous versions is that Windows 8 is finished; it's polished and smooth, with even better performance than in the previews, and none of the rough edges left.
- Confused between Windows 8 versions? Read Making sense of the Windows 8 versions
Even the previously disappointing Modern UI-style apps such as Mail, Calendar, Messaging and People are slick, sleek and far more functional.However, there is still work to do with these apps and Microsoft knows it - it released a major update to them on 10 October.
Many of the apps are now useful and engaging rather than frustrating. This is Microsoft putting it all together.
The company has also just released a major 170MB Windows 8 update to improve performance, battery efficiency and power management.
Running Windows 8 RTM
First of all, it's worth noting that the Windows 8 RTM is still only for x86/64 PCs; there isn't a version of Windows RT for ARM devices that you can download and try out, since there aren't any ARM devices that will run it.
That's because of the extremely custom way that ARM devices are built, where not even the way to control a physical button is standard. Microsoft isn't supporting tablets built to run Android or WebOS, either.
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