Windows 8, out now!

Microsoft has unveiled its overhaul of the Windows Operating System, which introduces a user interface that revolves around touchscreens. This has been the most radical change to the system since 1995, when the multinational corporation first offered built-in Internet support. Having been released to manufacturing on August 1^st of this year, it is now available to the general market.

This new Operating System will be competition for Apple and Google, who have already utilised touchscreen technology in the ever-growing tablet and smartphone market. Since the release of the iPad in 2010, sales for desktop computers and laptops have dropped. Windows 8 will run on a number of different machines, including notebook computers, desktop PCs and Microsoft’s new Surface tablet. Much like Apple and Google, Microsoft is also introducing a Windows 8 Store featuring applications to run on the system.

The new system abandons the “start” menu which has been around for 17 years. Instead, there are new controls which allow you to operate with a touch-screen. Although you can still use the traditional keyboard and mouse, the touch-screen takes priority.

This cutting-edge new design could prove to be big gamble, because of how different it is to its predecessors. Will loyal Windows users acclimatise to the new design, or get lost in it? Will you be upgrading to the new operating system? Let us know in the comments!