The drip feed of release dates for the upcoming Windows 8 release continues, with Microsoft announcing that the new operating system will be released to manufacturing in the first week of August.
General availability is scheduled for the end of October. Enterprise customers with software assurance will have access to Windows 8 in August.
This announcement also serves to lock in the schedule for Microsoft’s Surface tablet. Last month, in its Surface announcement, the company said that the Windows RT version of the tablet will be available at the same time as Windows 8 general availability. The Intel-based Surface model is expected to be available 90 days thereafter. That would make the Intel version release date a post-Christmas one.
The release dates for Windows Server 2012 have also been set. RTM will be happening in August as well, with general availability set for September.
On the pricing side, Microsoft will be running a $40 promotion for Windows 8 until 31 January 2013.
Details on the various editions of Windows 8 were announced in April.
