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Much has been made about the Metro makeover Microsoft applied to Windows 8, and there are a number of ways you can see what all the fuss is about. For one, you can read detailed reviews, like the one we posted last month, or you can install the Release Preview, which is still available to download from Microsoft in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors. Yet another way to experience Windows 8 before it's made available to the general public is to head down to your local Best Buy.
There were reports that some Best Buy stores were already stocking store shelves with Windows 8 PCs from Hewlett-Packard, so I headed down to one that was local to me over the weekend to see for myself. Sure enough, I found a pair of laptops sitting side-by-side, both rocking the touch-friendly OS.
Since Windows 8 doesn't officially release to the masses until October 26, you can't actually take home these PCs, though you can pre-order one if you want. More importantly, if you don't have access to a system where you can install the Release Preview and spend some hands-on time with it, Best Buy's pre-release systems give you a chance to play around with Windows 8 and form your own opinion about the UI.
Depending on which Best Buy you visit, there may be just a couple of Windows 8 PCs on display, or there may be several, including all-in-one systems with touchscreens.
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RUSENSITIVESWEETNESS
October 16, 2012 at 11:32am
Raise your hand if you buy PCs from Best Buy? No one? Oh, what a shock that is....
The only people who buy PCs from Best Buy are those who don't know what the fuck they're buying. Seriously.
Aren't you guys even a little embarrassed by the constant Windows 8 pimping? Do you have any idea how obvious you're being, especially with Gordon editorializing the apologists' viewpoint?
wintercoder
October 15, 2012 at 4:51pm
Oh where Oh where did Best Buy's Windows 8 tablets go?...
Oh where Oh where did the GOOOOO!!!!(Oh yea, that's right... Methinks Best Buy will get their hands slapped by crApple if they sell a competitor to the iPad.)
Teeebs
October 15, 2012 at 9:17am
That "Windows For Dummies" look of the desktop looks even worse in person....... :(
Andrew.Hodge
October 15, 2012 at 7:00am
Also AAFES. They had one in the BX on my base that was running on an AMD E1 of all things. Despite the lack of grunt, it ran like butter. No touch screen, unfortunately, but Metro worked fine with the touchpad.
