Microsoft Windows 8 will be in South Africa when it becomes \u201cgenerally available\u201d on 26 October 2012, the business group lead for Windows at Microsoft SA, Colin Erasmus, recently told journalists at a Windows 8 demonstration in Sandton, South Africa.<\/p>\n
Windows Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Tami Reller, said that Windows 8 is on track to \u201cRelease to Manufacturing\u201d (RTM) in the first week of August 2012.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor enterprise customers with Software Assurance benefits, they will have full access to Windows 8 bits as early as August,\u201d Reller said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRTM is when we\u2019ll be turning on the commerce platform so that developers can start earning money for their apps.\u201d<\/p>\n
The software giant announced earlier this month (July 2012) that users of Windows XP, Vista, or 7 would be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99. This upgrade is to be available in 131 markets, while Windows 8 will be available across 231 markets in 109 languages.<\/p>\n
Another upgrade option of $14.99 is available to those who buy new PCs bundled with Windows 7 between 2 June 2012 and 31 January 2013.<\/p>\n
Erasmus wasn\u2019t able to confirm any details regarding the retail availability of Windows 8 in South Africa, but said that South Africans would be able to buy the upgrade in US Dollars with their credit cards from the Microsoft Store.<\/p>\n
South Africa is part of the top tier of launch countries, Erasmus added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to get a lot of love this time round,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Blizzard\u2019s Rob Pardo adds to concern over Windows 8<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Windows 8 is a \u201ccatastrophe\u201d, says Gabe Newell<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n