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Elaborate Windows 10 details are still missing, even after the official announcement, even as the new OS looks set to the be the talking point of the computing industry for the next several months.
Some may even opine that most of the details that matter are under wraps — Microsoft is playing cards close to heart, as it has done for the past few years, it seems, and did has not expand upon several facets of its upcoming operating system at the event yesterday.
Luckily, thanks to some newly leaked documents, intended for Microsoft partners, we have a lot of handy pointers on the way things are going, and when can we expect to see the final bits of Windows 10 released to public.
First up, Microsoft is planning six months of public testing.
Throw in the October 1 date, today, when the Windows 10 Technical Preview goes live, and we are looking at this phase to last till the end of March, next year. Summer it is then, for release.
Additionally, the Windows 10 system requires are similar to those on Windows 8, and all devices sold during the upcoming Holiday shopping season will be capable of running Windows 10 just fine. So there’s that.
Redmond also recommends only experienced users to download and install the Technical Preview, obviously as it is unfinished, even if relatively stable, code.
Here are the Windows 10 Partner Documents in full:
Q: When will the next version of Windows be made generally available?
We look forward to the next version of Windows being generally available over the summer of 2015.
Q: Will Windows 10 be available for free to existing customers?
Microsoft has not shared any information about pricing at this time.
Q: If I buy a Windows device this holiday season, will it be upgradable?
It’s our intention that the vast majority of PCs and tablets bought this holiday will work great on Windows 10.
Q: Should I download the Tech Preview?
Tech Preview is designed for PC experts who are comfortable downloading unfished software, preferably on a secondary PC.
This is not a developer preview designed for app compatibility testing. While we do expect many developers to download the Preview, we fully expect them to run into compatibility bugs at this early stage.
Q: What are the system requirements for the Windows 10 Technical Preview?
If you want to test the Windows 10 Technical Preview on your PC, here’s what it takes:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB)
Free hard disk space: 16 GB
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
A Microsoft account and Internet access
The Windows 10 Technical Preview can be installed on PCs meeting system requirements running Windows 7 or newer
Q: Can I install the Windows 10 Tech Preview on a small form factor Windows tablet or a Windows Phone?
The Technical Preview is designed specifically for x86 based systems and is optimized for non-touch, mouse and keyboard driven systems. Windows on ARM-based processors continues to be an important element of our strategy for phones and tablets, and we’ll have more to share on the Windows experience for mobile devices at a later date.
Q: Do you think the next version of Windows will have a better adoption rate than Windows 8?
We’re pleased with the adoption of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. According to Microsoft, Windows 8 has surpassed 200 million licenses sold, and there are more than 6,600 Windows 8/8.1 certified products available to customers.
Solid, if expected stuff, and a good read.
via:windows10update