Windows 8 Approaching Build 8000 / Beta Development Stage

[Ci7]

Microsoft is reportedly extremely close to the Beta development stage for Windows 8, the next major iteration of Windows.

Per the normal development process, the Redmond company has been producing a steady succession of interim Windows vNext Builds, some of which even made it into the wild.

Windows 8 Build 6.2.7959.0 Milestone 3 (M3) was the last one leaked, but development has advanced quite a bit since.

According to CentrumXP, the latest Windows 8 release dogfooded at Microsoft is Build 6.2.7996.0.winmain_win8m3.110429-1810 belonging to the winmain_win8m3 branch, obviously a Milestone 3 Build.

Although less important in itself, Build 7996 is relevant in the fact that it signals the proximity of the Windows 8 Beta development phase.

Reportedly, the Windows 8 Beta development milestone starts at Build 8000, although this piece of information remains unconfirmed by the software giant and needs to be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism.

more

[George P Global Moderator]

If they follow Win7 dev then this fits. IIRC Win7 beta 1 was build 7000 right? So Win8 beta being build 8000 sounds right.

[Asesh]

Windows 8 = not worth the upgrade just like Vista wasn't either. Seems like they are trying to catch up with Leopard (not Snow Leopard) as usual...catch up game

[REM2000]

Windows 8 = not worth the upgrade just like Vista wasn't either. Seems like they are trying to catch up with Leopard (not Snow Leopard) as usual...catch up game

To me it seems they are on an even Keel, both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard have the same amount of features, same amount of reliability. I prefer using MacOSX myself but i enjoy using Windows 7 when i use a PC at work or at home for gaming.

[devHead]

Windows 8 = not worth the upgrade just like Vista wasn't either. Seems like they are trying to catch up with Leopard (not Snow Leopard) as usual...catch up game

Bro, there's plenty of places to take your trolldom. Don't start it here. It's your personal opinion that none of these operating systems are worth the upgrade. You're welcome to have it, but if all you have to add to a discussion is how Microsoft is just playing catch-up with Apple, it's really not necessary.

[Zain Adeel]

Windows 8 = not worth the upgrade just like Vista wasn't either. Seems like they are trying to catch up with Leopard (not Snow Leopard) as usual...catch up game

lol what?

lets see when it comes out if u will use it :p

[George P Global Moderator]

The new tablet UI alone is a big new feature. Even if it's just for tablets and not for the desktop, still, it's huge.

[Max Norris]

The new tablet UI alone is a big new feature.

One of the reasons I can't wait to get my hands on the finished product.. glad I held out on buying a Droid or iPad.

Bro, there's plenty of places to take your trolldom. Don't start it here. It's your personal opinion that none of these operating systems are worth the upgrade. You're welcome to have it, but if all you have to add to a discussion is how Microsoft is just playing catch-up with Apple, it's really not necessary.

Meh look at his post and comment history, that's all he does. Zero contributions minus the rubber stamp "herp derp Windows sucks" drivel in any topic that mentions Microsoft. A very Flawed view of things.

[torrentthief]

I think the biggest improvement to windows 8 is ARM chip support, this will make for extremely cheap windows computers! Apple definately loses in that department.

[George P Global Moderator]

I think the biggest improvement to windows 8 is ARM chip support, this will make for extremely cheap windows computers! Apple definately loses in that department.

This is key to the tablet fight, good hardware with full OS and app support but at a lower price than the iPad.

[yowanvista]

This will break compatibility with many programs if they change the kernel version to 8xxx, just remember the Vista days

[neo158]

Windows 8 = not worth the upgrade just like Vista wasn't either. Seems like they are trying to catch up with Leopard (not Snow Leopard) as usual...catch up game

Lion = not worth the upgrade just like Snow Leopard wasn't either. Seems like they are trying to catch up with Windows 7 (not Windows 8) as usual...catch up game

[neo158]

This will break compatibility with many programs if they change the kernel version to 8xxx, just remember the Vista days

Build numbers go 6.1.7601, that's major.minor.build number, Vista had compatibility issues because the major version number increased to 6.0 from 5.0. An increase in bulid number won't change anything, if it did then service packs would cause compatibilty issues with programs as well.

This is why Windows 8 will be Version 6.2

[Malisk]

Pretty sure that Beta is determined by a set of quality requirements, not when their automated build system hits a number.

[Zain Adeel]

exactly..

the Beta is where the main Features are complete. And if some of them rely heavily on the UI then its after its complete. Just like the superbar.

And i didnt see anything like that in the leaked builds. So BETA is a long way right now i think..

[tomwarren Veteran]

This means nothing, it doesn't mean that a beta is imminent at all.

[ToneKnee]

I don't think Beta/Pre-Beta starts until M4? Either way, we all know build numbers can be changed at different stages any way. They jumped build numbers during the beta phase of Windows 7, and then they made the last build for Beta and RTM, this will be no different. The build numbers can go upto 8100 for all Mimcrosoft cared, it won't stop them from making it build 8000 or build 8200 or whatever.

[Zain Adeel]

the Beta i think will be close to build 8400.. and 8500 will be RTM.. but imagine if they stop and realise they have to change something big..

like Vista.. from XP :p

we will get a 1year delay.. and the build numbers will go out of the roof

fixed the numbers :p

[DeadEndAccount]

I doubt it is even close to beta yet - if we go by what Steve Ballmer has said, they're still having to work on the interface so that it is suitable for both traditional and touch input so that it is both a first class desktop/laptop and tablet operating system. There is no rush either because assuming they release a beta in 2012 then release in 2013 then it probably fits in well with a touch enabled Microsoft Office for tablets as well.

For those thinking that Microsoft is late to the tablet party - most tablets are being bought by consumers with Microsoft's main customer base being enterprise customers. Tablets are still being fine tuned and enterprise customers are still working on how it fits into their organisation - once things settle down I'm sure Microsoft will have something up its sleeve just as Microsoft will deliver Mango for WP7 (Samsung phones probably still having problems due to Samsung's stupidity and nothing to do with Microsoft) which will mark a turning point as well.