Today is the day and besides being a day that occurs once every four years, Microsoft will also unleash the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. The download is expected to go live around 9 AM EST and we highly expect the severs to get slammed with traffic; if you're not sure what time this is in your location check this handy time zone converter.
There are a lot of new features to look forward to in the Consumer Preview including the new start screen, the appification of the Windows platform, deep Skydrive integration, and much much more.
While we do not have any specifics, we have heard that the download size for the X64 build is a little over 3 GB in size, which is quite a bit larger than Windows 95 which weighed in at 19 megabytes.
It’s time to free up some hardrive space, install your favorite VM software or make the bold decision to go all in and use the CP as your primary desktop. Whatever your decision is, you have about 24 hours to make it.
Windows 8 is a bold shift from Windows 7 and represents Microsoft’s new direction. After tomorrow, consumers will get their first look since the Developer Preview at how the OS is progressing and how the new interface works in real world use. Count us excited as tomorrow we get to crack open Microsoft’s hard work and put the new OS to the test.
Update: Neowin member ffMathy has pointed out in our forums that Microsoft has revealed at least one download location for the Consumer Preview in a public TechNet email. More links will be known later when it's scheduled to go live in a little over 5 hours.
Image courtesy of Win8china.com
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