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Windows 8 officially available on 26 October

According to the Windows blog, Windows 8 will be available from 26 October.

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Lexy Savvides Principal Video Producer
Lexy is an on-air presenter and award-winning producer who covers consumer tech, including the latest smartphones, wearables and emerging trends like assistive robotics. She's won two Gold Telly Awards for her video series Beta Test. Prior to her career at CNET, she was a magazine editor, radio announcer and DJ. Lexy is based in San Francisco.
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According to the Windows blog, Windows 8 will be available from 26 October.

(Credit: Microsoft)

The last official piece of information on availability was simply stated to be sometime in late October, with a release to manufacturing (RTM) in August. Windows 8 will be available either on a new PC or through an upgrade from 26 October.

According to CNET Australia's sister site ZDNet, it's likely that this will also be the date when Windows RT-based Surface PCs and tablets will be made available as well.

Microsoft has not officially said that Australia will be one of the 131 markets due to receive the upgrade for US$39.99, it seems likely, given we qualified for the previous US$14.99 upgrade for PC buyers.