*UPDATE 10/21 - EIGHT LICENSE KEYS* Windows 8 Professional, Windows Server 2012, VS 2012 Ultimate + more FREE with $42/$32 student membership to ACM/IEEE

If I install win 8 on one computer, can I move the license to another computer later?

Anyone familiar with the ACM site? I just joined and can't seem to find the Developer or Dreamspark link from within "myacm".

Quote from BigChiefTaco : shut up. shut up. shut up. shut up. This is not Win7 vs Win8 thread.

shut up.

Quote from trdexalbee : If they change the GUI to something more productive and keep the windows 8 improvements, its not bad. I tried windows 8 beta and I liked it, after I changed to classic mode. They just need a windows 7 GUI with windows 8 underneath...oh they have been doing that since windows 95....

If you click the desktop tile you have the Windows 7 GUI. The only difference is the start menu being full screen. Why don't people get this yet?

So... I have a student ID, but not a faculty advisor. Does anyone know if that is a mandatory field?

Quote from eryeal : Then for goodness sakes just pick some tech magazines you like and find some articles on Windows 8 and the desktop .. pcmag, engadget, whatever floats your boat. I just did a quick google search as I've been reading the reviews throughout the last couple of months. You'll find that, for desktop or work purposes, Windows 8 is primarily panned.

And all of those negative reviews have the problem of even bothering to use Metro apps on the desktop. You don't need to. You really don't. The start menu being full screen isn't an issue and that's the only major change. There are a ton of changes on the desktop which are awesome. New explorer, new task manager, new file copy dialog and process, Win+X menu, and a bunch of other things PLUS it being overall faster. In fact one feature I just used now which bugged me to no end in 7 and earlier: Ejecting devices from the computer. When you click the icon it takes around 5 seconds for the eject menu to show in 7. It INSTANTLY shows in Windows 8. Less than 1 second to eject the drive. I've shown it to a lot of people (and either not saying anything positive or negative about it AND also by saying how cool it is) and they've liked it just fine. I gave my old tablet PC to my 55 year old mother and she has no issue using it.

Signed up for IEEE (I am a student and work for a University too, just am not an IT student).... just waiting for my link to the software, site says can take ~8 days.

Quote from petard : shut up. If you click the desktop tile you have the Windows 7 GUI. The only difference is the start menu being full screen. Why don't people get this yet?

Agreed. Also, this is Slick Deals, and Windows 8 is inexpensive! Sure you can use Linux for free, but unfortunately for some things Windows is needed.

Windows 8 won't be released until October 26. So what exactly is this version? Can someone confirm that a fresh install will not be required when it goes GA?

Great deal if you need an OS for an HTPC or tablet. If you will primarily using a PC for desktop purposes, avoid at all costs. I say this as a Windows 8 user (4 months)

Been waiting for this to show up for us Comp Sci guys, downloading and installing now! Thanks for the heads up OP!

Also, this is the full version and not a preview. The code for the final version has been out for some time now so this is no different than what will be sold October 26.

Quote from zrzhu : If I install win 8 on one computer, can I move the license to another computer later?

I think I saw that you can install up to two computers with one license. You can do online activation with the same cd-key couple times (at least 2, less than 10 for sure). After that, you have to use automated phone activation, which is kind of a hassle because you have to punch in all these numbers.
If you want to do a fresh re-install on the same computer, make sure to use a software called "Advanced Tokens Manager" to backup/restore the activation information so that it doesn't use up your activation count.

Also, these licenses are not for commercial use, and is only for educational/personal use. Make sure you guys read the agreement or whatever it's called.

Quote from potus : Agreed. Also, this is Slick Deals, and Windows 8 is inexpensive! Sure you can use Linux for free, but unfortunately for some things Windows is needed. Windows 8 won't be released until October 26. So what exactly is this version? Can someone confirm that a fresh install will not be required when it goes GA?

This is the MSDNAA version. Complete full version, same as you'd get at retail. I have access to MSDNAA from my school and I was able to get 4 licenses and already made us of 3 of them. Full version, fully activated. Windows RTMs (completed) months before general availability which is October 26 for Windows 8.

Quote from dragonheart : if you do an upgrade you keep everything that you currently have. if you do a clean install then you lose everything and install a brand new windows 8 only.

Thanx for the info..

Quote from mxchen : After being an IEEE member(not a student member), how to get the VS 2012? Thanks.

It is only for student member

Quote from petard : And all of those negative reviews have the problem of even bothering to use Metro apps on the desktop. You don't need to. You really don't. The start menu being full screen isn't an issue and that's the only major change. There are a ton of changes on the desktop which are awesome. New explorer, new task manager, new file copy dialog and process, Win+X menu, and a bunch of other things PLUS it being overall faster. In fact one feature I just used now which bugged me to no end in 7 and earlier: Ejecting devices from the computer. When you click the icon it takes around 5 seconds for the eject menu to show in 7. It INSTANTLY shows in Windows 8. Less than 1 second to eject the drive. I've shown it to a lot of people (and either not saying anything positive or negative about it AND also by saying how cool it is) and they've liked it just fine. I gave my old tablet PC to my 55 year old mother and she has no issue using it.

Not sure about your eject problem, but I have two ejectable drives, and just clicked on it in Windows 7 and it came up instantly for me? I have an i7-920. Not sure why yours would take 5 seconds to come up.