Windows 8 ‘consumer preview’ available today, but don’t call it a beta

Microsoft launched an early version of their newest operating system, Windows 8, at Mobile World Congress on February 29, to widespread fanfare from tech blogs.

Here's a look at the updates that have been made to the operating system:

The new OS will run on both traditional computers and tablets, although tablets that are optimized for Windows 8 won't be arriving until later this year. While the tech world has been looking forward to this beta for weeks, it seems like Microsoft isn't so keen on that word.

In today's Mobile World Congress presentation, Microsoft presented the sampling of the upcoming OS as a "consumer preview" instead of a "beta." It's meant to signify more of a finished product that has undergone over 100,000 changes since the initial testing version, according to Engadget's liveblog.

Tech bloggers at MWC have had a brief chance to go hands-on with the new OS, and here's a roundup of some of their initial impressions:

PCWorld: "This is definitely not the flakey, feature-light version of Windows 8 released for developers last year," says Jason Cross. "It's dramatically smoother and more responsive. Apps snap open, flipping between them is immediate."

Gizmodo: "Windows is betting a lot on touch," says Mat Honan. "Which is smart. Touch and gestures are the fast-approaching future of user interface. They are simply another way to access and manipulate data. But of course touch is not completely there yet. There are some actions where you will want an input device. So Windows 8 hedges. It lets you go both ways, touch or mouse and keyboard input. Or a combination thereof. (And yes, there's a stylus option too.)"

CNET: "Windows 8 is a breeze to use," says Seth Rosenblatt. "It's tricked out with social networking and synchronization, it's robust enough to handle Photoshop, it gracefully moves from touch to keyboard and mouse, and it's got some top-notch security. Despite what Microsoft is calling strong interest from hardware manufacturers and developers, however, its impact is still uncertain at best."

Wired: "The new OS may be based on Windows 7 underpinnings, but Microsoft's sleek, block-based Metro interface is clearly the star of the Windows 8 show, highlighting how the developers in Redmond are giving the traditional desktop a complete mobile-influenced makeover," says Christina Bonnington.

Click here for more information on how to download the preview, where TechSpot has provided download links and a product key. Visit our topic page for more from Mobile World Congress.