A new report raises the possibility of Windows 8 arriving earlier than expected. Writing on ZDNet, respected Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) watcher Mary-Jo Foley says that "Microsoft is actually on track to release to manufacturing all Windows 8 versions by April 2012." This new date comes slightly earlier than initial Q2/Q3 2012 expectations for a Windows 8 RTM. In addition, the same "trusted source" told Foley that Microsoft's current game plan is to deliver a full-fledged beta of Windows 8 around mid-September this year, followed by a January release candidate in 2012.

Windows 8 is a hotly anticipated upgrade due to its ability to run on ARM-based systems, which is expected to open the door toward more energy-efficient devices. It's also optimized for touchscreen tablets, an important factor given that the tablet is starting to erode at the traditional dominance of the desktop operating system.

While Microsoft had earlier offered the reassurance that Windows 8 won't require a new PC, an earlier arrival of Windows 8 is still likely to influence corporations' upgrade decisions. With insufficient information about the capabilities of new operating system, some enterprises may opt to wait until the arrival of the first beta in September before committing to major purchasing decisions. Does this report have any bearing on your Windows upgrade plans?

For more:
- check out this article at ZDNet
- check out this article at BusinessWeek
- check out this article at CNET News

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