Windows 8 is now available on Dreamspark Premium. Most Universities are members of this program in some faculties. While this deal isn't available to everyone, I wanted to raise awareness as it only became available this morning.
For Monash students, your Windows 8 Professional CD key must be obtained through the website on campus.
How big is the ISO?
Windows 8 (x64) - DVD (English): 3416 MB
Windows 8 Pro (x64) - DVD (English): 3327 MB
Windows 8 Enterprise (x64) - DVD (English): 3329 MB
Dreamspark Premium only gets you the Pro version in x86 and x64.
Pro is the version you want. Not the Enterprise.
Pro version doesnt have media center.
Enterprise will give you Windows To Go if you want it.
Guarantee he won't use that feature. But if he does, then sure.
Agree, good find. At the same time I just found an ant in my keyboard but don't worry I won't let it ESC
What ever happened to the ant?? You can't start something like that and not finish it !!
It SHIFTed to U
Don't worry, I'm safe.
That's actually cheap. Cheaper than W7.
I'll wait for reviews though. Not keen on the tablet interface.
free is free - why not try it for yourself if you have a spare PC.
Exactly! Get it while it's free.
I'm going to get the ISO and do a fresh partition install on an SSD and swap out my DVD drive for a caged-SSD with W8. Though I read that W8 is apparently going to be more aimed at optimizing for tablets.
I heard from my IT teacher that windows 8 had a press conference and said Windows 8 was not made as a replacement for Windows 7, it's a different offering for people that would enjoy that interface. Think of it as a response to the consumerism of Apple, it's for people that like having eye candy. Windows 7 is a workhorse (it has low boot times, uses little ram and has almost every feature that you could want from an OS).
Interesting theory but not the case. Windows 8 is the successor and replacement for Windows 7. Performance wise it's even better than Windows 7 with even quicker boot times and improvements in many other areas.
improvements in many other areas.
Except the Tile-UI.. at least for people trying to open up multiple applications (in desktop)
Install VMware on your computer. Install Windows 8 in Vmware. Play with it that way. That's what I've done and I'm really not ready to make the switch to Win8. I don't like the interface either, and finding Control Panel items was really hard, and I'm an experienced Windows users. :|
I've read a few reviews and I'm not going to be going out of my way to install it - while there are a few improvements the 'not-called-Metro' interface is completely botched. All of the basic tasks are more of a pain. A lot of tech sites are calling it the next "Windows ME". While you can tweak it to make it more useful, I just don't want to waste an hour or two out of my life installing a new OS that doesn't really make things any better for me.
where can you download for $39.99? Thanks.
Never mind. I just downloaded and installed the release preview, and I intend to stay as far away from this POS as possible.
It started well. I didnt have to install any drivers. Everything booted up nicely. It stayed that way for about an hour or so. Then I lost my internet connection, even though my tablet was accessing the internet just fine. Then the screen starts flicking funny colours. I reach down and touch the VGA and it is burning hot, even though the machine isnt doing anything, its just sitting there with the desktop showing.
I restart. The Windows icon comes up. Then it fades to black and that is that. The hard drive has been buzzing frantically, but nothing else has been happening.
EDIT TO ADD - This is extraordinary. I am trying to restart and the video card is completely fried. I can't even get a post screen. It is a 9800 GTX+ so a pretty old card but still was running fine under W7 the last couple of years, and Windows 8 killed it in under an hour. Must be something powerful in those default drivers.
Thanks for the heads up.
Windows 8 didn't kill your card. The drivers in Windows 8 are (obviously) WHQL approved and they are the same drivers that are being pushed out to hundreds of millions of nVIDIA cards when Windows 8 is released.
Call it a awful coincidence, but correlation does not imply causation.
Even though I can get it free through MSDNAA, is it worth changing from W7? The hassle of backing up all games, is it worth it?
is it worth changing from W7?
nope… not if you're using a desktop or laptop… it doesn't offer anything…
Better file management, more info with system monitoring, better utilization of multi core cup's and SSD's the list goes on… but make sure you get the start8 app and install it to bring back the start menue :) .. ehehe
Not to mention the complete removal of Aero, and the general navigation speed of the interface in the RTM is impressive.
Not to mention the complete removal of Aero
GPU-utilising chrome developed for Vista and W7 designed to do away with XP's blocky chrome is removed in favour of even blockier chrome because it's too taxing for (mobile) ARM processors is now tauted as an improvement/feature?
If W8's chrome is so great, why does MS go out of they way to prevent end-user re-introducing the Start button or login directly to desktop, surely, great improvements can sell themselves?
(Built-in support for USB3.0 is the only practical improvement, although I am not sure downloading and installing any of 3 chipset suppliers' (Renesas, Asmedia and Fresco Logic) drivers constitutes an inconvenience.)
…"(Built-in support for USB3.0 is the only practical improvement, although I am not sure downloading and installing any of 3 chipset suppliers' (Renesas, Asmedia and Fresco Logic) drivers constitutes an inconvenience.)"…
You obviously don't have a Dell XPS 15/17 laptop with unusable USB 3.0 ports.
You obviously don't have a Dell XPS 15/17 laptop with unusable USB 3.0 ports.
a driver's a driver, even if it's written by Microsoft. Are you implying that your USB3.0 port works in W8 but not in W7 using manufacturer's drivers?
I am using a Renesas' $10 Expresscard in an ancient Vosto 1500 - (within the limit of Expresscard 1.0 bandwidth) it works.
Ergh - just tried START8 - hated it - have been using "Classic Shell" since I installed W8 a few months ago.
Speed improvement, memory management improvement, new better optimized programs, different look (if you're into that).
It performs better than W7
From what I have seen, the results are not exactly outstanding in this regard. 4 out of 5 times the 'improvement' is negligible at best (less that 5 or 10%) with only a few things bucking that trend.
So? 5 - 10 % better than Vista. It's actually far more than 5-10% in some tests I've seen though
There were a few benchmarks here and there. Generally the performance is around the same, with at most 9% difference in media playback, and a small amount in web browsing (HTML5 performance)
However there was a dip in performance in gaming. Probably due to drivers.
But seriously, the whole W8 VS W7 debate is on the whole UI redesign, which a lot of people don't like.
W8 is more suited for tablets (Microsoft Surface) at the moment.. they should make a non-touchscreen version, option or a toggle for it :|
You'll get a bump in gaming once the drivers are sorted out I'm sure. It's meant to be efficient as a whole, so once Nvidia and AMD get out of Beta drivers, I'm sure we'll see a bump. Until then, I'll stick with w7.
If you need it for a reason then sure if not then I would just stay with win7.
Free Windows 8 for Students
iirc, the free copy only lasts for 12 months and is tied to your live ID. Very apple-esque.
Is this a Windows 8 thing or are you saying this is for all MSDNAA OS's? I have a Windows 7 install still running from release here which isn't tied to my live ID but if you're just talking about Windows 8 ignore me.
nahh i was talking about the dreamspark program; not if you bought a retail copy. But then again, i could be wrong.
Me too, now I can't login anymore!
I have 2 copies of windows7 (student copy and ieee copy, one on laptop another on desktop….
Not sure if its just a coincidence or 1 yr validity… i built my desktop last august and not it says its not a genuine copy, wants me to activate windows (but also had a BSOD a day before), but when i try to activate, it wont let me…. wont let me try different product code ether….
the error code was the infamous activation error "Windows Activation Error : Error Code 0x80070005"
access denied
microsoft phone support wanted me to contact the dreamspark account holder(university) to contact them for tech support…well that was BS…
tried few forums, didn't help
i had activation problems before after unexpected shutdowns, but a system restore (not an image of C drive, well i don't have a backup of my desktop:p) would solve the problem. unfortunately this time it after an hr or so from system restore i get a message that my windows is not genuine.
Today I did a system restore again and entered a different product key… so far no problem…
How to get key from IEEE?
Definitely NOT the case. Well for me anyway. Got Windows 7 running on two different computers (32 & 64 bit) from MSDNAA (now dreamspark). Running for more than 2 years now I think. No problems whatsoever with the licence. Could be the licence lasts as long as you are enrolled at Uni.
then i stand corrected. :)
This is not the case. The copy lasts forever. TBH, With my MSDNAA Windows 7 Pro key, I used it on about 8 computers over the past few years with no activation troubles.
Yeah the key should last forever, however your MSDN account will close so make sure you copy down the keys.
Visual Studio 2012 is also available for anyone who was wondering…
i'm not seeing windows 8? is it for premiums only?
@PeteShag: How did you get the login detail from RMIT? Did you get it from IT support? or did you just registered it on Dreamspark website? I registered it on Dreamspark website but I don't get access to Dreamspark Premium.
Dreamspark premium is accessed from a different URL. If you are an IT student you should have a login for it, might need to do a 'reset password' to get your password sent to your student email though. You'll need to track down the RMIT dreamspark premium login page first though.
How do you get the login detail? Can you just Create account on Dreamspark site or it is a faculty issued login detail and how do you request it?
I got an email when I enrolled, Are you enrolled in an IT/CS related degree?
nope… not if you're using a desktop or laptop… it doesn't offer anything…
So is Windows 8 just an attempt by Micro$oft to get people with tablets to pay for an operating system?
nope its the new windows 7 …that also has a touch only user interface… but once you install start8 the app pretty much turns it back into windows 7 but you get all the improvements of the new OS
running win8 rtm atm.. very confusing…
You get used to it, but I agree.. there should be a guide when you first install it SHOWING you the new changes.
Not trying to be an Apple fan here, but the way iTunes has a small intro showing how to use iTunes is really good, had to read up on windows 8 reviews before I even found out about how to close an application (fully close, not just leave it in the background) in windows 8 (on VMware)
You are not so bad mate, it took me few days to find out where the shut down button is. I use virtual box so I usually just exit it, but that ain't the right way.
I hate it when a program tells me how to use it. I always seem to figure it out by myself.
Read it as Optional then.
where is it?
i log out then shut down.
hehe
Open the tiles interface, then bringup the menu, then goto settings -> power and the shutdown button is in there.
could someone please briefly go over how to get the deal? I'm not sure where to click etc.
It's different for every University. If you go to the page I've linked in the original post, you can check if you're eligible.
Yes it is confusing as it is focused towards touch input devices. You will also read lot about the missing start menu. It's a complete change of format. So if you could forget you ever owned a Win O/S machine, you will be fine. It is only when you start to look for similar items that you have issues. Had installed it on a space computer for about a year now..almost… but did not use much due to similar issues and spending too much time here
:)
Where do I acquire said space computer?
Space?
Space = Spare
:)
Space = I was telling him where to get a space computer.
Ok..I was just correcting my error as I could not edit the post
I have used windows OS since I was about 2 years old, so pretty much my whole life, and had no issues with changing to W8 DP. It has come a long way since the initial releases and is a whole different product. Anyone claiming that it is targetted towards touch devices is also very wrong, it is meant to bring traditional point and click and touch together, not go either way as past versions have, and it does a good job if you ask me. Using a mouse to navigate the metro screen isn't a problem after you have configured it to your liking and placed your tiles and shortcuts where you want them, Start8 can also be handy if that is what you are after.
While I am in no way a Micro$oft fanboy, I do like the direction they are going with their software, and it will allow working in and out of the office much easier as apps are developed for all devices and with equal compatibility.
Anyway, each for their own, I won't be going back to W7, it really is an individual decision though.
Mere presence of start8 tells me that MS did not think much through this product issue unless their main aim was to hit the tablet market. This issue will become the UAC issue of Vista. This is because it is not only Techies who use computers but average people who struggle with basic operation of PC. Such thing missing will frustrate them no end. I see this everytime there is a new system coming out. Then people will load it with Apps or JB or something else to make the manufacturer forced settings to work better. Lets see time will tell.
Don't know why you were negged, will fix it for you ;)
Kinda confused, how do I download it?
Tried searching for Melbourne University but says "your school is not enrolled" :S
Need to change the country. Then, go through the signing process it seems.
managed to create an account and confirmed my uni email but there doesnt seem to be any windows 8 download, i can see visual studio, visual server and stuff…but no windows 8
I believe Melbourne Uni is one of the only Universities in Australia not to have Dreamspark Premium. You most likely have access to regular Dreamspark which doesn't include Windows 8
Flinders Uni also is not signed up for premium. Premium is done by department, not by university. It costs $499 for each department in the university, and Premium can only be gotten by "Technical Departments (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)". So even if you go to Monash and are not in one of those "STEM" departments, I don't see how you would be able to get Windows 8.
Search "University of Melbourne" not "Melbourne University". But I'm not sure how much that will help it's only for the engineering school and I have no idea how to register.
Not exactly sure this is actually a deal. Windows 8 has been available on both MSDN and TechNet subscriptions since August 15. So, saying it is available "now" (23/08) is basically a week late.
Looks like the link in the page is not the best link to go to….. I think the link to try might be: https://www.dreamspark.com/ then click on 1) Create an Account link (I cannot test it fully coz. I don't have a student e-mail), but that link seems to indicate the subscription is free.
Yes, Windows 8 has been available on MSDN since the 15/08. However it only became available on Dreamspark Premium (Free for most University students) yesterday.
If your University isn't enrolled in Dreamspark Premium, this deal isn't relevant to you.
Also curious about this deal. I've successfully started an account with my edu email address but nothing meaningful is coming up. I'm guessing I'm in the wrong faculty? (If so, no idea how MS vetoed that).
Windows 8 isn't available via Dreamspark. It's on TechNet/MSDN, which is a completely separate programme. The other option is to see if your University directly offers it for free or at a discount.
The deal title is probably correct, but the link provided is not the best link.
MSDNAA - it is basically MSDN so it could be available.
Dreamspark Premium - could be there (but most likely not in Dreamspark (standard)).
I don't have a student e-mail (not a student anymore) so cannot really test MSDNAA to see if it there. Besides, on TechNet and MSDN… Windows 8 was released about a week ago.
Good point though… the DreamSpark site seems to indicate you get the Microsoft Server products for free. For client OSes… I think you need DreakSpark Premium.. but still not sure the correct link for students to activate for free.
MSDNAA was renamed to DreamSpark Premium. It's the same thing.
Win8 is available on my uni's Dreamspark, just ordered 32,64bit copies. I "think" it wasn't there yesterday (my computer was acting funny so wanted to double check my win7 key)….
MSDN Academic Alliance is Dreamspark…they have changed the name(MS tech support told me)….
Also IEEE's Dreamspark does not have Win8… it used to have win7 when it was released but they took it off coz it costed less to get a half yearly ieee membership than to get a copy of win7….
You're right. Windows 8 isn't available via Dreamspark. ONLY Dreamspark Premium, as posted above.
For UWS, you have to go here.
http://e5.onthehub.com/WebStore/ProductsByMajorVersionList.a…
And it has to be on a SCEM Computer so it wont work at home.
Has anyone managed to dodgy up an ACM or IEEE student membership for Dreamspark Premium access? I remember that's how a lot of people were getting Win 7 when the RTM was released to MSDN-AA early
Not on ieee…
Anyone from UNSW knows how this works?
You need to be enrolled in a computer-related course, here is the link.
Find someone enrolled in CSE, or if you're in ENGG1811, COMP1911, COMP1917 (first year courses) or any other COMPXXXX, you should have already accepted your "yellow form" (don't know why they named it that) and you use your CSE login (not your zID + password for your standard blackboard + my.unsw + moodle)
UNSW CSE MSDNAA, need active CSE login
Similar to the e5.onthehub.com link as seen with the above UWS link
Can other student like engineering student in UNSW eligible for this?
Yes, my DreamSpark subscription says "University of New South Wales - Engineering - DreamSpark Premium".
I got that too, but when I redirected to another website, it says I need to login with a username. Not sure what that username mean. Did you successfully claim the key?
Good find. It's $39.99 for a donwload otherwise, or $69.99 for a box.