[WinPartners] Microsoft to Release Windows 8 on October 26: IS&T Recommends Community Members WAIT to Migrate

[Alexander Kozlov]

Good Afternoon:

Microsoft will release a new operating system - Windows 8  - on October 26, 2012.

Starting October 29, 2012, Information Services and Technology (IS&T) will make Windows 8 Enterprise available to faculty, staff, and students for download through the Microsoft Campus Agreement (MSCA). At the same time, IS&T will begin providing limited support of Windows 8 Enterprise for early adopters through the IS&T Help Desk. As with previous versions of Windows, MIT departments may install IS&T-provided licenses on all MIT-owned equipment.  Additionally, each MIT student is allowed to install Windows 8 on one personally owned computer.

IS&T strongly recommends that members of the MIT community wait to move to Windows 8 Enterprise. We are making the operating system available now to empower departments, labs, and centers (DLCs) to decide when to make the move to Windows 8. The timing coincides with Microsoft's release of Windows 8 Enterprise to the consumer market: IS&T wants to avoid unnecessary purchases of licenses already covered through the MSCA.

Phased Support Plan
IS&T will phase in support for Windows 8 Enterprise over time. Starting on October 29, we will offer support for

- Configuring network connections (both wireless and wired)

- Activating Windows 8 Enterprise licenses on MITnet, the campus network

- Installing MIT certificates

As more software distributed by IS&T becomes compatible with Windows 8 Enterprise, we will increase our support for it and eventually recommend it. IS&T will continue to support other versions of Microsoft operating systems, including Windows 7 Enterprise, after we announce full support for Windows 8 Enterprise.

How To Obtain
When you are ready to acquire your copy of Windows 8 Enterprise, visit the MIT Software Download Site at https://msca.mit.edu/cgi-bin/windows [certificates<https://ca.mit.edu/ca/> required].

Getting Help
Limited MIT documentation for Windows 8 Enterprise can be found at http://ist.mit.edu/windows/8/enterprise

For assistance, contact , please contact the IS&T  Help Desk at 617.253.1101,  helpdesk at mit.edu<mailto:helpdesk at mit.edu>, or by  submitting a request online<http://ist.mit.edu/support#form>.

For more details on the Windows 8 Release Project, visit the project notebook at https://wikis.mit.edu/confluence/display/SWRT/Windows+8+Release+Project [certificates<https://ca.mit.edu/ca/> required].


_____________

Alexander Kozlov
Windows Platform Coordinator
Software Release Team
Information Services and Technology
W92 - 229H
(617) 253-5103