Those interested in Windows 8, will be happy to know the operating system is not too far off from being available to the masses via all the major retail channels. On Wednesday, Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would hit store shelves on October 26, 2012, a date that is inline with recent rumors of late. Announcing Windows 8 availability so early is a good thing, as it gives PC users time to upgrade to a system more fitting for what will be the best Microsoft operating system ever made.

Microsoft has been talking about the coming versions of Windows 8, and happily, there won't be a million options. The problem with purchasing Windows 7 was the high number of options available, some of which were never needed, and only added to consumer confusion.

Microsoft noted that Windows 8 will come in only four versions: One for home use, one for business, one for devices running ARM chips, and the other for the enterprise. Come to think of it, there is really only three versions of Windows 8, that is if one should exclude Windows RT which runs on ARM from the list. Who really wants an ARM based Windows 8 device when legacy apps won't be supported?

We expect Windows 8 to be a big hit for Microsoft as the company brings Windows into a new age of personal computing. Steve Jobs predicted the post pc era, but we believe he's wrong. Windows 8 will not fail, the new Metro user interface is beautifully designed for touch, and when compared to the likes of iOS and Android, Windows 8 is the only true operating system, and isn't that what you want?

Microsoft's other announcements should be about Windows Phone 8 and Office 2013 release dates. Windows Phone 8 and devices running on the new OS is expected to be available some time in September, Office 2013 should be around before Windows 8, hopefully.