However, you'll have to buy a copy if you want to keep on using the operating system after it starts shipping.įirst things first. While the operating system hasn't launched, you can download this release preview for free. A few bug fixes will likely be added, but the core functionality should remain the same. Download The Windows 8 Release PreviewĪ release preview, in case you were wondering, shows the operating system as it's intended to be released. In this article, I'll show you how to install it on a separate partition on your MacBook Air.ġ. But with the release just around the corner, the Windows 8 version you'll find on Microsoft's website has since matured to a release preview. Get your quick fix by installing Windows 8 in VirtualBox, like Justin Pot showed in his 2011 article. If Windows 8 has captured your interest, why not take it for a test run? While the operating system hasn't launched, you can download a free preview! Don't forget to skim through our Windows 8 guide first! If you're reading this article, you're probably a user of Mac OS X, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be intrigued. Windows 8 is coming out at the end of October, and although the opinions about it are divided (to say the least), it's undeniable that Microsoft is making a major move with this latest iteration of its flagship operating system.