Just like the company did with previous versions of their operating system, Microsoft has released the consumer preview of Windows 8, the official version of which is scheduled to be released later this year. The OS is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, supports multiple languages (oddly enough, no Spanish in the preview) and sports the new Metro UI for desktops, laptops, and tablets.

Minimum specs for Windows 8 include a 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM for the 32-bit version and exactly double that for the 64-bit version. The 32-bit will take up 16GB of HDD space, with the 64-bit taking up 20GB. Lastly, you’ll need to be packing at least a Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device. The different downloads clock in at 2.5GB and 3.4GB and come with an ISO that you can burn to a DVD and install, but that’s far from the only method.

I’m still rocking Windows XP, so maybe I’ll skip Vista and 7 altogether and go straight to Windows 8. Or maybe I’ll just stay right where I am, thank you very much, like a cranky old dinosaur. That Windows 8 preview sure does look spiffy, though.

via Slash Gear