Microsoft Windows 8 system will be released digitally

Steven Sinofsky, director of Microsoft's Windows division, published an article on the company's official blog, saying that Microsoft wants to sell Windows 8 over the Internet, which speeds up and simplifies the Windows 8 installation process. Sinofsky explained that Microsoft's goal is to provide a satisfactory installation process for both users, one for users who want to install quickly, and one for users who want more choice, control and customization.

The simpler solution proposed by Microsoft is that users need to download files over the network and then upgrade them instead of purchasing and installing them in the Mac App Store just like installing Lion.

Sinofsky said that in the past, if you wanted to buy a new version of Windows, you had to buy the boxed software from the retail channel and plug the DVD into your computer for installation. But now broadband speeds are getting faster and faster, it has become more and more convenient to download and purchase software over the Internet.

Microsoft's network installation will allow users to download pre-activated installation images, which means users do not need to enter a 25-digit numeric key like Windows 7 is installed. Sinofsky said that the network installation method will become the user's first choice, the network installation file will scan the user's system to find compatibility issues, download Windows 8 and install the system.

Apple wants users to upgrade to Lion through the Mac App Store, although Apple also offers a $69 USB installation disk, but the price is twice that of Lion in the Mac App Store. Of course, Microsoft's Windows 8 digital distribution method is not the same as Apple's, Microsoft does not have a unified software center.

In addition to the digital distribution method, Microsoft has made some changes to simplify and join the Windows 8 installation process. Through extensive optimization of the upgrade engine, Microsoft said that the time for the new installation has dropped from 32 minutes for Windows 7 to 21 minutes for Windows 8.

Microsoft official tests show that if users have 1.44 million files and 120 installed software, the time to upgrade to Windows 7 is 513 minutes, and the time to upgrade to Windows 8 is only 52 minutes.