Windows 8 inches closer to widespread release

Microsoft® recently took another step closer to releasing its much-anticipated new operating system, Windows® 8. A message on the computing giant's website reveals that users can now download a consumer preview of the latest Windows OS.

"If you're interested enough in operating systems to install one that's still a work in progress, you can download this version for free and install it on any computer that's capable of running Windows 7," Time magazine's Henry McCracken reports.

The download page for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview states that this version of the platform may not resemble the one Microsoft releases later this year. Some of the features and capabilities of the OS may be modified before the widespread launch, but the preview version should give users a good feel for what will soon be run on many notebook, desktop and tablet computers.

Microsoft first unveiled the newest version of Windows at its Build conference in September. Around the same time, the company also released an initial version of the platform to members of its development community.