Well Windows8 is finally here. You can now go online and purchase upgrade for your computers for under $40! That is practically free for anyone who has ever purchased a full copy of Windows in the past. Note, though that this is a temporary deal and will end January 31, 2013. If you are curious as to whether or not your computers are actually capable of being upgraded to Windows 8 fear not. Microsoft has created a simple program you can run on your computer to see just that. It’s there Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant.

Now although we just explained to you how to upgrade your PC to Windows8 and we showed you the other day how to prepare your small business for the transition to this new operating system, don’t mistake us for someone who is trying to sell you this product. Indeed, Windows8 is one of the most significant changes between iterations since maybe Windows ’95 and it will not be easily adopted by many people some of which might include you and your employees. Aside from the steep learning curve there are some other issues to consider. If your small business does minimal work on computers then there won’t be much value in upgrading. Further, if you recently purchased a computer, then it is likely fast enough that you won’t see a significant speed boost except maybe at startup. On the other side if you are going to be purchasing new computers be aware that they will all likely come with Windows8 standard. Apart from the drawbacks and the speed boost you’ll notice on slower machines, the main reason for wanting to upgrade to Windows8 is if you have business that is very active in social media and uses a lot of mobile devices. You see, Windows8 works equally well on both desktop PCs and tablets. This means that employees can seamless transition their work from their desktop computer to their tablet and take their work with them wherever they go. This also drastically reduces security and compatibility issues that your IT team might have to face. SmallBiz Technology continues with their perspective, “Today a new debate is brewing with the upcoming advent of Windows 8 because it literally is like no other version of Windows released before. By getting rid of the familiar Start button, implementing a significant overhaul of core Windows components, a focus on touch screens rather than traditional displays, along with many other technical changes, the decision to upgrade hardware from Windows 7 to Windows 8 should not be taken lightly. While it normally pays to update as soon as possible, Microsoft has not announced plans to discontinue support for Windows 7 in the near future, meaning there is not  a need to rush to upgrade. That being said, there are a few instances where upgrading to Windows 8 is worthwhile.

The biggest reason to make the switch to Windows 8 is if your  company depends heavily on tablets and other touch screen devices.  The latest version of Windows will come equipped with Metro, which is a fresh new interface exclusively for touch screens. Additionally, as Windows 8 supports logging into Windows using your Windows Live ID (Microsoft’s online suite of services) plus integrating Windows SkyDrive cloud storage into the platform, Windows 8 is well suited for users who use multiple devices or are constantly on the go…”