The finished version of Windows 8 may not be out until the second half of 2012, but if you're curious about what's coming next then there's no need to wait. Microsoft has released a Windows 8 Developer Preview that's free for everyone to try.

You may need some courage and Windows experience, though, because this is a very early version: buggy; incomplete; only supports clean installs (that is, it can't upgrade an existing version of Windows); can't be removed other than by reformatting; and isn't supported by Microsoft.

Still, if you've a spare laptop or PC with nothing you need on the hard drive, then installing Windows 8 Developer Preview will at least let you see how it performs. It should run on just about any modern system; if a computer supports Windows 7, it should run Windows 8 as well. And this will let you experience some impressive features, like the super-fast boot time.

You've no spare hardware? An even more convenient route is to use the free VirtualBox, which allows you to run Windows 8 in a window on your current system's desktop. It's quick, and easy - here's how to install and run Windows 8.

1. Downloading Windows 8

The Developer Preview is a huge download, a minimum of 2.8GB, so you'll want to get that underway first. Head along to Microsoft's Dev Centre and grab the version you need. (If in doubt, opt for the 32-bit file.)

For more, read our guide How to download Windows 8 today.


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