With the launch of Windows 8 now only a day away, the excitement is building as we countdown to the general availability of our new OS. The ads are prepped and ready to go (if you haven't had a chance to see any, check out an example below), our partners have created an inspiring selection of devices to suit every requirement and the orders for Surface are coming in thick and fast. The 26th is going to be an epic day!
With all this excitement around our consumer launch, though, what about the Windows 8 in education launch? Well, let's just say we are not being left behind…
Tickets for our launch event at QPR sold out in days and promises to be a brilliant afternoon looking at Windows 8, devices and apps through an edu lens. With prize draws and a rumoured appearance by a QPR first team player, it's going to be quite the afternoon. Walking on the pitch of Loftus Road is going to be a highlight, for sure!
In addition to this, our Schools Business Managers, Mark Reynolds and Sean O'Shea, are embarking on a race against the clock tour of SE London to visit 8 schools in a day as part of '8 in a Day'. The goal of '8 in a Day' is to visit 8 schools and share some insight into Windows 8 and how it can make a difference to teaching and learning and help raise attainment.
Students at the 8 schools have been invited to submit a response to the question 'how would having your own device at home make you more effective at school'. All entries will be entered into a prize to win an RM laptop (huge shout out to RM for supporting this activity!) and we will be sharing the best quotes via the blog at a later date. Really looking forward to see what all the students come up with!
With Friday being the start of 1/2 term, it's going to be quite the challenge to get around all 8 schools in a single day as it’s a short school day. You can follow their antics on Twitter via the hashtag #8inaday. Mark and Sean will be tweeting their thoughts, stories and pictures as they go. The full route is shown below. It's going to be tight!
To keep up to speed with the Windows 8 in education launch day in general, follow us on Twitter at @microsofteduk. Drop us a note, either in the comments below or via Twitter, and let us know what you are looking forward to most with Windows 8!