Windows 8 Beta Coming Soon?

I suppose the question is semi-rhetorical, and the response can vary greatly depending on your definition of “soon”.

Windows 8 has already been unveiled, and developers were provided with an early, pre-beta build at Microsoft’s BUILD conference this fall. It is no surprise, then, that Microsoft will continue to march down the path from inception, to platform preview, to beta, to release candidate, and on to final release. So, of course the beta is on the horizon.

Currently there are competing rumors suggesting that a Windows 8 beta could be available in January 2012, or in February 2012. I have been dabbling with that early build, but it is definitely a little rough around the edges and I am looking forward to seeing a more polished Windows 8 when the public beta launches.