Microsoft Unveils Preview Of Windows 8

By Ian Bush

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Microsoft is previewing the next version of Windows. KYW's Ian Bush tells us it's very different from what PC users are familiar with:

"It takes a lot of adjustment at first."

You don't have to put your mouse to pasture, but PC World senior editor Jason Cross says Windows 8 is all about touch:

"There's this grid of squares or rectangles. Each one is a different application, you touch it or you click on it with your mouse to launch that application."

Gone is the Start menu. In its place, the start screen with Live Tiles that automatically update. The Facebook one, for instance, could display new photo uploads and status updates.

"The weather thing will show you what the weather is."

Just like on your mobile device or Mac, there's an app store.

Windows 8 should be out in the fall, but here is a link so you to take the preview version for a spin.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview

You may want to set it up as a dual-boot or in a virtual machine. Microsoft says "To go back to your previous version of Windows, you'll need to reinstall it from the recovery or installation media that came with your PC."