Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) long-awaited Windows 8 operating system will go on sale Oct. 26, its most critical software upgrade in a decade. Designed to work on both PCs and tablet computers, Windows 8 is Microsoft's best hope for competing with devices running Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android operating system and Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPad. The Redmond, Wash., company made the announcement in a blog post late Wednesday after Steven Sinofsky, head of Microsoft's Windows team, announced the date at the company's annual sales meeting. Windows powers nearly a billion PCs world-wide/Wall Street Journal. More here.

Question: When did you last upgrade your computer system? Which version are you using now?

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