A recent news report by Bloomberg reveals that Microsoft has plans to finish the work on Windows 8 this summer and it will be available in the market by October this year.

According to the news report, Microsoft Windows 8 will be available in two forms: Windows 8 for traditional PCs and business-grade slates and tablets and Windows on ARM (WOA) for consumer tablets. The report also states that computer and tablet manufacturers which are also known as OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are expected to incorporate Microsoft Windows 8 in their tablets and PCs in the coming months and these gadgets would be available in the market by October, 2012. The October release date would also be a good marketing strategy since it will target Christmas shoppers who would be able to utilize the new Microsoft Windows 8 in the new devices that will be launched during this period.

The source for the supposed release date for Windows 8 came from "people with knowledge of the schedule" but they refused to disclose their identity for this news report. On the other hand, Microsoft declined to comment about this news report about the release date of Windows 8.

The October release date comes as no surprise as Microsoft has done the same thing with Microsoft Windows 7. Microsoft has already finished Windows 7 three years before by July and it was launched in the market by Oct. 22, 2009-just in time for the holiday shopping season. Many experts are predicting the same marketing strategy for Windows 8 as Microsoft will not repeat the same mistake it made with Windows Vista. The release of Windows Vista was not that successful due to the fact that it missed the 2006 holiday season and was only shipped by January 2007.

Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Gartner remarked on this news report stating that "If they miss the September-October time frame, they're going to be stuck without being able to ship anything in 2012. The last thing Microsoft wants to have is a situation where there are no compelling Windows tablets at a time when the new iPad looks like it's going to be a good seller for the holidays."