Now as I start writing it is past midnight. I received the e-mail for offer of Windows 8 pro upgrade. I started to apply coupon to purchase the Windows 8 pro using my credit card and download immediately. If you did not use the coupon for new PC purchase offer the upgrade offer to Windows 8 pro will cost you SGD$50 instead of SGD$17.99. The CD Key was issue immediately and send to your e-mail address after you purchase online using PayPal or credit or debit card.

I started my download to upgrade in noon which is 12 hours ago. I had a Sony Laptop SVS15116GGB which I buy it from Best Denki at about SGD$1899 in Sep 2012 with free 4GB RAM upgrade and free Logitech wireless mouse. It does come with a standard laptop bag. I use my OCBC credit card which just got approved by submit 6 month CPF contribution and latest month pay slip income document to bank for 24 months installment. I think the price right now if you see it at www.sony.com.sg should have drop a bit like SGD$1799 at retail price.

I run the setup program and was prompted to enter the valid cd key which is a must to continue. So the windows 8 pro 64bit upgrade setup need me to remove the Intel drivers USB 3.0, Intel Management Engine Driver, Intel Wifi Bluetooth driver. So I have to go to sony web site to download drivers which is available in driver download in support section for this laptop model. After these three drivers is removed the setup is able to continue which I did not even restart the windows 7 pro sp1. I choose to keep my documents, apps and settings option. The setup restarted and I see the windows 8 blue logo. The setup install devices driver as the status shown in how many percentage completed follow by preparing as similar how many percentage completed. It will restart to complete the installation and it shows the percentage to move user data. After that you will prompted the option to choose a color, I choose express setup instead of custom setup, choose a wireless access point to key in password to connected to Internet and I lastly choose local account did not setup any online Microsoft account I think so. I log on and check the system properties and the windows is already activated. I install back the three Intel drivers downloaded from Sony web sites.

But I use Internet explorer 10 it keep crashing. I go to Windows updates to download and install the 5 updates which is default I did not select which to install, restarted the windows and the Internet Explorer so far working well no crashing. I tested office application like Microsoft Word 2010 it worked well, Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Professional is able to compile and run ASPX wed pages and basic function work well, Able to resume play Blu-ray disc on PowerDVD 12 with external portable USB Blu-ray writer as this laptop come only with internal DVD writer drive only. But my VPN client like AT&T not able to work well need to repair and key in the login information again. I need to disable AVG Internet Security 2013 temporary as the firewall is blocking not able to connect to company network in VPN. After that the antivirus is enabled running I connect to VPN no issue at all. All the program settings, documents are there, shortcuts, Internet favourites is there at orginal location no changes at all. But before you do upgrade windows if there is any important data it is still recommend to back it up such as image the whole drives to external driver for example.

Right now I started to upgrade my desktop computer. This sony laptop which is running in Ivy Bridge which consist of an Ivy bridge chipset motherboard and Intel core I7 3rd generation CPU. My desktop is just build as DIY in Sandy Bridge chipset motherboard Biostar TH67XE model, 2nd generation CPU Intel core I7 2600 model, 2 X 4GB RAM total of 8GB, running Hard disk SATA 7200RPM Seagate hard disk 7200.12 500GB, ATI graphic card Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB memory from MSI hawk, add in PCIE sound card Creative X-FI Titanium, with a very old external sound card USB Creative Audigy 2 ZS video editor using RM1800 creative remote control as the original remote control broken.

I run the setup, no need to remove any program or drivers as prompted. Similar to laptop setup. After the setup is completed, my sound card is having problem which I do not know if there is any problem if few sound card are installed even onboard and graphic card also. I go to creative web site to download the beta Windows 8 driver for X-FI titanium so the sound is there even restart or shut down PC instead of no sound from speaker. I using 5.1 speaker creative brand. But still got problem, the back of the line in where I connect to my TV tuner from my monitor which is also Full HD TV headphone port is also no sound even I unmute the sound in the sound properties. I just unplug the headphone port and let the sound come out from the build in monitor speaker instead which is Samsung LCD 27 inch model. The remote control RM1800 of creative sound card is working showing display status on screen as I enabled the remote control function in creative entertainment center program like surround and volume control.

This is quite long post. Windows 8 compare to Windows 7 the advantage is for laptop, the battery life increase. For example if the laptop can use up to 4 hours from a full charge in normal usage like web surfing and word processing as I write this post to test using stamina mode not speed mode, it will last from 30% to 50% which I can happy say like easily over 5 to 6 hours no problem from a full charge. The sound for both desktop and laptop is much louder about 30% and more surround to have better quality sound as notice by hearing especially my laptop built in speaker like many sources in You Tube even. The graphic user interface is much better. Most Program loaded more faster to launch.

Disappointment is I find that Windows 8 start up since power on a bit slower than Windows 7 which I thinking if I do not know as I just started using fresh windows 8 need to run and restart a few times to get it boot up faster. I do not know if it worth the investment to change my laptop hard disk 750GB 5400rpm SATA to solid state hard disk 512GB SATA 2.5 inch as right now cost over SGD$500 which SGD$1 over a 1GB of space to get it boot up faster and longer battery life to squeeze even 6 hours of usage from a full charge in stamina mode like surfing web page and word processing to make laptop a bit lighter. You can leave any comment in my contact me page at top.