Is Microsoft cancelling Windows 8 retail box plans?

[JMH]

In August, images of the two retail box designs that Microsoft was supposed to use for the retail DVD box versions of Windows 8 leaked on the Internet. Microsoft did not confirm or deny the authenticity of the images at the time. Now there's a new rumor that claims Microsoft will do away with any plans to offer a retail box copy of Windows 8.

According to a report on the Chinese language website WPDang, Microsoft will now only offer an downloadable upgrade for older versions of Windows to Windows 8, or on a disk with a new PC after Windows 8 is launched on October 26th. People who want to build a new PC will also be able to receive a Windows 8 disk via the Personal Use License for System Builder program. We have emailed Microsoft to receive a comment on this new report.

http://www.neowin.net/news/is-microsoft-cancelling-windows-8-retail-box-plans

 

[cluberti]

As the article update pointed out, even Microsoft has said that the retail box and physical media is not going away, and I'd be surprised if there weren't copies available for purchase at the big box stores and online at and after GA as well. There are still vast swaths of North America where downloading something that large would be practically impossible in a reasonable timeframe.