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Windows To Go: Windows 8 on MacBook Pro

A new feature in Windows eight Server, due out at the same fourth dimension as Windows 8 itself, allows you to boot almost any figurer into Windows eight using a USB pollex drive. Dubbed Windows To Get, it is effectively a Windows alive CD — though, as far as we know, you won't exist downloading a Windows To Get ISO from Microsoft: it's an enterprise tool for IT administrators. For a easily-on review of Windows To Go, watch the video below — or read on.

Basically, you insert a blank USB drive into a Windows 8 Server machine, click "Provision removable drive with Windows To Go" (or similar — the exact process isn't known), and that's it. Unlike a live CD, though, you tin can create a Windows To Go installation with your documents on it — so you could, in theory, comport an up-to-appointment copy of your files and a bootable re-create of Windows 8 in your pocket at all times. Unfortunately, for licensing reasons, it's unlikely that Windows To Go will exist available for consumer installations of Windows 8 — unless you lot buy a second license, perhaps — but who knows, it might be a feature of Windows 8 Ultimate.

In practice, Windows To Go really, and rather surprisingly… works. You plug it in, select the USB stick during kicking, and nearly 30 seconds later you are looking at the Windows viii Start screen. Nosotros're told that this really is a full version of Windows 8 — and it sure feels as fast and fluid as the existent matter — but the exact feature set is undetermined (y'all volition probably exist able to select/deselect features during disk creation). Nosotros can presume that it should at least support domains, though, which volition make it ideal for hot desking or quickly returning a computer to a usable state.

Everyone hither in the ExtremeTech bunker would love the ability to give our ancestors a USB stick on Windows To Go; only imagine, if they mess the installation up with malware, but burn down them a fresh stick. Documents in Windows viii are automatically synced to your Windows Alive SkyDrive, too… so it really would be like shooting fish in a barrel to but nuke everything and start over again.

To run across Windows To Become in activity, lookout man our easily-on video beneath.