Windows 8 upgrade for students will cost $70 on Feb. 1, but you can still get it for $40 now

Microsoft will offer a discounted version of Windows 8 Pro for students after the price of the OS goes up on Feb. 1, but anyone who wants to get in on Windows 8 can do so at an even lower price during the next two days.

Acer: Windows 8 has been a big dud, but Chromebooks rock

Windows 8 hasn't done much for Acer, whose PC sales didn't get a boost from the OS's launch.

So, you missed these 5 awesome stories this week

Don't worry, just because you didn't get to watch a VentureBeat reporter on a blind date, or hear our interview with a legendary game developer doesn't mean you're not cool. You just can't sit at our table.

5 reasons you should buy Windows 8 now

One of the best reasons to do so? The base price of Windows 8 will jump 300 percent on Feb. 1.

Microsoft: Cheaper Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets coming

Microsoft's soon-to-be-released Windows 8-running Surface Pro may cost an internal organ plus a year's servitude, but price relief -- and other Windows tablets -- sound like they're coming soon.

After 1.5M downloads, Pokki’s Start menu for Windows 8 gets a slick refresh

Apparently a lot of people miss having the Start menu in Windows 8. SweetLabs’ Pokki app, which adds a Start menu and app launcher to Windows 8, has attracted 1.5 million downloads to date.

Selling Windows Phone: Microsoft’s Ben Rudolph on why iPhone and Android users will love and buy his device

It's odd to see Microsoft as the underdog, but that's the reality in mobile. And, according to Rudolph, that's what makes it fun.

Lenovo and Ubisoft deliver cool touch-screen games on giant 27-inch Table PC

Lenovo tries to jumpstart a new kind of gaming in the home with a giant tabletop PC.

Microsoft to open 6 retail stores in early 2013, after adding 51 shops this year

Microsoft will ring in the new year by opening six new retail locations that will help customers get better exposure to products such as its Surface tablet and Windows Phone devices.

Blocked by Microsoft, HTC will finally enter the Windows RT tablet market next year

Barred from the first round of Windows 8 hardware, HTC is planning to make its grand entrance into the space next year.

Former Windows head Steven Sinofsky heads to Harvard for teaching job

Former Windows boss Steven Sinofsky, who recently left Microsoft after an executive shakeup, has accepted a teaching position at Harvard University.

Coming to its senses, Microsoft will expand Surface tablet to more stores (updated)

Proving that it has at least a modicum of common sense, Microsoft says it will offer its Surface tablet in more stores starting this week.

Nokia engineer hacks Windows 8 to get free games (and provides full instructions)

A Nokia engineer who has previously pointed out security holes in Microsoft's Windows 8 has now posted a detailed step-by-step explanation of how to hack Windows 8 games.

VLC looks to Kickstarter to fund its Windows 8 app

Using Kickstarter, the VLC team aims to turn the open source video player from an ugly duckling into a Metro-fied swan.

Microsoft’s better, faster Surface Pro with Windows 8 starts at $900, coming January

Not surprisingly, Microsoft is pricing its Surface with Windows 8 Pro tablet — the one that will actually be able to run older Windows applications — about the same as Windows 8 Ultrabooks.

The 64 gigabyte Surface Pro (as it’s …