Windows 8 is not only about touchscreen tablets and entertainment, and Microsoft hopes that the Pro version of the new OS would be also useful to small and midsize businesses, although analysts are less optimistic.

Windows 8 is Windows reimagined - it delivers a fluid experience along with a new user interface that responds equally well to touch as it does to keyboard and mouse. Windows 8 is available in a few editions but for small and midsize businesses the starting point is Windows 8 Pro. Microsoft created this edition specifically with small and midsize businesses in mind and promises to deliver new levels of productivity, security and mobility.

According to Microsoft, Windows 8 Pro includes many features of the Windows 7 Professional but is faster, higher performing and more beautiful.

In Windows 8 Pro there are new features such as built-in mobile broadband, Remote Desktop and Offline Files that make it easier for businesses to get connected and stay connected.

Security continues to be a concern amongst businesses. Windows 8 Pro includes built in features like Trusted Boot, Windows Defender and Windows SmartScreen. Additionally, Windows 8 Pro now has BitLocker drive encryption which was previously available only to larger enterprises. BitLocker helps protect business data on PCs with enterprise-grade encryption and it works silently in the background, helping to keep data safe without getting in the way.

Compatibility is one of the strongest features of Windows 8 Pro as the operating system gives businesses a more simplified experience. First, Windows 8 Pro is built so it can deploy right alongside existing Windows 7 systems, meaning existing processes and tools for managing and updating systems will keep working the same way. Additionally, there are many apps that small and midsize businesses have grown to know and love on Windows 7, and that's why Microsoft made sure that most of those Windows 7 apps are compatible with Windows 8 Pro.

Finally, Windows 8 brings many new hardware to the market - Whether it's a notebook, a tablet or an all-in-one, whether it's a touch-based system or a keyboard-and-mouse-based system - offering businesses a broadest choice.

Small business with five or fewer PCs may look into the Windows 8 Upgrade Offer and see if they are eligible.