The preview essentially is an open beta for users who want a sneak peek at the new operating system. It is expected to be announced at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona on Wednesday.



From PCWorld:

Microsoft is expected to release the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on Wednesday. The preview is essentially an open beta for users who want a sneak peek at the new operating system.

Compared to the Developer Preview that Microsoft launched last September, the Consumer Preview will be more stable. It will also have some major user interface improvements that the company has added over the past five months and will include an early version of the Windows Store.

  Microsoft Windows 8 Consumer Preview: What We Know So Far