actually they can make the bits public and only give those people the key. but with 1700USD there should be some kind of hardware, you'll need a tablet to test your touch apps right ? they were giving out Kinect at MIX IIRC.
Thats also what i said, worst case scenario to avoid the Developer Preview from leaking, they just gonna hand out ARM based Slate which isn't really so unrealistic, after all, W8 is all about touch instead of a DVD/HDD
in my opinion Windows 8 will be rubbish so...... M$ expect that everyone is going to buy a tablet PC(useless, new cell phones do the same and are smaller...) or a19- 21" touch screen monitor for the half end of 2012? It will be more sense develop a new OS working very well and fast on every computer, and develop a Windows 8 Tablet version working for touch gestures..... I imagine my everyday work with my PC's with a tablet user interface working on it with my finger(have to change all monitors??... my LCD 32" that is 3m from my sofa???...or use excel with fingers... ) or mouse...... i'm going to get mad..... Let's wait and see if Windows 8 will turn in Old Vista.... I like 7989 very well, it can be a 7 SP2?
That Video was kinda dissapointing, #2 but what was the point? O_O USB3? really? HOW UNEXPECTED!! (sarcastic, it's obviously totaly not unexpected)