Kinect for Windows is now up for preorder

Yes. The long awaited 'Kinect for Windows' is now available for pre-order at Amazon. Priced at $249.99, Kinect for Windows will start shipping on 1st of February. Do note that it needs Windows 7 or Windows 8 DP to work (yeah, keep crying you junkies using Windows XP).

Tech Detail:

• Utilize Kinect skeletal-tracking, sophisticated microphone array, and other sensor technologies
• Link computers to Kinect devices running Windows 7 and Windows 8 Developer Preview
• Run applications built with the Kinect for Windows Commercial Software Development Kit (SDK)
• Use the Kinect for Windows SDK to build applications with C++, C#, or Visual Studio Basic by using Microsoft Visual Studio 2010
• The sensor will only work on computers running the SDK software

Hardware Requirements
-32 bit (x86) or 64 bit (x64) processor
-Dual-core 2.66-GHz or faster processor
-Dedicated USB 2.0 bus
-2 GB RAM

   This Kinect Sensor for Windows has a shortened USB cable to ensure reliability across a broad range of computers and includes a small dongle to improve coexistence with other USB peripherals. The new firmware enables the depth camera to see objects as close as 50 centimeters in front of the device without losing accuracy or precision, with graceful degradation down to 40 centimeters. “Near Mode” will enable a whole new class of “close up” applications, beyond the living room scenarios for Kinect for Xbox 360.

Related articles

• Kinect for Windows leers at February 1 launch date (joystiq.com)
• Microsoft: Kinect coming to Windows February 1 (ces.cnet.com)