Remember the hype over the invitation to Microsoft’s Windows 8 Consumer Preview? Microsoft has finally unleashed the beast at Mobile World Congress 2012. But what’s so different from this preview vs. the Windows 8 developer preview in September 2011? Read on for all the details you need to know …

The Building Windows 8 blog, naturally, has detailed all the ins and outs of the new consumer preview, encouraging inquiring minds to download and test it out. And there’s good reason to — Microsoft took all the feedback from the developer preview to heart and make “over 100,000 code changes” to optimize the Windows 8 experience, according to the blog.

While Microsoft focused on tools and APIs with the developer preview, the consumer preview has been designed to give the world a closer look at a finalized Windows 8. But don’t be fooled: The Building Windows 8 blogs stresses Microsoft is far from done building. Still, the following new features provide a clearer picture of the finished product:

Unlike the developer preview, I’m much more inclined to download this version of Windows 8. And since I’m already taking the beta of OS X Mountain Lion for a test drive, why shouldn’t I give Microsoft’s beta a spin, too? Stay tuned for a look-and-feel review on Windows 8, coming soon.