Here's another new one for me.
Will be purchasing a brand spanking new OS ... 8-64b I suppose.
This machine setup will never go online (internet) so will it HAVE to be connected for an initial update run ?
Will it run Mach3 and the CS-Lab plugin right  "out of the box" ?

I'm not sure. 

Thanks for any assistance,
Russ
 

Russ, you will be in uncharted territory as far as I know with Win 8 64 bit and CS labs plug-in.  I don't see why it wouldn't work but you may want to ask CS labs and I'll see what I can find out for you on this end.

Brett 

That'd be great, thanks Brett.

Lets say Mach only, no cs or any other plugins, I'm wondering if the fresh new OS install is all that's necessary.
Seems it should, but just guessing.

Russ

I don't have a machine running Windows 8 yet but i would imagine there will be updates and many more to follow for sure. 

You do realize that the parallel port driver is not supported in 8 at all don't you?  You will have to run someones plug-in to get motion.

Brett

Oh yes, I realize that. I'll be using Ethernet.
Looking right now at
 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Operating+Systems-_-N82E16832116986&gclid=CNPezrryz7YCFcNaMgodAWgAJQ
This should suffice ?

Thanks again,
Russ