I'm using Windows 8, 64 bytes and trying to follow the explanation in http://source.android.com/source/downloading.html with no luck. I've notice that this explanation is better suite Linux users then Windows+Cygwin users so I decided to install git and use it.
My problem is that when I'm trying to perform "git clone [URL]" it always says "fatal: remote error: Git repository not found".
Strange thing, when I'm doing the following: git clone https://android.googlesource.com/platform/manifest it works and cloning the manifest.
I'm getting similar errors when I'm using "Download SVN"
I'm sure that there is an easier way to download/check out code from www.googlesource.com and would love to hear your opinions.
You should simply use a Linux VM, because the Manuals are all for Linux (as you have seen).
Because you are on Windows i´d use:
VirtualBox (No VMWare Player because VirtualBox is more user friendly)
and
Debian (or another Linux like Ubuntu).
Be sure to check Network Bridge to your current network adaptor (e.g. Atheros Wlan-XX Chip..)
Good Luck !