Well, the browser under the start screen has issues with Flash and the novelty will wear off. As more apps are written to run under it, however, it will become more useful. It's just that most of what I sue (Visual Studio, Sql Server Management Studio, etc) all have to run in desk top mode so it gets annoying..

Well, the first thing I do on any computer is install Chrome, so I'll never use the Metro Browser again.

Flipping back an forth hasn't really been bothering me. Although I do find myself going places I don't expect by accidentally brushing things...

Although I can't disable my trackpad without messing up my nipple. Not sure what's up with that.

I use an external keyboard and trackball most of the time, so disabling the touchpad isn't an issue for me. I do like being able to use the pinch zoom, scroll, swipe, and point to click on the touch screen, so that is nice.

heh

The App store is abysmal. MS should be ashamed they even have it.

It's too new. Give the developers time and it will grow. Part of the issue is that even the Surface is only running Windows 8 RT.

I understand that App stores have a real Chicken and Egg problem, but still...

Oh and working class often is middle class. Type of work designates working class fRom professional. Income separates middle from upper middle and welfare classes.

Crap. wrong thread. Phone freaked out.

Alright, after several hours of use, here are my thoughts in a more coherent manner:

Pros:
Excellent Driver support
Decent Touch Response even on older hardware
Customizable Start Menu
Improved Task Manager
Cheap (for Windows)
Very fast boot even with older hardware

Cons:
Really requires both Keyboard and Touchscreen to use effectively
Swapping in and out of Metro is very disorienting
App store is complete shit
Lack of good apps means Metro is nothing more than a glorified Start Menu

I'd say if you don't have a touchscreen, there's really not enough reason to upgrade. If you're gonna buy a new computer, I guess you might as well get it, unless you have a reason not to (such as dual booting).

that was my thoughts when I built my last PC, windows 8 is not really an upgrade, its more like a conversion for tablets

Oh and the learning curve is abysmal. This OS is not going to be good for anyone who isn't very computer literate.

I'm still rocking Windows Vista!

Nice, gunfighter. I think it's safe to say that you and the testers at Microsoft are the only people to "rock" Windows Vista.

Depends on what you're upgrading from. If you're thinking of switching from Windows XP, then yes, go for it. If it's Vista or Windows 7, then tread carefully...

I've had some experience with Windows 7, and I don't see how it is much of an improvement over Vista or even XP. Windows 8 just gives me a headache. Vista is a polished version of XP, and that's fine by me. When I bought a non-Mac computer, I knew what I wanted.

It's what is under the hood that truly differentiates 7 from Vista and 8 from 7. Visually, 7 and Vista are the same but 7 is a far superior OS. 8 would be superior to 7 if they hadn't made the UI a confusing mix of styles.

Agreed completely. The problem is if you:
1) Don't have a touch screen, and
2) Aren't great with computers
I don't think the under-the-hood upgrades are worth it, sadly.

Abgemacht - you know, I have thought of something, Old Sport. There is a such thing as "alternative desktops" available for windows. I've never used one and I don't want to take a guess as to their stability, but if you don't feel like spending money and you were interested in "radically different", there are options out there.

I agree about it with regards to Win 8 versus Win 7, but one should always go from Vista to Win 7. Hell, I went from Vista back to XP cause Vista was too unreliable.

@Al

I'm not interested in superficial changes. I like the actual improvements Windows 8 offers (Drive support, threading, touch responsiveness, etc). The UI is a nice touch (in someways), but I would never recommend Metro on Windows 7. It would make no sense.

Vista is fine for what I need it for, which is webDiplomacy, World of Tanks, and Flight Simulator X

But that's probably more because of my hardware than my OS. I love my Velocity Micro.

@Draugnar, Microsoft seems to be going about things like Star Trek alternating between (relatively) bad and (relatively) good.

3.0 - bad
3.1 - good
95 - bad
98 - good
Millenium - bad
XP - good
Vista - bad
7 - good
8 - ...

Not sure where NT and 2000 fit in there.

Seems like when they put out a new version with lots of problems, they then fix the problems and call it another new version rather than a point release like they did with 3.1. They get to charge more money that way.

You missed windows 286 and the current server standard of 2008. NT was never intended to be an everyday desktop. It was the start of the server OSes.

95 wasn't that bad. Otherwise it's true.

NT was designed from the ground up to by a business-friendly OS (on both the desktop and server side) which utilized the new 32-bit CPUs which were thought to be too expensive for consumer use at the time. It was a huge step for M$ and laid the architectural groundwork for virtually all business networks today.

Windows 2008 server is based off of Vista (the HAL and most of the 'under the hood' stuff is the same, just like 2003/XP)

And I've been using Vista on my main home computer for 4 years now. I have absolutely no complaints about it - I've never understood all of the negativity towards it.