Windows 8 - dare we get it ?

I've been using Windows 8 since last November as my primary OS on my gaming rig. I bought an SSD drive and as I was re-installing anyway, I thought I'd put a toe in the water.

PROs
It's fast. with a capital F. They've pared down Aero to to a flatter slicker look and optimised the OS everywhere. My PC boots to the desktop in 9 seconds. Not all of that is SSD, as my father's PC has an SSD and takes over a minute.
It's universally compatible. Every bit of hardware works on it "out of the box" - I sourced some newer drivers after install (being fussy) - but not even Win7 recognised everything out the box.
There's some nice tweaks. Copying multiple files has the option to pause some of the files copying. Useful prioritising file transfers.
I've had no problems with the OS or using software on it. In fact, Dungeon Keeper II which I had a pig of a job to get working on Win7 x64 just ran on Win8 x64.
Steam works fine, as does Origin - in fact I've had no issues with any games at all. I thought I might a Punkbuster trouble, but even BF2 worked okay.

CONs
Metro. That's it. I understand why they bundled it, but I cannot comprehend the decision to try and force people to use it. The interface is not for desktop use. It's like handing a draughtsman a bunch of crayons and claiming they're more advanced than a drawing board and pencils.
Fortunately there are several options here:-

(1) Ignore it. Just click on the desktop at boot and don't go back.
(2) Install ClassicShell - it's free and installs a START menu and puts you back into the "grown up" interface territory.
(3) Buy Start8 from Stardock. It replaces the Metro interface (although you can still access it) and re-instates the "boot to desktop" and fully functional START menu with all the usual short-cuts.

That said I have had two "Blue Smiley Faces of Death" since January, both were driver related and upon investigation appear to be caused by Start8! They happend when I was switching INTO Metro from the desktop, while other stuff was running. I have reported the issue to StarDock, but even the BSOD seems to work better, as it didn't break my RAID5 which Win7 did a couple of times with ATI driver crashes.

So, if you're doing a new install and want a turn of speed, then yes, Windows 8 is a logical step from Windows 7. But if you're happy with Windows 7 don't NEED to re-install any time soon and are not fussed about a fast boot-up, then "as you were".

Source: http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?37679-Windows-8-dare-we-get-it

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