Voted dislike.

First, I see no urgent need to upgrade from Windows 7 at the moment.

Second, as many have already said here and elsewhere, I just don't get the new desktop philosophy (if there is any). Cramming two completely different UI into one OS which I am forced to use if I don't write scripts seems silly. It would have been nice to give the user an option to select their default login UI (boot to desktop vs. boot to Metro).

I don't know if this is still true, but I have seen in reviews that some system settings are only accessible from metro, so I am really forced to go back and forth.

IMO they should have gone the iOS route and build separate UI for desktop and mobile, sharing just a common codebase.

These days my computing is split between productivity work on win 7 (~50%), gaming on steam (~30%) and browsing/email/whatever on iPad/iPhone. I have no philosophical objection to win8, but haven't really seen a reason to upgrade.

From the people who have used windows 8, if I don't have a touch screen, are there any compelling benefits to updating from windows 7?

From the people who have used windows 8, if I don't have a touch screen, are there any compelling benefits to updating from windows 7?

Faster

Better Task Manager

Better Explorer

Better Multi-Monitor Support

Better Integrated Search

Includes Hyper-V in the Pro Version

Better File History

I'm sure there is more, but this is just what I've noticed in my use.

Faster Better Task Manager Better Explorer Better Multi-Monitor Support Better Integrated Search Includes Hyper-V in the Pro Version Better File History I'm sure there is more, but this is just what I've noticed in my use.

Good info, thanks. Almost none of the reviews I've read have mentioned any of that and instead focused on metro.

From the people who have used windows 8, if I don't have a touch screen, are there any compelling benefits to updating from windows 7?

Faster

Better Task Manager

Better Explorer

Better Multi-Monitor Support

Better Integrated Search

Includes Hyper-V in the Pro Version

Better File History

I'm sure there is more, but this is just what I've noticed in my use.

Elaborating on "faster" startup times are much better.

edit: Control panel options are a lot easier to get to if you don't know which part of the control panel they are under. I think in 7 it will only search for the different option windows, but in 8 I think you can search for individual settings. In general Windows key + search is now my preferred way of navigating most of windows whereas on 7 it was a nice alternative.

I find the ratio with which I use keyboard/mouse/touch screen to much more favor the keyboard for most tasks now. I use the touchscreen on my laptop more than I ever did with 7, but the amount I use the keyboard vs. the mouse has gone up a lot as well. I don't have enough experience with 8 on a system without touch to say a lot on that though. Might install it on my desktop this weekend to fiddle with WP8 apps.

Windows 8 is a Tablet focused UI being forced upon desktop systems.

Metro's biggest seeling point is that it's touch friendly. My desktop does not, and likely will never have a touchscreen.

I'll upgrade from Windows 7 when Microsoft releases an OS clearly designed for my computer.

Windows 8 is tablet focused in that you can use it on a tablet without wanting to throw your computer into the wall. It's not tablet focused in that things are more difficult on a desktop than they were before.

Relative to Windows 7, I absolutely consider Windows 8 more difficult to use. Do I consider it more difficult to use in an absolute sense, of course not. I do, however, consider Windows 8 a clear step backwards in terms of usability from the perspective of a desktop computer with a full keyboard and mouse. All the various reasons why that is the case have been hashed out repeatedly across all the Internet for months now.

I honestly think I'll be sticking to OS X or Linux for a while before switching back to Windows.

Ive just got Win8 last weekend, And i was completely lost at first, but i had about 700 reasons to learn how to use it.

And i would have to say that so far: im enjoying it.

So i voted: Like.

All the various reasons why that is the case have been hashed out repeatedly across all the Internet for months now.

I've yet to hear an example of something with keyboard/mouse that is harder - do you have an example?

The only thing forced is the changed start bar

, which works the same way with keyboard (hit Windows key, start typing) and mouse (click lower left, then select application icon). I admit it's odd they removed the visual icon to click on. But I am glad they seem to be making full use of Fitt's Law in Windows 8. Also remember that MS change the start bar in almost every single version of Windows, some people like some versions better than others. I hated the XP start bar the worst, and prefer 7/8 most of all - on XP I always switch back to the 2000 start bar (and in 8, you can get a tool which switches it back to the one in 7).

The more controversial thing is the new former-Metro UI, which I can see arguments for and against. But your existing software will work in the same way just as before, with the same UI, so it's not forced. And I think UIs and apps optimised for different devices (but sharing a common platform) is better than either a single UI for both, or completely different platforms. There'll always be demand for people to continue writing and supporting such software, and I think that will only change if the new former-Metro evolves to encompass the best of both UIs anway, if such a thing is ever desirable.

Also renamed to start screen, which has led to the "They removed the start bar" myth, but renaming is just a matter of semantics.

The poll would've been more interesting if there were 3 options: "I tried it and I like it", "I tried it and I don't like it", "I haven't tried it".

The thing is, Microsoft is marketing Windows 8 completely wrong. The thing is Microsoft wanted to create a mobile operating system, just like Android and iOS. They did that and called it Windows RT. Obviously they needed a new interface for a mobile operating system and it's pretty obvious that currently applications wouldn't run on it. So they needed to create the Modern UI and the Windows Store Apps.
They also developed the successor to Windows 7 at the same time. So they included all the features of Windows RT as a BONUS. There's no need to use it and all the features of Windows 7 are still in there. They just allow you to run these mobile apps additionally on your Desktop PC if you want to.

I've been using Windows 8 for quite some time now, and overall it is the better Windows 7. And for all those asking: Nope, I was not forced to use any Windows Store App ever at all. I've been using the Desktop the whole time and only need to use the new Start Screen. But what's so bad about it? The tiles? Come on, the desktop with its icons is nothing else... The only difference to the old start menu is that it's full screen. But why would I want it to be as small as it was before? I use it to open a program... I don't need to see the rest of the windows in the mean time. It's basically the desktop as a start menu. And the tiles are actually better than simple static icons, since they can show you additional information.