# Is anyone planning/looking forward to upgrading to Windows 8? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-looking-forward-to-upgrading-to-windows-8/623779 "2012-06-01T15:03:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-looking-forward-to-upgrading-to-windows-8/623779/21 "2012-06-03T12:24:34Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Well, this falls under I’ll believe it when I see it but… > I just read this week that [Windows 8 boots too fast.](http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404828,00.asp) > > I will upgrade - I develop Windows software for a living, so for me it is a requirement. Notice that that refers to a machine with a solid state drive. I have a Win 7 machine with a solid state drive and it boots pretty damn fast already. I haven’t timed it, but less than 30 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-looking-forward-to-upgrading-to-windows-8/623779/22 "2012-06-03T16:00:08Z")
I have a media pc that I use as a jukebox and I also use it as an interactive music stand for playing guitar. It has a touch screen that I use because it isn’t convenient to use a keyboard or mouse when I am sitting in front of it with my guitar. It would be nice to have a more touch screen friendly OS so I will likely upgrade (barring really horrible reviews). ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-looking-forward-to-upgrading-to-windows-8/623779/23 "2012-06-03T16:13:56Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > The Metro UI is ridiculous on a 24" screen, and it is mandatory. Is it mandatory? I was under the impression that you could switch between Metro and the “regular” desktop interface. Except for the fact that there is no start button, just a “hot corner” you point your mouse at. And for some reason MS is adamantly patching the OS to defeat all the “get your start button back” hacks that have been going around since the developer preview. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-looking-forward-to-upgrading-to-windows-8/623779/24 "2012-06-03T16:43:55Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I might, if if the $15 upgrade works. $15 upgrade, hey for $15 I might even give it a try, but it doesn’t seem like MS to provide a upgrade at such a price. > [@](#): > > The reason? The big thing is the fast boot, and the fact that Windows XP is so long in the tooth. I don’t trust Windows 7 on machine, but if Windows 8 is as fast as they say, then it would be a good investment for such a low price. IIRC almost every MS windows version promises faster boot time, and they all somewhat deliver because they are comparing to the old bloated version to the new install. I suspect boot times will creep up in time. > [@](#): > > If it costs $100 like all other versions, then no way. The main reason I haven’t upgraded XP at this point is that cost. Yes $100 is out of the question, it would be better to put that money to a new computer. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-looking-forward-to-upgrading-to-windows-8/623779/25 "2012-06-03T16:56:30Z")
SSD boot times are out of this world. Any comparison from SSD to a regular drive is apples/oranges. Aside from user interface, will Win8 have substantial behind-the-scenes improvements? Work better with SSDs, for example? Could it be one of those don’t realize it’s better until it’s installed kind of things? Funny that MS is struggling to patch away the return of the Start button. Strikes me as similar to their marketing department’s insistence that the Ribbon is “better.” I haven’t heard a single reason for a business–large or small–to upgrade/change over to Win 8. New PCs will ship with it, and there are specialist needs (guitar players, and maybe we’ll upgrade the wall PC in the kitchen), but it sounds like there’ll be minimal penetration in the existing PC market. Tablets and phones I understand. Could they be trying to force people to be so used to their desktop that they’ll feel they need to buy an MS tablet someday? ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-looking-forward-to-upgrading-to-windows-8/623779/26 "2012-06-03T17:18:21Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Is it mandatory? I was under the impression that you could switch between Metro and the “regular” desktop interface. Except for the fact that there is no start button, just a “hot corner” you point your mouse at. And for some reason MS is adamantly patching the OS to defeat all the “get your start button back” hacks that have been going around since the developer preview. There is no start button, and no start menu either. The hot corner simply activates Metro, which is very pretty, but unwieldy as an application launcher. You have no choice but to use it. Most people’s understanding of how to use their computer is centered around the start menu. There will be a huge learning curve. Metro is a great example of form over function. It looks pretty, and modern, and stylish, and it makes sense for touch interfaces. But making it mandatory for all desktop users? Absurd. I predict it will be a huge flop for them. No business will touch this with a 10-foot pole. There’s little point to using it on a desktop, even for home users. And I don’t see a whole lot of room for Windows tablets. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-looking-forward-to-upgrading-to-windows-8/623779/27 "2012-06-03T18:42:33Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Metro is a great example of form over function. It looks pretty, and modern, and stylish,… I don’t think it looks pretty and modern and stylish, at all. The tiles with solid background and white icon/font look like placeholders during development. Every time I see it I think “ok, but that’s just a mockup, it’s not really going to look like that”. And then having some tiles look simplistic and others with graphics makes it look even worse - to me it just kind of looks weird. When I compare that to an ipad it’s like night and day, pro vs joe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-looking-forward-to-upgrading-to-windows-8/623779.md?page=1)