[867V309]

The worst W8 feature is the Start screen=huge stupid icons, steering you to moronic apps and the "app store". It's just marketing, and misguided integration with handheld devices. Who wants a touchscreen pc with fingerprints all over the screen, and having to reach, rather than mouse or keyboard input?

But the Start screen is configurable: uninstall all the "apps" and move all your most-used applications to the left of the screen. Now when you're on the desktop you can hit the Windows key and launch your favorite applications from the Start screen, easier than the old start button menu.

And, on my machine, W8 boots and shuts-down way way way fast, faster than XP ever did.

I installed VirtualBox (free) and a copy of XP so I can run any applications that won't install on W8 (like Adobe crap). Perfect.

Only thing I'm missing is Windows Media Center which only comes with W8 Pro, a $99 upgrade I won't pay.

[GeronL]

Apps?

On a desktop?

Good lord.

[zeugma]

And, on my machine, W8 boots and shuts-down way way way fast, faster than XP ever did.

I've never understood why this is a selling point. A properly designed operating system is rebooted seldom enough that it could take 10 minutes, and you'd still not really care.