Is self now half owner of Win 8.1 and both me and my boyfriend think in general it's unnecessarily complicated to navigate around. User has lost almost everything what is called control of the computer.
Win 8 carries even greater things in the background that you do not have any idea. The control of turning off programs "Apps" is trickier. It is far from old hardware or software works on win8. Example: Partner has one about 6 years old wireless Microsoft mouse that she had to his old laptop. Win 8 can not install correct drivers for your wireless mouse without running on standard HID drivers that barely works for the wireless Microsoft mouse.
3D / CAD software:
Google Sketchup works inspire further in Win 8 or 8.1. Just a lot of trouble in the form of that nothing happens if you try to kick start the program.
AutoDesk AutoCad - be sure that it works than in a sensible way than the AutoCad 2013 worked already for Win 8. It's faster and smoother in Win 7 so far.
Altium Designer 13 or 14 is not yet effective for Win 8. It is claimed officially that AD14 has support for Win 8. According to me and more others who have tested it is pure bullshit. Does not work, period.
Since the hardware of these programs as a 3d-space ball from eg 3Dconnexion is difficult to obtain and operate in windows 8 together with any 3D CAD program.
Game:
There are not many of the older PC games that work for Win 8. I have then not successfully initiate many do not. More, I was walking to the Win 7.
Dem newest big games work behjälpligt to Win 8. But the gaming experience and performance is nowhere near it on Win 7.
Safety:
There is not really much better than it was in Win 7. It's all about how you work and how you surf the web. Are you a bit more paranoid of itself so you can install any anti-virus programs that raise safety.
The so-called smart screen is pure crap. One should not go to the website at any time (most such sites are alternatively harmful or something like Microsoft do not think you should visit). You may not install anything unless the developer of the software is whitelisted by Microsoft. Most things you do on your Win 8 recorded in servers at Microsoft. Though this function to turn off, which I recommend doing, and also cut down on the UAC from the recommended level if you want to avoid all nag-screens about "Do you really want to run this program, blabla ...".
Win 8 Vs. Win 8.1:
The difference between the Win 8 or Win 8.1 is not extremely large. What is the difference is that it has appeared "kind of a start button" to your desktop. Fast, press it, you get up Metro start screen instead of a boot menu. The need to have touch-screen and be able to all keyboard shortcuts, it has been reduced to. Advanced settings for windows has become a little more visible in win 8.1 than in win 8 where they barely even had to be.
Win 8.1 is slower than Win 8. So the performance of your computer may feel like it got a little older or worse with Win 8.1 than with Win 8.
In summary:
I or my partner is not exactly impressed by Windows 8. Rather disappointed that usability is more or less removed. However, the system works really well for mobiles that to my Nokia Lumia 925 with WP8.
Me and my partner are using computers in a very different way. His partner is more of the users who use out of facebook, internet, music, video, chat, but attributed it so she is not really impressed with win 8. Rather annoyed by the user interface.
I'm a little more advanced user, then I use the programming software, electronics development (NI Labview, PSPICE, etc.) and to and from the CAD software SolidWorks, AutoCAD, AD13/14. And that I need to connect the PC with various development boards for electronics. And it is a bastard, if drivers do not work in Windows. Luckily works the majority of the drivers for Win 7 today but not for Win 8. There are not many development cards I have received and work in Win 8 yet.
I recommend anyone who really wants to continue running Windows 8 to upgrade to windows 8.1. For things are getting significantly much better but still not better than with windows 7.
My guess of satisfaction among different users of Win 8:
Previously thought of Win2k, Win XP SP1> = and actual users of the operating system, games, programming, 3D cadda photoshop: 2 ~ 3/10.
Run Win 7 now and playing games, programming, using 3D programs: 2 ~ 3/10.
Loved Win ME: 7 ~ 8/10.
Loved Win Vista: 8 ~ 10/10.
Drove Win2k, Win XP, Win 7, but used the computer most just chatting, community / facebook, MSN / Skype, surf the net, maybe watch some movies and listen to music: 7 ~ 9/10.
Touch screen: 7 ~ 8/10.
Mouse & Keyboard: 1 ~ 3/10.
If you do not care about what the computer is doing in the background, or care about your privacy and security: 9 ~ 10/10.
You who instead care about what the computer is doing in the background, and care for your own privacy and security: 0, ~ 1/10.
The rating of Win 8 is a combination of middle and her partner ratings in principle. Though both provide around 2 ~ 3rd So it became two as overall scores.