Anyone using it? Does it run programs like blender, photoshop ok?
I’m interested in trying it because of the better performance, but there’s a lot of big turn offs I’m hearing about it.
Download it and try for yourself. If you don’t want to replace your current OS just run it in Virtualbox and see if you don’t like the ‘turn offs’
everything i tried works ok.
the interface sucks with a mouse,you will kinda get used to it but the experience will still suck without the start button
and everything forced through metro, total design fail IMHO.
they are force feeding metro onto to people when its not even necessary.
Like Richard said download it and try it… its free until 2013
Linux FTW.
I’m installing it this weekend to check it out for a while. The upgrades are going to be $40 US. 
Well I installed it as suggested. First impression, it’s a little faster but otherwise handicapped from a productivity standpoint. It’s like windows 7 in tablet mode, really wonder what they think they’re doing.
I was going to dual boot it on my old Pavilion because I only have 2.5gb RAM installed. Setup EMed my CPU " 2 x 3.2ghz LGA775 P4 Prescott HT " is incompatible. That doesn’t sound like Windows. There are reviews of it running on more modest systems and I don’t think my processor is that uncommon. What a rip! I didn’t want to but I guess I’ll try it in Virtual Box. Has anyone else tried to install to a separate partition?
If you scroll down, there is another thread about windows 8 with quite a few replies. I’ve been using it as my main OS for three weeks and so far all is great. I did a fresh windows 8 install using a bootable dvd.
And that metro UI is a show stopper only at the beginning. I advise you to learn a few shortcuts with w8 and it is very productive. Can’t w8 for the release in fall.
I tried setting it up in Virtual Box and no dice either. Looks like an over site. It doesn’t have have low level drivers for my CPU. 
there is no dvd playback
I am happy with my version of windows…I actually prefer commands using the DOS system - it’s some much easier at times without using the mouse.
If you want to watch DVD’s you will need VLC player.
or something similar. VLC is opensource.
Microsoft dumped DVD playback,
so they dont have to pay royalties thus making the OS cheaper for us.
IF you want DVD playback in Windows Media Player(or Media player Classic) you just need the Codec, there are free codec packs out there, download and install them.
Turns out it’s a BIOS issue; no Execute Disable bit. Looks like I’ll be researching another BIOS mod.:mad:
Agreed! I use Ubuntu and Blender seldom crashes. I saw Win 8’s desktop, and my god, what the hell was Microsoft thinking.