##If you have not used Windows 8 yet or you've barely touched it, then don't go voicing your opinion here - I know many do not like all the changes to Windows 8, but if you haven't properly tried it out then please refrain from voicing your opinion. Feel free of course to ask whatever you want##
I've used the release preview since July and started using the full version since about 2 weeks now, my experience is based on the full version in combination of Start8 (which is a must imo).
Windows 8 in combination with Start8 is absolutely amazing. It runs extremely fast, very smooth and it feels much more refined then W7, even though W7 is already really good.
It's weird that they removed the start button, because while many criticized it to be made less for power user, my experience is the opposite, it allows quicker access to many of it's functions, clicking right in bottom left corner gives you quick access to all your major settings, all your management settings, system settings, command promt, task manager, control panel etc. This is a huge improvement over previous Windows versions.
The looks are much more clean, while previous versions were sporting a more playful look, they instead went back to a very clean interface without it making look cheap or simple, to me it feels more professional.
File explorer gives you now a ribbon like you get in Word etc, it has more options then the previous quick options and on top of that it's much easier to find and thus use.
And then of course there is the Metro interface (or however they want to call it - I'm still calling it Metro!), now it's no secret that I love the Metro interface, I have since I first saw it, I remember actually running a Windows Phone skin through SPB Shell on my Windows Mobile 6.1 phone. The interface is mostly made for touchscreen, but I find it quite easy to use with my mouse, this experience is probably less for people with a 'regular' mouse, mine has a flywheel and because you do quite a bit of scrolling, being able to scroll like that is a major plus (in all situations tbh). Furthermore the way Metro works feels right, app switching makes sense, as does closing them and going into your settings also feels right for a touch interface. For mouse and keyboard it feels awkward.
Anyway the interface looks clean and can be easily modified to your liking (assuming you like Metro), you can group apps and also name those groups.
The usefulness of it can be argued, mostly in the sense in how much time you want to spend on making it work, I use Windows Phone and thus my Windows Live holds all my contact info, agenda, email on top of that my Facebook is linked to it and of course Skype. So when I look at my start screen I can see if I got new emails, can check my calender, receive messages from MSN/FB/Skype, go through my pictures from FB and Flickr and check my files on Skydrive.
However if you don't use these services or are not connected/cleaned up like mine are, then you will probably find it not that useful and only use it to start some specifics apps/games. In my case I regularly check it because it contains a lot of the data I want on 1 screen.
All in all Windows 8 feels right with Start8, because of what Start8 offers you get a upgraded and improved Windows 7 with a second interface which in my case offers me a simple base for various information I might want.
For those who wonder what Start8 is. Start8 is a simple program that will not only just add a start button to Windows 8, but also gives you various options as to how much Metro you want. The app switching that is made for touch is still in your desktop mode, as is the charms bar, both can be disabled in desktop mode. You can also modify what buttons do, for example my start button of course shows me the traditional start menu, right clicking the button will give me the quick menu to all management options, while pressing my windows key will send me to the Metro interface.
All of this makes Start8 extremely valuable and a must have.
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Originally Posted by GohanSSJ
