W8 is something that simply looked stupid when I saw its previews, but then I got it on a new laptop right before its debut on the market, so I didn't really have a chance to care. I was taking a W7 course during this time, so I had already known that, for the most-part, I would use it as I had with W7 once I got on the desktop app.
But then I used its visuals and, for me, it's something that makes a lot of sense?? Like there were the usual things of needing updated drivers for drawing tablets and just readjusting, but other than that it was easy to uninstall the pre-installed programs that I didn't want; any I kept, I just needed to turn the live ones "off" and it was instantly better. I will always advocate getting the Sype for the desktop app than using the W8 app solely because that works horribly; same with the Chrome app, but that's because I can't stand it.
Granted, I don't do much besides internet, light gaming, music/video, and recreational drawing. But having two screens that act as a desktop was great for me. I can't stand cluttered desktops and I'm overly-organized on the computer in general (my external is the same, my folders abyss), so I could make use of keeping things neat and tidy. Both had different shortcuts, but they pretty much worked. Anything more tech savvy, of course, I can't judge since I just don't care about it.
In any case, for about four or so months, my laptop's been dead so I have used older pcs and a laptop in the meantime. The pcs have W7 and as I remembered, it was really not much different. Just not my preference. For the laptop, it's Vista and I can't stand its navigation-locations-whatever, but it works better overall (better computer specs) so I'm using it instead. And two weeks ago, I got to see my friend's still-has-the-plastic-protection-on new laptop which hosts W8, and while she hates it (her laptop is sensitive near the Windows button thing so it switches on her), I was just in jealous awe. I gave her the apps advice I mentioned above, but it seems she's just not used to it yet. She probably won't mind it as much after another month of usage. It looked like it's a huge improvement from her outdated laptop in any case, so I think the ease of use will help her adjust.
When I get my new pc, I'll be super elated because I'll have W8 again.