Windows 8 will be the biggest thing in the world of Windows since Windows 95.   That is my prediction based on months of using it in virtualization and now natively on my convertible tablet PC.  In short it is a marked improvement over Windows 7.   The metro application framework, I predict, will lead to the old desktop paradigm being obsolete in the next  5 years.    (Other operating systems are moving towards this too.  Mandriva Linux and it's  ROSA desktop are a step in the same direction.) 

I am probably biased in my assessment by having owned and used a secession of tablet PC's and an HP Touchpad.  Currently I am using Windows 8 on the HP TouchSmart Tm2t 2200, which has a touch screen.  So I am used to touch interactions and good and bad touch inputs.  

The above said here are my reasons why Windows 8 will be the biggest release since Windows 95. 

  • Windows 8 introduces a radical new look to windows comparable to the windows 3.1 to Windows 95 transition.  Just like then old Windows 3.1 applications will still work.  
  • Windows 8 will make your PC boot up MUCH faster than it does now.  When I booted windows before there was a long wait before I even saw a login screen.  With windows 8 it's practically instant on.  (Granted this PC came with an instant on OS built in called "Quick Web" so it was made with that sort of thing in mind.)
  • With this new version of windows the basic functions of the computer are now as easy to get to as they are on a windows phone. 
  • The psychological fact that since this windows looks so different from what came before that will pressure people to upgrade.  It makes using windows 7 look like someone riding an old time bicycle with the big front wheel, or driving a model T.
  • Some features of my PC actually work better with windows 8 than they did with 7.  Their drivers and such are all built into the OS instead of add ons.

This is a developer preview right now so it's not ready for prime time.  If you like office 2010 then wait for the beta to come out.  Otherwise take a long look at windows 8.  

UPDATE:

It has been asked what Windows 8 Metro could do in a scientific context.    What useful work can it do?  The answer is Physamajig.

 

If you like me have a tablet style PC or a touch screen desktop... like the "Touchsmart" line from HP or the MSI windpad 110 etc    that is what you can do.  With this program and programs like it creating complicated physical models can be as simple as drawing.  

Compared drawing a pair of coupled pendula and letting it swing to programming one in Matlab and you will see my point.   

I have been using windows update release preview for a little while now.  The upgrade process is far less painful.  As for Aero glass missing, right now it's still here on my system.  Perhaps if I did a fresh install it would be gone.  As it is running on my desktop now all the window chrome and eye candy are invisible thus adding to the overall streamlined feeling of windows 8.  It just gets out of your way and lets you work.  

Though I can see how to someone who is not used to using a user interface simmilar to metro i.e. on a cell phone tablet or in Linux on the desktop having to use metro could be irksome.   I'll bet that there will be a Symantec Norton "start button" add on in no time.