[nilium]

Oddly enough, this is probably the only reasonable response. Of course, you don't get clicks by saying, "let's wait and see." You have to go out, pants off, hopping on a table and shouting, "Windows 8 can't win!" So, that's what people will write.

With Windows 8, I think we'll probably see more mild annoyance as folks buy new PCs for their homes. After two weeks, they'll likely get used to it, then we'll never hear another word about Windows 8 failing. I just don't see the change being so enormous that users will really care long enough to affect anything.

It'll probably be like Vista: a lot of people dislike it without using it, some dislike it for a specific reason (like drivers), and most get along with it just fine and don't really have any problems. The UI changes are enough to probably increase the size of the group complaining, especially the group that hasn't used it, but I don't think it's enough to stop Windows 8 from succeeding in the long run.

[MaysonL]

Yeah, the big change will be that there won't be a big change: the Windows PC market will continue on its slow decline, with Apple eating a slowly increasing share of Microsoft's lunch and profits. Windows RT, and the Surface RT will do slightly, but only slightly better than all of Microsoft's previous tablets. (Why Gates killed the Courier project is still beyond me). Window Phone 8 will do slightly better than Windows Phone 7, but in a few years will be about as obscure.