[throwawaymsft]

But what is a Windows 8 PC?

Just because a PC is sold with Win8 (because prior versions aren't available) doesn't mean people are using it as such. They had to bring back "boot to desktop" as a configuration option, and 60% of win8 machines launch metro less than once a day (https://www.soluto.com/reports).

[batoure]

so case and point, metro is a pretty cool in function but lacks the apps to make it truly useful... So maybe the company trying to push it should make some. also you cited a link to a 404 page.... and additionally only someone not on windows 8 would believe a statistic like that its not possible to use many of the features of the OS without going into the metro interface... I am hoping that maybe your quote is that "60% of windows 8 machines launch metro apps less than once a day" but that seems like a statistic without a method of measure...

[tanzam75]

All Metro apps are launched in a hosting process. Thus, the Soluto software would simply look for that particular process EXE to determine if Metro apps are launched.

However, most OS features do not trigger a new hosting process. For example, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, or opening the charms. (Control Panel would get detected as a Metro app, but how many people open Control Panel every day?)

So while it's not perfect, it is possible to make a first stab at measurement.

[throwawaymsft]

Updated the link. Soluto manages PCs so they collect metrics on that type of thing. There's probably some sample bias, but it shows the general trend (along with the damning evidence that Microsoft is making it easier than ever to avoid Windows8).