As for WIN8... easily circumvented if ya know how. Took me WAY to long to learn the "fix" but I am using it now in regular WIN desktop mode which is about 99.99% of the time. The rest of the time, I am switching from the WIN8 startup screen to my desktop. Consider it an "option" to be played with at will... at the click of a mouse.

In "regular mode" I can do many more things than I could with Vista. I will not detail the features. Suffice it to say that the upgrade is fine as soon as you learn how to disable it at will, return to the regular desktop and STILL enjoy the upgrade... or go back to the WIN8 startup screen IF you care for more abuse.