Note that there are actually TWO DIFFERENT Windows 8 versions. The "full feature" version is mostly used on desktops and some laptops but nearly all small devices (and some laptops?) only come with the RT(?) version that's limited to tweets for twats.

Micorosoft, of course, says "all your old programs will run on Win8" but they said the same thing about Win7 and it's "not quite the whole story." I have a couple of programs that ran on both WinXP and Vista, and while they can run on Win7 they have to be opened to "Run as Administrator," and even the "Windows 7 version" of Microsoft Streets and Trips also requires "Run as Administrator" to function at all on Win7 (although even at its best it's just anorher excellent way to get lost).

Nearly all new machines you'll be able to buy will probably come with Win8 preinstalled now, but there has been a free "downgrade" available from quite a few builders to let you replace Win8 with Win7. Some builders may still let you get either Win7 or Win8 preinstalled if you specify one or the other on the order. You'll want to confirm that the "downgrade" is available before you buy, of course, if there's any possibility you'll want to step back.

Microsoft recently claimed that they've "sold" 600,000 Win8 copies (may have changed by now) which was about on a par with initial Vista sales (which might suggest something?), but lots of the tech news people are guessing that 590,000 of those are still sitting at the computer factories "hoping to be sold" like lost puppies at the pound. Unfortunately there's no official information on installations delivered to users, and Microsft doesn't care as long as they're "off the dock" at Mickeyware.

With any new machine, especially if you plan to handle "large files" or "very many files" as likely would be plausible for recordings, you should check both the "installed RAM" and the "maximum supported RAM" before buying. Most new machines cannot be upgraded to install much more than a little bit of additional memory. (My newest Win7 machine balked some with 6GB but has been "mostly okay" with 8GB, but that's as far as the BIOS allows me to go, and some (cheaper?) new machines have even lower limits.)

John