This is a great article, and while I appreciate the points you raise, I don't think I agree. The changes from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 were drastic, but at the same time similar concepts existed between the two, so it was not such a steep learning curve to figure out how Windows 95 worked. The big "START" button didn't hurt either.:) But I've tried Windows 8, and I've found it so frustrating that I eventually gave up and booted into Windows 7 again. And I'm a .Net developer, so I like to think that I am on the adventurous side of trying new software and ideas. Saying that, I don't have a Windows tablet device and was running it on a regular PC. In my opinion it was rubbish if you don't have a touch interface. Maybe I need to spend more time learning the user interface, but I shudder to even think about trying to teach my parents how to use it. Especially with a keyboard and mouse. On the other hand, we have a very well established OS that runs on the iPhone and iPad that my 3 year old figured out how to use in about 2 minutes. I think Microsoft missed the boat on Windows 8, and I don't think it will gain any kind of traction in the tablet market. Not for a very long time at least. They are trying to be a jack of all trades, and sadly mastering none. I predict that Windows 7 will be the next Windows XP... hanging around well past its end of life date.