My only disagreement here (and actually in your whole statement) is that by then the shift will be XP to win8 since 7 will be in "legacy" mode by that point.Which is the point i've been trying to put across but apparently unsuccessfully.

The question is whether or not people who recently upgraded to 7 will be willing to plop down the cash to upgrade again or if they will continue to use 7 for the next 8 - 10 years becoming the next "XP" in the cycle.

Will xp eventually be phased out totally? sure. But by that time we may be seeing windows 9 on the horizon.

I'm not sure what the key variable there will be... could be equipment related: If a person can't afford a touch screen PC of what use is W8 more than W7? If that person can afford a new Tablet/Smart Phone, then the W8 will probably come OEM. Could also be equipment life related... since people don't really understand what "futurizing" a computer really means...

If folks are like me, then on my lappy, W7 shall reside "'til death do us part.". I have a desktop which has a touch screen, so I might upgrade there... depending if the firm's x64 software gets updated... and only then, unless there's a W7 "XP" - mode (if you understand what I mean) at that time.

Who knows if I'll even be around for W9? I'll let someone else worry about that. 

It's still too early to known definitely what the "real" Win8 desktop is going to look like or function.  They are definitely catering towards a touch UI, but that's not going to apply to the vast majority of users.

I hope they do not get rid of the taskbar and start menu as they are great.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.....okay. Enough excitement for one day. We'll do some more tomorrow. I are liking this very much.

I'd prefer Vista over this crud anyday.  I don't even do social networking or use the cloud.  I like all my programs & settings & customizations stored LOCALLY on my PC.  Soon, the PC may not be so "personal" anymore.

And FYI, where the hell can you use a wallpaper?  Windows?!  With no Wallpaper?!  Let alone no Deskscapes video walls, is just sad.   There just might be a new petition on saving Windows 7.  Just like how there was a petition for saving XP when Vista came about.

The only thing I like about Win8 (not found in the video) is the ribbon interface for Explorer.  Somebody needs to write a 3rd party utility to allow XP, Vista, and 7 users the option for a ribbon-based Explorer.

I'm just  speaking from a Desktop PC perspective.  This OS is obviously slated for tablets more so than PCs.

*end Windows 8 rant*

EDIT:  Just saw reply #58's screenshot.  Reverting back to the old desktop.  Maybe it won't be so bad after all (unless Stardock apps aren't compatible).

Yes, but not from a store on 'the high street'....

I think a lot of Vista's problems (or better, the problems people had with Vista) came from releasing it too soon. It should have been tested about 6 months longer than it was. Would have eliminated a lot of the problems people encountered with it.

So YOU'RE the one that Vista works for.   I'd figured there was someONE it worked for out there somewhere.  [actually I have it on a VM...seems OK ... so I'll leave it right there....working OK in a VM within......Windows 7....

I'm pretty sure you'll be pretty alone in a select club of people who find/found Vista to be better AND "less bloated" than 7, particularly when 7 has a smaller resource 'footprint'.

The groundswell of public opinion will be agin' yer, Snow....

If?

I guess a lot more will be known once the closed beta hits more people.  I look forward to it!  

Ahhh, we are talking about Windows 8 and not the naked women, right?