Are users going to be happy with all the changes that will be found in Microsoft’s (News - Alert) forthcoming Windows 8?

It’s not so clear. Some 50,000 Windows 8 users were surveyed, and some 53 percent of them prefer Windows 7 over Windows 8.

On the one hand, Windows 8 was praised for quick boot-up and shutdown, ease of installation and Internet Explorer 10.

On the other hand, many of those surveyed disliked its price, system requirements and incompatibility.


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To upgrade to Windows 8, the price is $39.99. The price is $199.99 without promotional prices. Some 35 percent of those surveyed complained that the price is too high. Another concern is the frequency of Windows freezing or crashing.

Windows 8 is being described as a complete overhaul of the operating system. There are other changes, too. For example, a tile-based home screen has taken the place of a start menu and desktop. The home screen will display notifications and apps.

More than one million users have downloaded the consumer preview version of Windows 8. In addition, it appears that Windows 7 developed some loyal followers and that may hurt Windows 8. 

“Windows 7’s success was always going to be a thorn in Windows 8’s side, and it’s going to be difficult to lure everyone away from the best-selling version of Windows yet,” according to a review from Digital Trends.

Meanwhile, Microsoft founder Bill Gates (News - Alert) called Windows 8 “a very exciting new product.” Gates told CBS News Windows 8 is “a very big deal” for Microsoft. "Hardware partners are doing great things to take advantage of the features," Gates added. Windows 8 is scheduled to launch on Oct. 26.

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