To me, a PC veteran who has been using PCs since Commodore 64, the pros and cons list from Windows 8 to Windows 7

Pros

Quicker boot up and shutdown (which is kind of irrelevant because I hardly ever shut my systems down)

Somewhat snappier system

Cons

Incredibly stupid and beyond retarded UI

Unintegrated mismash of Metro and Desktop Interfaces

Doubling of several programs

Incoherent Menus and overall system

etc etc etc a zillion other cons...

I tried to like Windows 8, there is just almost nothing to like about it! With the exception of a few technical improvements (which are just expected after 2-3 years of development), Windows 8 is a retarded OS.

Don't you blame people for "hating or resisting change". This has nothing to do with it. People will change if it's in their best interest. Windows 8 offers me nothing that is better than Windows 7 as a whole package.

I am also Linux guy, I have been using many different interfaces all the way. Just like I have been totally fine with Gnome 2.x, Classic KDE, XFCE, LXDE, Mate, Cinnamon and all other Linux UI, I have been detesting the new Gnome 3.x, and whatever number the new KDE is, as well as the Unity thingy. I like the change WHEN IT MAKES SENSE.

METRO ON A DESKTOP, especially when it has no integration and coherence with the rest of the system, MAKES NO SENSE.

I had absolutely no trouble adapting to the new UI. I have my windows 8 laptop in desktop mode the majority of the time anyways. 

Windows 8 is great. I don't get the hate for it.

I will be glad to see the back of W8. Had it installed on my dad's pc and hated every moment of using it. How could they mess something up so badly?

I'm curious. What is it that you dislike about the new KDE? I ask this because I made the switch from Gnome 3.x to the latest KDE just a few weeks ago. It took forever to get everything set up the way I like it, and the control center, or whatever it's called, could use some serious streamlining, but besides that I'm loving it. A true "desktop" UI, with tons of customization and features, and silky smooth performance.

I fkin hate W8.
uninstalled that garbage asap.

Why don't they just leave Windows 8.1 on and just install a start menu addon? Windows 8 is way better, faster and more stable than previous Windows. The only thing I can see is some people don't like change and it is a big change with those tiles. But it takes nothing to auto boot into the desktop, add a start menu replacement and you will never even know you are running Windows 8 other than the fact it works better. Sometimes I think alot of the "news" site out there are nothing but a bunch of sheeps and just copy and paste what the other sites are writing. Some of the articles are downright embarrassing with incorrect information because obviously the "journalist" have never really even used the product themselves.

You want to elaborate on that?

Of course MS could have given users the choice when they are on desktop only and bundled the start menu with Windows 8.1 to alleviate the transition. I mean even my 70 year old mom knows how to use Windows 8 once she has a short tutorial!

I actually love Win 8, but it's mainly because I have a touch 2-in-1 laptop where it flows wonderfully after a slight learning curve.

In a normal computer it would frustrate me and I understand the hate. It's possible to "downgrade" to Win 7 manually if you wanted to so badly, though, so I don't know why people complain so loudly.