Last october we finished replacing several hundred XP workstations with a mix of Windows 7 Laptops and Windows 7 desktops. All the workstations were replaced from start to finish in less than 3 months. We don't have a single XP computer left, all the Servers (60+) are now running on VMWare hosts and are 2008 R2 64 bit. Considering 2 years ago we had 200+ Pentium 4 based XP desktops, and a lot of old servers running W2K and W2003 we have come a long way.

Windows 8 will not work for us, unless there is a way to get back to having a standard Windows 7 type desktop with start menu. By the time this kit is replaced, 8 will be long gone.

It appears that Microsoft are determined that Metro is the way forward, even for business.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/03/06/windows_8_for_business/

Metro has done something....

It's turned my wonderful multi-windowed/multi-tasking PC with 22" monitor into a single-tasking waste of space. Apparently the concept is that all applications will become Metro compliant. The problem with Metro is that I can only see one application at a time. If I'm doing a quote for a customer, I have Excel open (for the quote) and FireFox (supplier website). In 7 these are open side by side, with Metro I'll have to swap back and forth between screens. (Or get another monitor).

When supporting a customer remotely, GOTO, notepad, Firefox and Outlook are routinely open. Again, not something Metro can do. Yes, the other applications may be running in the background, but I actually need to see their output.

Our sister company does recruitment, so at least Outlook, IE and their recruitment software are open (sometimes more). Again a visual multi-tasking environment is essential. Hopping back and forth between screens will be unacceptable.

IMHO Metro needs to be just like Media-Centre: an option to turn on, not a forced environment, for consumers and for business.

That's a good point actually who uses Media Centre these days?

I use it on the Xbox, but that doesn't count.

That's a good point actually who uses Media Centre these days?

I know a few that have it running, usually on a dedicated box under the TV, especially for watching downloaded tv stuff, and as a front-end to their general media collection. When used with a remote it is quite good and usable. Oh and the interface appears to be a relative of Metro, being used in the right place.