Windows 8 Reviews (581)

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Windows 8 Reviews (581)

View 1 Video Reviews
3.7
581 reviews

What do users say?

Generated using AI from real user reviews
Users consistently praise the fast startup and smooth performance of Windows 8, noting that it feels responsive even on older hardware. The modern, touch-friendly interface is appreciated, especially for hybrid devices, although many find the removal of the traditional Start menu and the dual interface confusing for desktop use. Overall, it offers a user-friendly experience, but some users express frustration with its awkward navigation.

Pros & Cons

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Surender S.
SS
devleoper
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Fast Startup and Modern Tile Interface Make Windows 8 Shine"
5/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

What I like best about Windows 8 is its fast performance and quick startup time. The modern tile-based interface also makes it easy to access apps and information at a glance. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

What I dislike about Windows 8 is that the tile-based interface can feel confusing, especially for desktop users. The removal of the traditional Start menu also made navigation less intuitive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

MB
First line agent
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Blazing Fast Performance with Fast Startup and Smarter Resource Management"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

Windows 8's best feature is its exceptional speed, particularly the "Fast Startup" and improved resource management that make the system feel incredibly snappy even on older hardware. The modernized Task Manager and native cloud synchronization also provide a much more streamlined, "always-ready" experience compared to its predecessors. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

The biggest frustration with Windows 8 is the clunky interface, which prioritized touchscreens so much that it removed the familiar Start button and forced desktop users into a full-screen "Metro" menu. This created a jarring split experience where you had to jump between two different environments, making simple multitasking feel awkward and unintuitive with a mouse and keyboard. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

MB
agent
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
Business partner of the seller or seller's competitor, not included in G2 scores.
"Windows 8: Blazing Startup"
4/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

Windows 8 was most impressive for its significant performance boost over previous versions, specifically its incredibly fast startup times and improved resource management that made older hardware feel snappy again. The overhauled Task Manager and the more functional File Explorer with its ribbon interface were huge productivity wins, providing much better visibility and control over system processes and file transfers. While the tile-based Start screen was polarizing, its clean aesthetic and the introduction of built-in antivirus protection through an enhanced Windows Defender laid a solid, modern foundation for the operating systems that followed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

The most frequent dislike regarding Windows 8 was the disjointed user interface that removed the classic Start button and forced a full-screen, tile-based "Metro" menu designed for touchscreens onto traditional desktop users. This shift felt unintuitive for mouse and keyboard navigation, often hiding essential controls in invisible "charms" bars or corners that required specific gestures to access. Additionally, the lack of a windowed mode for modern apps meant simple tools like the calculator would take up the entire screen, disrupting multitasking workflows. Many users also felt frustrated by the "double desktop" experience, where system settings were split between the new modern interface and the legacy Control Panel, creating a confusing and inconsistent environment. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Computer Software
UC
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Windows 8: Fast Boot, Smooth Performance, and a Touch-Friendly Interface"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

Windows 8 is a great OS overall. The touch-friendly interface and the Start Screen make it easy to navigate, especially on touchscreen devices. Boot times are noticeably faster than previous versions, and the performance improvements make everyday tasks smooth and responsive. It is a solid operating system that works well for both personal and professional use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

The learning curve for users transitioning from Windows 7 can be a bit steep due to the new Start Screen layout. Some users may take a little time getting used to navigating between the desktop and Modern UI, but overall it is a minor adjustment that does not significantly detract from the experience. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Import and Export
UI
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Windows 8: fast and modern, but not very intuitive"
2.5/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

Windows 8 was a modern and innovative operating system with a colorful UI/UX that was different from the past thanks to the Metro interface and animated Live Tiles. The wallpapers and themes had a minimal and elegant style, also designed for touchscreens.

Integrations: Good integration with Microsoft services like OneDrive, Microsoft Accounts, and the Windows Store.

Performance: Fast, fluid, and lightweight even on less powerful PCs, with quick startup and good multitasking.

Pricing / ROI: Priced around €100 for the standard version and up to €200 for Windows 8 Pro, offering good performance for the price.

Support / Onboarding: Regular security updates and Microsoft support, although many users found the new interface difficult to get used to.

AI / Intelligence: It included live notifications, cloud sync, and integrated intelligent features for greater online connectivity.

Main drawbacks include the lack of the classic Start menu and a less intuitive mouse and keyboard experience. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

UI/UX: The Metro interface was confusing for many desktop users, and the removal of the classic Start menu was widely criticized.

Integrations: Some Windows Store apps were limited compared to traditional programs.

Performance: On some devices, switching between the classic desktop and Start screen could be a bit sluggish.

Pricing/ROI: The price of the Pro version was considered high by some users compared to the improvements it offered.

Support/Onboarding: The system took time to learn new features, and the initial experience was not intuitive.

AI/Intelligence: Intelligence features were still basic compared to modern systems and were highly dependent on an online connection. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Kapil .
K
react developer
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Fast, Easy-to-Use Interface with Quick Startup"
4/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

Fast performance, quick startup, and an easy-to-use interface with live tiles. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

I dislike that Windows 8 removed the traditional Start Menu, making navigation less intuitive for desktop users. The tile-based Start screen can also feel confusing, and switching between desktop and modern apps isn't always seamless. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Sambit N.
SN
Senior Software Development Engineer
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Fast, Smooth Windows 8 Experience with Convenient Live Tiles"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

What I like best about Windows 8 is how fast and smooth it feels once you get used to it. The startup time is really quick, and switching between apps feels snappy compared to older versions. I also like the live tileshaving real-time updates for things like weather or mail right on the start screen feels convenient. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

I find that it’s not very keyboard-and-mouse friendly—it clearly feels designed more for touch devices, which makes desktop use a bit frustrating. Overall, it feels like Microsoft tried to change too much at once, and not all of it worked well for everyday users. Removing the classic Start menu was a big change, and it made simple things harder to find. Switching between the desktop and the tile-based interface doesn’t always feel smooth and can be annoying. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

VP
Deputy General Manager - IT
Real Estate
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Fast and Simple, but Not Very User-Friendly"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

I liked the fast startup, simple tile-based interface, and smooth performance. It feels quick to use and works well on both touch devices and regular desktops. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

The missing Start menu, confusing navigation between desktop and tiles, and poor app ecosystem make it harder to use and less user-friendly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Education Management
AE
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Windows 8 Worked Well for Our Administrative Office"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

I in the organization used Windows 8 in the administrative office and staff systems in the organization of 200 members dealing with education .

It worked well for normal tasks like MS office, ERP, emails , printouts etc. It worked smoothly on old devices also. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

The main issue is that Microsoft has stopped giving updates for windows 8 these has caused serious concerns.

Also the windows UI, the tile based i did not like it personally as it completely changed from earlier versions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

andré P.
AP
WEB DEVELOPER
Computer Software
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"A Transitional Operating System That Blended Innovation with Complexity"
5/5
What do you like best about Windows 8?

What I liked most about Windows 8 was its speed and system responsiveness compared to earlier versions. The boot time and general performance improvements were immediately noticeable. I also appreciated the modern design approach — the new Start screen and tile interface introduced a fresh, touch-friendly experience that worked particularly well on hybrid devices. From an implementation point of view, the system was straightforward to install and configure, and the integration with Microsoft services like OneDrive made file access and syncing much easier. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Windows 8?

The biggest issue with Windows 8 was usability inconsistency. The switch between the new tile-based Start screen and the traditional desktop environment felt disjointed, especially for users accustomed to older Windows versions. Navigating between interfaces could be confusing, and some simple tasks took longer than they should have. Additionally, the removal of the Start button in the early version made adoption harder for many users. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.