A lot is riding for Microsoft with
Windows 8. Overall I think it is going to be a milestone for them. Whether or not it will bring the so called "lost decade" to an end is for the market to tell.
PC World: 5 Things Windows 8 Can Learn from OS X Mountain Lion
Note that Windows 8 is a complete overhaul, while Mountain Lion is more of a refinement. Yet the Apple update adds lots of new features that would fit in nicely on Microsoft's OS. ...... In Windows 8, voice dictation is available as an accessibility feature, and as such, it's buried behind several menus and not intended for general use....... Mountain Lion makes voice dictation easy to use from any application--you just press the Function key twice, and start talking.
Valve's Gabe Newell: Windows 8 is a "catastrophe"
Microsoft has a lot of ambition with Windows 8, and with a complete interface overhaul and functionality up the wazoo, it does have a chance to make a splash...... The most distinct aspect of Windows 8 is what's known as the "Metro UI," which allows users to have complete customization on their home page, including widgets, RSS readers, weather information, date/time, etc...... since this is such a revolutionary new platform, Microsoft wants to scrap out all remnants of the "old-school" look and feel. Instead of a Start bar, hovering your mouse over that corner of the screen will allow you to swap between the Metro UI and the traditional desktop. For the mobile version of Windows 8, the Metro UI will be the default interface.
