Why make the Windows 8 switch

Perhaps you're not fazed by the Windows 8 Modern UI, or by Microsoft embracing the touchscreen interface. Even so, here are five reasons to consider making the move to Windows 8:

1. Bargain Price

Most people don’t go out and buy Windows. The preferred method of upgrading for both small businesses and consumers is to acquire the latest operating system by attrition when it’s time to get a new PC. Of course, the price of purchasing Windows by itself—even the discounted upgrade price—has always been a deterrent as well.

With Windows 8, Microsoft is slashing the price to a mere $40, though. For anyone still running Windows XP, the upgrade to Windows 8 should be a no-brainer. Those who have already switched to Windows 7 have a reason to switch, too: Windows 8 performs better than Windows 7 even on existing hardware.

2. Staying in Sync

Microsoft developed Windows 8 with the cloud in mind. If you log in to Windows 8 using a Microsoft account, your apps and preferences are synced to the cloud. When you log in to Windows 8 on another system, those settings and preferences are downloaded as well so you get a consistent Windows 8 experience no matter where you are.

3. Refresh / Reset

Have you ever re-installed the Windows operating system as a troubleshooting tool, or just to try and get back to the clean, barebones operating system you had before it got all bogged down? Microsoft is making it much easier in Windows 8.

Refresh gets you a mostly fresh start. Your personal files and configuration settings are retained, along with any Modern UI apps from the Windows 8 app store. But, all other applications are removed, and Windows 8 is otherwise returned to default factory settings. A list of the removed software is placed on the desktop so you know what’s missing and you can begin the process of re-installing them cleanly to try and isolate which program might have been causing you problems.