CakeAlexS
When people think window 8 they think the start screen because they've seen screen shot after screen shot in the marketing and tv commercials.

No I don't.  Yes the start screen is ugly but you can get rid of that.
 
What I hate are the windows.
 

You do know that Win 8.1 can use themes, right? 

HMM, I think it took me less than 12 minutes to make W8.1 look the way I wanted it to. 
Later on I even downloaded some new themes directly via the provided link, Some supper creative stuff in there. I found my Italian Coffee maker! Perfect. My Log on screen is a Piano, totally cool for a studio computer I think.   I would guess your XP screen has Bliss? 
 

 

johnnyV
Conclusion of this thread. 
There is really no big life changing difference one way or the other with Windows 7 and 8.1. 
If you have Windows 7... be happy and carry on. 
If you buy or build a new computer you might as well go with Windows 8.1. 
It's cheaper than comparable versions of W7, and no animals will be killed in the process. 
You will be a little more future proof as well. 

Exactly!  

John
You do know that Win 8.1 can use themes, right? 

So show me how to round my windows corners without buying a third party patch.
(among other things)

Paul P

John
You do know that Win 8.1 can use themes, right? 

So show me how to round my windows corners without buying a third party patch.
(among other things)

http://winaero.com/blog/aero-glass-for-windows-8-1-released-download-links-inside/ and http://uxstyle.com/
hth

so i can't post links to win themes... but google uxstyle and aero glass... they're 3rd party but free
 

Paul P

John
You do know that Win 8.1 can use themes, right? 

So show me how to round my windows corners without buying a third party patch.
(among other things)

Win 7 also has square corners.  To many it lends a crisp clean look. Right now its either Win 7 or Win 8. Both look much the same. 
 
On the other hand show me how to square the corners on Vista? 

John
Both look much the same. 

You seem to have a hard time accepting that I find win8 ugly.  I'm sorry that this bothers you so.
 
My opinion isn't worth the effort it would take to defend it.  Cheers !
 

Paul P

John
Both look much the same. 

You seem to have a hard time accepting that I find win8 ugly.  I'm sorry that this bothers you so.
 
My opinion isn't worth the effort it would take to defend it.  Cheers !
 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It doesn't bother me that you think win 8 is ugly. I just wonder why.