and maybe Win7...??, but I skipped 7 and went from XP to 8...
 
But what do you do with the taskbar?  I've tried autohide, putting on the bottom, left, top...locking..  and I can't seem to find a "best" solution. 
If I had a preference, I'd like it at the bottom, and I currently use autohide... but so many controls get overlapped with it (zoom, etc), that I can't access the controls in Sonar, because the Win8 taskbar *trumps* so to speak.  Ya have to be quick!!

Admittedly I'm on my 2nd month with Win8 and X3e... so I may be missing something obvious... like an "always on top, etc".  But I'd be interested to hear what others do.
 
btw... all is running good and I basically don't even crash anymore, so I like both 8.1 and X3e for those basic reasons.

I'm not sure what you are talking about. What taskbar other then the one in win 8 are you talking about?

I just leave the taskbar as default on the bottom. As far as I'm aware there is no way to set the delay time before it autohides (I'd love to find out).
 
Have you upgraded to Windows 8.1.1 yet? (via Windows update)....
That is a must in my view (always backup though)...
 
Cheers...

BTW the shortcut to activate the taskbar when hidden is the Windows Key + T. That might be helpful. Ta.

John...I'm talking about the only taskbar in Win8.  But when it's present, it overlaps my full screen shots of Sonar and other stuff as well.  When I do "screen capture" videos, I like to hide the taskbar as well.

Cakealex.... I think maybe an ALWAYS hide the taskbar might be a route and use the Win + T to activate...IF that's possible.  That would be better than what's happening now.  At least I could control when it is there or not.  I prefer NOT having it for the screen space and the screen capture videos I do, but the autohide will pop it up IF you're not quick.  Same with the Win8 "charms" on the side too.  Kind of an annoying feature actually, but they come in handy at times as well.  Seems something wasn't totally thought out, I guess.

btw...I'm using multiple displays...so I can have the option of the taskbar only on one display... but sometimes that's awkward as well.  I've tried it, but felt it wasn't totally comfortable.  Same with the smaller taskbar.
 
as an aside...
I'm thinking if I could ELIMINATE the "charms" on the side and put them on the taskbar...that would eliminate that issue with them popping up too.

Ok I have it at the bottom and with auto hide on. I too have dual monitors and do not have the taskbar on both. I do have Objectdock on the second monitor. Again it is at the bottom and with auto hide.
For screen shots I use the Snipping tool. This lets you select what you want in the screen capture. It is in Windows 8.

I personally hate the UI in Win8.1 so I use Classic Shell.

There's very little difference in the UI (win 7 vs 8.1.1) once you realise the start screen works just like the start menu, it's only larger and more customizable (you can hide the metro apps and display only what you generally use for instance), and that you can right click the start button which gives you all the essentials you are familiar with.

thx...my wife uses Win7, but I never really did much, except at work with programs like QuickBooks, etc.  So I never really messed with it like I do in my studio. 
I just find the taskbar and the charms on the side, to almost be intrusive.