Aside from all of the normal hassles that go along with upgrading an OS, like realizing you forgot to back up your fonts, finding you forgot to reload that little program you take for granted, etc, there are advantages to periodically throwing that wrench in your workflow, since it forces you to rethink it as you take advantage of new features.
Windows 8 features an extensively redesigned user interface designed for 16:9 aspect ratio screens. A new start screen similar to the one on the Windows Phone includes live application tiles--which means that if you are running a touchscreen, it is almost a no-brainer. (If you happen to use a Windows phone, the tiles will be familiar to you.)
One of my favorite features is Win + Q which launches the search pane. Rather than navigating to programs and features, you simply query them like an Internet search. The start button is now hidden, made available via a hotspot in the lower left corner of the screen, via the Windows screen and on the charm bar.
The Charm Bar is the universal toolbar of Windows 8, which can be accessed from anywhere no matter which application you are working on. The two ways in which you can access the Charm Bar is, firstly, by dragging your mouse pointer to the top or bottom right corner of the screen . You can alternately press Win + C. This will bring up two boxes on the screen. A small box just above the taskbar that displays the current date and time along with the battery and connectivity strength. The second vertical bar on the right contains five buttons Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings.
Windows 8 includes improved support for multi-monitor configurations; wallpapers can also be spanned across multiple displays, or each display can have its own separate wallpaper; and charm and taskbars show up across monitors.
Of course, price is almost always a deciding factor for any upgrade. If you are thinking about making the jump, Microsoft is offering some incentives to those who make the jump before January 31, 2013. Check out this article from zdnet for details.
If you've already made the switch, here is your bonus content: WINDOWS 8 HOTKEYS
Win : switch between the Start screen and the last-running Windows 8 app
Win + C : displays the Charms: the Settings, Devices, Share and Search options
Win + D : launches the desktop
Win + E : launches Explorer
Win + F : opens the File Search pane
Win + H : opens the Share pane
Win + I : opens Settings
Win + K : opens the Devices pane
Win + L : locks your PC
Win + M : minimizes the current Explorer or Internet Explorer window (works in the full-screen IE, too)
Win + O : toggles device orientation lock on and off
Win + P : switch your display to a second display or projector
Win + Q : open the App Search pane
Win + R : opens the Run box
Win + U : open the Ease of Access Centre
Win + V : cycle through toasts (notifications)
Win + W : search your system settings (type POWER for links to all power-related options, say)
Win + X : displays a text menu of useful Windows tools and applets
Win + Z : displays the right-click context menu when in a full-screen app
Win + + : launch Magnifier and zoom in
Win + - : zoom out
Win + , : Aero peek at the desktop
Win + Enter : launch Narrator
Win + PgUp : move the current screen to the left-hand monitor
Win + PgDn : move the current screen to the right-hand monitor
Win + PrtSc : capture the current screen and save it to your Pictures folder
Win + Tab : switch between running apps
