Thanks for sharing your experience.

Vista and XP didn't have Jump Lists at all.

By the way, some time back I switched to ClassicShell to replace the Windows Start menu, and I find it better in almost every way.  The coolest thing is that it adds the Start button back to Windows 8, consistent with the way it has been working in Windows 7.  In Windows 8 for whatever reason Microsoft has removed the Start menu as you know it entirely.

-Noel

Good plan.  You'll like my Configure the Windows 8 "To Work" Options book too if you go that route.  No, Windows 8 does not offer compelling reasons to move up.  In fact a lot of stuff is just deleted that had value.  Virtually no one can figure out what Microsoft's "strategy" is with this - I've come to conclude they don't really have a concerted strategy, and they're just trying to cover it up with Marketing BS.

About the only things I've seen going for Windows 8 are:

• It's oriented toward tablets, so there will be some new tablet offerings coming out that will run a flavor of it.
• It's pared down to such an extreme that it runs noticeably leaner and faster on a desktop system.
• There's a cheap upgrade available ($39.99 if you have any older version of Windows).

Obvious negatives:

• Completely revamped Start screen with the desktop being put off to the side.  Desktop apps considered "legacy" now.
• No start button, but non-obvious "hot corners" you have to just know about.
• Little attempt to make it possible to use just the mouse and click on stuff, as has been the tradition.
• No visual styles on the desktop at all, making it look plain and flat, and making it difficult to use multiple applications at once.
• Microsoft wanting you to walk through their online App Store at every turn.

There's a web page describing all the useful stuff they've removed...  It's no wonder the upgrade is going to be cheap:

http://xpwasmyidea.blogspot.com/2011/09/features-removed-in-windows-8. html

-Noel