Windows 8 is rubbish unless you have shares in a maker of screen wipes!
But, Windows 8 gives you a free upgrade to Windows 8.1. Do that, and turn off the screen options (plenty of websites tell you where to go) and download 'Classic Shell'. You then get a reasonably sensible laptop.
I've done all that, and this post is made from an October 2013 bought laptop.
No axe to grind about Apple, but you do need to spend a lot more money.
