Windows 8 been launched for almost month and half now, many blogs and tech sites postings gave the impression that people hate it (or they think the interface is confusing), here is my take, I'm just trying to compare using Windows 8 and IOS / Android:
On touch devices:
Press power / window key to start, IOS/Android - press power or home and swipe to unlock
Launch apps - tap to run, IOS/Android - same
Long press for options (move, uninstall etc), IOS/Android - same
Swipe to see more tiles, IOS/Android swipe for pages
No folders but allow grouping of tiles (I am not sure about the limit/group, but can have many more than 12 for sure), pinch to zoom out to see groups / quick access to groups, re-arrange groups. IOS/Android group by folder (with limit of 12 apps / folder)
Multi-tasking - able to run 2 apps side by side and in background, IOS - no split windows. Android jelly bean allows 2nd window
Switch / Close apps - press window key to suspend app, go back to start screen to open new ones, swipe from left edge to switch running apps, swipe down from top to bottom to close app, swipe down from top or swipe up from bottom for app menu, swipe in from right for advanced menu like share etc. IOS - double press home bottom to switch app, press home button once to close (suspend) and go back to home screen. Android - press recent app to switch, home button to go back to home screen
System options - swipe in from right edge, IOS/Android - press home (once or twice to go back to home page) and launch "Settings"
To see some info (e.g. time, battery) - swipe in from right. IOS/Android - some info at top of screen, swipe down from top to see notifications.
Run desktop apps - most if not all windows apps. IOS/Android - none.
Comparing to IOS or Android, I do not see how Windows 8's interface is bad or hard to use. Windows 8's gestures are as consistent and every bit as good on touch devices. One area that Windows 8 may arguably fall short is lack system info on the screen, having said that, don't forget Android and IOS are originally phone O/Ss. How hard would it be to have a live tile or two to show the notifications / info ?
Start button is still there - instead of the start menu, it is the start screen now, able to show a lot more than in the accustomed start menu.
Anywhere in the start screen, just start typing to search for apps / settings / files - same as pressing the start key and type in the box to search. Right click any empty space on start screen and choose all apps to see them all (same as all programs in the past, with less scrolling indeed).
Exact same could be done on Windows 8 as on IOS / Android. The killer feature of Windows 8 (pro) is on the desktop side - except with an updated start button becomes start screen plus numerous tweaks like the ribbon UI, real things get done, not available on IOS/Android.
Average users are easy prey of bias opinions. I bet many "polled" users did not have more than a few minutes on a Windows 8 tablet, much less trying to orient themselves with the new ways of doing things on Windows 8.
An article allegedly written by an MIT computer science professor - "Windows 8 is for someone that you hate". I hope I am the most hated person to him and a few more alike if they would send the tablets my way.
Interesting thing is we should not compare a Windows 8 pro tablet or convertible with any of IOS / Android devices, they are simply in a different class.
IOS / Android devices, good as they are, really for contents consumption.
Windows 8 on the other hand can be the main work station for most people, even power users, with more apps adding to the store, it can be a content consumption tablet like IOS / Android in very near future.
The converging / diverging factors are mainly price and how long each of these devices can be used unplugged, or may be size too. Windows 8 pro devices, with Intel i5 and up cannot compete with IOS / Android in that department for the time being.
However, with devices promising 6+ hours of battery life, it is still very portable, with the benefit of being able to use all Windows software, price aside, to me it's a no-brainer to choose Windows 8 over IOS / Android.