Frankly I think Microsoft have little choice. Windows solely as a desktop OS does not appear to be enough now. Apple are raking in millions with iPad sales. Microsoft want a share of that.
While tablet usage is growing...how many of us are ready to stop using a desktop completely? Yet Microsoft have to act now to get on board with tablets with a decent tablet friendly OS. They may be too late already but releasing W8 as a pure desktop OS would have been a terrible idea.
I think the colour "purple" can be changed on the interface (I hope)
W8 appears to be a pretty good effort considering the unenviable task Microsoft has trying to provide design consistency across Mobiles, Tablets and desktops. As a dominant player in the desktop OS sphere for so long...suddenly Microsoft might be playing catch up in the new Tablet OS focused future. W8 I think is an attempt to lose as little as possible OS market share. But I don't see Microsoft dominating the Tablet space.
Google in a strange way already have a huge head start with Android on mobiles. The transition for Android mobile users to Android Tablets / Chrome Books will likely be much easier than a Windows 7 (or earlier) desktop OS user trying to decide between an iPad, W8 tablet or Android tablet.
Microsoft IMO will not dominate the OS landscape of the future on Tablets and ever more powerful mobile devices. Not even if a rumoured billion 19Billion dollar deal for Nokia's phone business is to be believed.
Microsoft will remain a major player but not the main (OS) event IMO.
