Tried Opera for a bit and it just isn't the same as FF, perhaps it's because I've been with FF for years now so that I feel at home, i don't know, but it's more 'fluent'. With my current setup it's pretty fast too, so it really doesn't bother me. The 'flash freeze' fix is simple, you just need to do this:
go to:C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash
Open the 'mms.cfg file and add "ProtectedMode = 0" at the end of the file.
Then it's smooth like buttah.
I'm also on Windows 8 now. I don't really get all the hate. I mean yes, it's not really a huge jump forward and the start menu is missing, but after a while you get used to it and it's sort of better even, as long as you setup your Metro menu correctly.
But I also added
Start8 which makes it like Windows 7 (but faster) with the extra Metro screen which can be convenient if you get used to the key commands. I guess it really depends on Windows 9 to see which direction they're REALLY taking, in terms of closed App ecosystem vs traditional Windows 'sandbox'. Right now, in reality, Metro is something you visit a couple minutes a day and even that is pushing it if you got Start8. App's aren't really relevant if you use the desktop so it's kind of 'wasted'. Overall it's a better 'start menu' though, more space and better customized (Plus email updates, and all kinda of different informations, hoping for a gmail app soon), I'm only sad that they didn't offer more options for the PC version when it comes to Metro, otherwise, as I've said, it's pretty much a faster Windows 7.
Downgrade? Nope. Huge improvement? Not really, but the speed boost IS there. The way memory gets handled is different, etc.
Metro kind of grew on me and I adore the look on phones/tablets.
But I do realize and accept the fact that Windows 8 is focused on touch and tablets really. It's not REALLY a desktop interface, it should be better but it isn't. But overall, I'm sort of happy with it, especially considering the price (I bought it for 15 bucks). It's no Vista, since it's better than Windows 7, it's faster. I just hope Windows 9 will be more advanced and true to Desktops rather than more of Windows 8, in terms of closed App systems. I guess we'll have to wait and see. I do see why Valve doesn't like it in terms of the App system (Since it's a set backwards, ala Apple, but makes sense as a mobile platform), but really, for PC use, the Metro UI is nothing more than a Start menu and even then, the traditional Start menu can be added for free with third part software (EVEN THOUGH IT SHOULD BE AN OPTIONS FROM MICROSOFT).
Bottom line, they should have done WAY more to please the PC crowd, Windows 8 is a sorry excuse for serious advancement in terms of Desktop use, I realize all the flaws that it has, but it's stupid to get hung up on Metro (Like most reviewers do, it's facepalm worthy to read), it's really minimal when you primarily use the Desktop, actually, it's nearly and can be completely irrelevant.
It should be viewed as a tablet OS primarily, but there is no reason not to upgrade for the price since IT IS faster than Win7. In the end and it's relatively easy to make it fully feel like Win7 (just faster) with a third party start menu of your choosing (That shell one is free, there are also other free alternatives, but I got Start8 because it looks the best).
Curious to see how much the App market for Win8 will develop, not just for PC, but for tablets and the Smartphone version. I'm guessing the next Xbox will also run Metro, or a version of it, where it's all connected, you can maybe even play Xbox games on PC then, but we'll see. I'll probably get a Win8 phone when I move and probably a tablet down the road, then the ecosystem will fully make sense, I just hope it will actually advance and not stay like this. I hope they try to do more innovation down the road.
P.S. Holy shit, SSD ftw. Can't believe I waited so long to upgrade. Bye bye 74GB Raptor <3.