Having evaded all Micro$oft's attempts to get me to create a 'Micro$oft Account', I eventually managed to get the system running OK and after downloading quite a few Windows updates, I'm now using Win8.1u1, with boot to desktop. Having fathomed out how to add desktop icons and a taskbar, it's almost like Win7.1 now, but the overall look/feel of Win8 is that it was designed for 11 year olds - it lacks any professional style and some basic features seem to be absent. For example, when right clicking on what masquerades as a start button, the glaring white menu looks cheap and nasty - and where is 'All programs'? WinXP had a much nicer look/feel (as did Win95)!
I also preferred Office 2003 over Office 2007, but have now got used to it. But as for Office 2013, that really is dreadful! Fortunately I won't be using it to write any documents, merely for opening some created on another machine.
At least Win8.1u1 with IE11 is better for Internet surfing than was WinXP with IE8, but I suspect that was more because IE8 was bogged down with all the advertising junk and farsebook / twatter links which infest the Internet these days?
One thing which really is driving me nuts is that 'Display to second screen only' cuts off the HDMI output to that screen (as does closing the lid with 'duplicate displays' - and I can't find anything to change that, even though all 'close lid' options are set to 'do nothing')!