I see where Microsoft is going with win 8, but it is a painful process. The iPhone has made complex operations so simple. Win 8 is more like the iPhone and ipad (ref apps) than the MacBook. I've been a windows user since 1990 and have grown with almost every version. Had vista tweaked so that it was reliable and solid. Got a win 7 system for one of my office computers, then tried mac before win 8- it was just too different for me, especially going back and forth between systems. Win 8 had a big learning curve, again going back and forth between systems. I still prefer my win 7 machine for office work. I use a win 8 ultra portable for internet browsing. Apps are still far behind ipad, but ahead of mac for this purpose. I couldn't get used to a tablet for laptop use in a recliner.
Back to the original topic. I suppose so many brands makes compatability issues tough. Each manufacturer has to develop hardware to match the new software. On a new system, for a computer novice, there should be free tech support from the manufacturer for at least a few months. They should be well aware of known issues and any quick fixes.