Is Windows 8 worth upgrading to?

[Oak]

I honestly hate it.
It's everything Windows 7 is, just dumbed down so a soccer mom can check her email on Internet Explorer. Boot speeds are identical and hot corners is the worst thing Microsoft has done to desktop computers since Vista.
If you want a fast OS go for Linux Mint. Ubuntu if you really know your stuff. If you want to stay with Windows, upgrade to Windows 7 ultimate.

Thanks for the very helpful advice.
I have never understood why people like Linux so much, can someone tell me what's so great about it? One of my old friends in middle school (Marc) loved Linux and he was a Minecraft modder too.