Skipping a major facet here.
Making it work isn't the problem. Making the employees that happen to be 50+ learn a whole new OS interface that is VASTLY different from what they know isn't something that should be taken lightly. The move from 3.11 to 95 was bad enough but this is going to be even worse. Every 'supposed "IT" pro' should be looking out for the end users that will have to make daily use of the production tools provided them first. Anyone that thinks that this isn't a vast departure from the old interface is really doing their end users and consequently their business a major disservice by not full assessing that facet. Going from 95 on up did have "some" changes to the interface here and there however they were relatively minor and incremental compared to the changes made to the Windows 8 interface.
Unlike some here who simply can jump on to any OS it has to be recognized that most users simply don't understand computers the way it is now can't really be expected to be able to jump in and start running with Windows 8. Most users will flood the help desk with thousands of calls for the simplest of things for months at best. At worst will cause major delays in getting work done. OH and don't bother mentioning training as most companies don't even bother with that any more simply because of the expense. I know of plenty of universities and businesses that have done away with that portion of their IT services completely because it really hasn't been needed for a long time. The Bob 2 interface changes all that requiring training for many users that simply come in and do their work not learning a thing about the computers they work with.
I'm not saying that it is a good thing but that is the reality. So far while I like many of the things under the hood of Windows 8 the whole interface needs to be dumped or at least provide a theme that will bring some semblance of the old interface back. As M$ has stated clearly and frequently that they will not do that it leaves most enterprises with little recourse other than simply skipping Windows 8 and Office at a minimum.
