However, that's not the impression everyone has gotten. According to IDC analyst Al Gillen, IDC research shows that commercial developers aren't moving as quickly as they should be to Windows 8 and the Metro UI.

"They're taking a wait-and-see attitude to see how successful and compelling the product is at release," he said. "This implies it'll be tough for Microsoft to have the kinds of apps in the Windows Store for Windows 8 to be successful."

Windows 8 will also contain the traditional Windows desktop interface, so users will be able to toggle between it and the Metro interface. Microsoft hasn't given an official release date for Windows 8, but it's widely expected to be ready before the end of the year. Windows 8 Metro applications can be built using the latest version of Visual Studio, called Visual Studio 2012, which itself is in a pre-release version, although it is certified by Microsoft for building production applications.

The IDG News Service