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Unfortunate. I use Windows 8.1 every day as my main OS on both a traditional desktop and on a Surface RT. I had no idea that Firefox had a Metro version available. And I happen to use Firefox as my main browser on my desktop.

I would have loved for a notice to appear when starting it up one day to say "Hey, we see you use Windows 8 - did you know there's a Metro option available? Find out More or Never bother me again."

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Note that browsers like Chrome and Firefox aren't allowed on Windows RT. Browsers for Windows RT can use IE's rendering and JS engine, but other existing engines won't work within the restricted "Windows Store app" environment.

Windows 8 has a special exception to these restrictions. This exception is available only to the app you choose as your default web browser, to prevent other apps from using it. And it's available only on Windows 8 for x86 hardware, since Microsoft claims that's sufficient to satisfy the terms of their 2001 anti-trust settlement with the US DOJ.

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