I believe its something Mojang could resolve. and therefore is a bug.
I know it works for some win 8 machines (the newer ones)
but for so many it doesn't http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RKlvzjPbSU
everybody reporting the same.
Why cant mojang put a fix, if my graphics card works, is up to date, why cant minecraft accept it and just work?
ps
minecraft just freezes on a black screen.
I just downloaded the vista 32bit (my origional version operating system) which for some reason win8 allowed to install this time. from acer, my laptop manufacturer.
oh happy days.
it now works.
sorry notch