The fastest way to import photos from a digital camera to a laptop is taking the memorycard out of the camera and using the cardreader slot on laptop.

The last time I tried this I actually cancelled the import through usb from camera due to time constraints, then recopied the files directly from memorycard in cardreader slot. It took less than 1/10 out the estimated time from plugging in the camera and using import photos. (around 8 minutes vs. more than 100 minutes)

I don't think they changed the folder structure on Win8, so your photos should in the end most likely end up in C:\Users\"username"\Pictures