Getting errors just trying to download Mavericks wondering if I really should do it

Question

I'm reading of others having problems w Mavericks, although some say its fine.
The reason that is pushing me is that I updated my iPad Mini to ios 7 & now when I try to open a Numbers file on it, it tells me if I open it, I will no longer be able to sync until I upgrade to Mavericks. Not happy about that w no warning & not expecting an OS upgrade to change apps. I was certainly not expecting to lose the ability to sync iWorks files between my iPad Mini & MacBookPro just because I upgraded to ios 7.
But I decided today to take the time to actually go ahead. I really need to use that file & want to keep it synced between ipad & Mac. Data entry is easier on the Mac, but I'm not using it as much these days since I can do much of my everyday things, email, web browsing & iMessaging on it, as well as taking notes in Pages.
I'm also wondering about upgrading from Mountain Lion to Mavericks. I've spent hours preparing my Mac. 1st checking to make sure Paralells 8 would work, then updating it to latest version & then updating Windows & its virus definitions.
Then I had read some reports of people having trouble w mail, so decided to delete quite a lot of mail (still have a lot but I guess I deleted over 10k messages.
I also updated Mountain Lion. & also removed some things from the desktop.
Then I closed out of everything & shut down for a few min. Then rebooted.
All this to give the optimal environment for downloading & installing what I realize is a large file.
This is bringing back memories of when I upgraded to Mountain Lion on my mid 2010 MacBookPro (replaced in May after spilling water all over it). I purched it to download at Apple store. It went all the way through w me at the projects table. It seemed like it was done but was stuck. But the Apple person kept saying to wait. Finally he asked the Geniuses who said to shut down & start over. That time it did work.
Opened App store & selected Mavericks Free Update. Got an error message. It said there was an error & to try from Purchased. Tried there & got errors after just a few seconds 2-3 times before it finally started downloading. It got up to near 500 mb & then came the error message again.
I did not have anything else open as I went right to start downloading.
So, w reading about the problems others are having & these problems just downloading I'm having major 2nd thoughts so think I may not go ahead, especially as the evening is moving on & I guess even if it downloads smoothly it was showing expected download time (when it was doing the 1st part) of around 40-45 min w my fairly fast internet download of 25.89 (just now tested using SpeedTest. Of course don't know exactly what it was when I was trying to download a few min ago, but that's about what it usually is).
So w this much trouble just trying to download. How do I know whether it will work ok after downloaded or have problems like others are reporting?
I have plenty of HD space--401.58 GB storage available.  4 GB memory
I'm using wifi, w my MacBookPro right next to the Arris Telephony modem from Comcast & the wifi router.
Mid 2012 MacBookPro.

Answer 1

Update
OK, Today I went ahead & booted & tried again & it worked this time.
Not sure why it didn't yesterday. Maybe the servers were just overloaded? Several others reported similar.
Also yesterday when I ran Speedtest it showd download at about 25 mbps, This morning just before I re-started the download it was showing just above 30 mbps.  So maybe the internet was less busy? Or at least the parts between me & the test server.
& so far it is working ok.