I prefer window seats nearly all of the time because I often appreciate both the view and the glimpse of actual daylight, something sorely lacking during occasional 14 hour stints in front of a computer. I typically opt for the right side of planes for Westbound flights and the left side of planes for Eastbound flights in order to minimize exposure to direct sunlight and to lessen possible conflicts regarding the position of the window shade. North/South flight preferences depend on the time of the day.

Whereas its true that there is often very little to see at cruising altitude, this is certainly not the case during takeoff and landing. Eastbound approaches into Denver and Northbound or Westbound approaches into PDX can be particularly spectacular. My favorite scenario is to fly north towards PDX and then make a sharp Westerly bank around the Camas area. The entire Columbia river gorge is displayed before me in all of its splendor. Doesn't seem to have quite the same impact at night, though .