I think a lot depends on what is out the window. I think it also has a more modern vibe. Personally, I really like it.
Here are some pictures from Houzz, in my opinion it works really well in the first 2 and the last one. The third one I dislike, but I may just dislike that whole kitchen, the 4th one seems like there is way too much going on and there is no where to rest the eye:

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[Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect yamamar design

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[Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by Los Angeles General Contractor See Construction

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[Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by San Francisco Architect Rossington Architecture

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[Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Huntington Kitchen And Bath Merri Interiors, Inc.

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[Contemporary Living Room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by New York Architect Eisner Design LLC

I had contemplated doing that in my last home, but decided it was just too awkward.

Yeah agree on the awkwardness. I was recently in a home that had those exact windows in the kitchen. I think my new neighbor put them there for natural lighting, but I kept bending over to see outside. And so did my new neighbor! So I vote no on the basis that you'll want to use it as a window and will constantly be bending over to see outside - and yes it feels really weird and awkard.

Good points about the sight lines. In my house(open floor plan), if I had those windows, whenever I was sitting at the farmhouse table in the dining area I would be able to see straight out them and into the yard. As it is today, from the dining area to see out I need to pop up out of my chair to look out a traditionally hung window. If I am sitting at the counter in the kitchen the traditional window height is perfectly aligned, but I would also be able to see out the under cabinet window just fine.
More food for thought:
Will there be windows on the other kitchen wall? Will something be happening outside the windows you are debating that you will want to check on, ie children playing, delivery people arriving, hawk circling the chicken run...What is the orientation of the window, NSEW? Are you in AZ and would benefit from blocking the full sun glare, or are you in Maine and need the taller window to get more hours of sunlight into the space?

Lots of good thoughts already posted above. I like your 2nd plan with the standard window above the sink. Reason is that I can't stand low cabinets over a sink. Worked sometimes in a kitchen like that and hated it.

I may go with shorter wall cabinets on that wall and raise the window height by about 6".

If that's truly your view out the window, I would go bigger and wider on the window. The first really feels awkward to me.

I put in a BS window and my aunt has one in her Florida home and loves it so much she is putting another in the new house they are building down there. They are both 18" tall. Both of ours go the entire length of the exterior wall counter. She has a fairly traditional kitchen and says the BS window brings in both a ton of light and a ton of compliments. She says it is the highlight of her kitchen.

My place is still at pre-renovation, though, as we did the exterior first as part of an energy program and went ahead and installed the window. I used to have a taller window there, but we are ripping down the wall separating the kitchen and living room and so I needed the exterior wall to hold cabinets. My cabinets are 30" and will go to the ceiling with small crown of some kind. I have extremely short ceilings.

The BS height will be perfect for viewing from the peninsula seating and living/entry area. My major observation so far is how much light it brings into my Alaska kitchen and how it warms up the counter. I hope mine doesn't look awkward, that would be disappointing.

This style is NOT designed for an eye level view from the perimeter cabinets, though some bring the window up to eye level over a sink or range or something. Like this:

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[Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect Rossington Architecture

Here's my aunt's first place. The new house is still under construction:

Here's mine, unfinished. Pics are not great and view is filled with work zones:

As you can see, cat loved it on first sight...

And...just to provide some more eye candy:

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[Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by Los Angeles General Contractor See Construction

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[Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect Feldman Architecture, Inc.

I do think it leans modern, and I'm a little concerned about that with my kitchen. Many have offered assurance that it will work with whatever I want to do, but I'm in a small 50's ranch and won't be going ornate/fancy.

I agree with several posters:
1. It depends on what is out the window. I would do it in a minute if I had a gorgeous view.
2. I would also have a window behind the range to unify and expand the view. I used a smallish range window instead of a backsplash over my stove. The view is just over the deck and into the woods, so from under cabs windows I would have seen mostly deck. Not a good idea, so under the cabs I used tile. The GC put in treated glass for heat resistance. No problem to keep clean.

Steph2000 posted a picture of what I think could look GREAT with a spectacular view. Better than tile any day.

AlexHouse---I am going to chime in as we just finished our kitchen a week ago, and while we still have a punch list, I wanted to share my two windows above the counters and below cabinets. I love them. Not a great view but great light. There is one on each side of the range. Somehow I don't find it a modern look because our house was built in 1918 I wanted it in keeping with the house. They also open which provides a great cross breeze through the space.

Here's a look (the trim still needs to painted--a punch list item):

left of range:{{gwi:1943181}}
right of range:{{gwi:1943182}}
How it looks as a whole:{{gwi:1943183}}
Up close: {{gwi:1943184}}
And tilted open:
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{{gwi:1943186}}

Alex, what's the appeal to you of the under-the-cabinets window? The extra storage?

I wouldn't give up a normal window with a view for the proposed lower window. You've mentioned a view on previous threads, so what does it look like out that side of your kitchen? If it's nice, I vote for the normal window.

I would think about how any window on that wall relates to other windows in that room. If that would be your only under-cabinet window, I don't think it would tie everything together (it might not look balanced.)

You should also consider how that type of window would look from the outside...

Remember you still need counter receptacles every 48 inches on any section of kitchen counter more than 12 inches wide.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

That wall opens onto a covered deck, it faces due North, and there isn't much to look at (the East and South walls have the views and they also have plenty of windows in the kitchen.)

The only reason I really NEED a window on the North wall is to serve as a pass-through for food, etc from kitchen to deck.

The reason that I'm playing around with the window placement is to create a better look with the upper cabinets along that wall. With the window above the sink the uppers become 3 isolated pods, the cabinet run broken by the window and the hood.

Thanks brickeyee for the reminder on the receptacles.