I’m running vista right now, and everyone wants me to get a new computer (this computer is 5 years old, and has issues every now and then), but there’s no way I’m getting Windows 8 (I can’t even be running it, as programs I need to use are not compatible with Windows).

I’m still sitting on XP as well. Mostly because it’s not worth the trouble re-installing everything I have just to switch to a newer OS, and partially because I have Win 7/8 systems at home and at work, and the thing I have to confirm every day is that their day-to-day interface is fucking horrible compared to XP.
 
Which is, in turn, worse than 98. In fact I’m not sure Microsoft have ever actually improved their products.
 
@40kponyguy  
The funny thing is, it’s a horrible interface for a touch input as well. It’s just bad.
 
Metro, that is. The desktop interface is identical to Win 7 once you get to it. Which still isn’t good.
 
@Haagel  
Most people can’t even figure out how to get to the desktop or shutdown the system without the start menu. This will seem odd to an advanced user, but it’s legitimately terrible UI design: if your OS can’t display the most basic functions where any user can find them, you’re doing things wrong.

I’m still kind of wary about UEFI, myself – seeing as how Windows 8 requires it – and how that affects Linux installs. Like, UEFI is a step in the right direction and all in regards to security and I see support in distros for UEFI (and no, I’m not paranoid that Microsoft is going to lock down computers to only use their OS or whatever), but I still hear a lot of horror stories about UEFI things going wrong and computers being bricked because installing Linux somehow writes too many variables or something.
 
As for Windows 8… I, uh, honestly haven’t used it enough. I liked what they did to the Task Manager. I’m somewhat indifferent towards Metro. As long as it runs what I want it to run and otherwise does what I want it to, I don’t think we’ll have many problems outside the traditional Windows viruses, possible NSA backdoors and other flak it accrues.
 
And really, the only thing I’ve really ever missed in the transition between XP and Vista was an old Azumanga Daioh fighting fangame that I liked to play. That and having animated .gifs as a wallpaper without having to use a third-party utility.
 
On another tangentially related note, I truly hope ReactOS becomes mature one day and isn’t sued into oblivion.
 
@amess  
Push come to shove, jump to Linux Mint or another Ubuntu derivative. No, it can’t run all the games, but at least the computer’ll be usable and you’ll still be able to enjoy pony.

@40kponyguy
 
First of all let me say that I’m genuinely curious about this and do not mean to mock you in any way but what exactly do you find so confusing about Win8? I just find is strange that someone who has used Win7, Vista or even XP would find 8 to be difficult or confusing. Yes, the start menu is now pretty much a full screen thing but is that really the thing that defines the whole system?
 
What I mean is that one can still place shortcuts on the desktop to laucnh programs. Control panel is the same and one can manage files and folders like you could in Win7. To me it sounds like people think they just have to use the touch based interface for some reason. Yes, the start menu is one of them but other than that, you can do things like you have always done with earlier OS versions.

@40kponyguy  
I do believe that “hidden” and “friendly” are mutually exclusive when it comes to UI, but at least I now know that there is a default shut down option. Thanks!

Windows 10 is windows 9, they can’t call it that though because it causes issues with programs that won’t run on windows 9x systems

My own PC (which isn’t connected to the ‘net), is running windows XP.  
This system I find easiest.
 
My laptop, (which is our family’s internet computer), is running windows Vista, and it’s not that much different to XP so I can handle it.
 
My dad’s PC (I use it for downloading stuff off I-Tunes or for getting stuff off E-Bay when we go over there on a saturday for tea), runs on windows 8, and I can safely say it is by far the most confusing system I have ever had to try to figure out.  
I’m convinced it’s designed for a touch-screen system, so using it with a mouse on a normal computer is just frustrating.
 
 
@Ilsor  
If it’s the same as my dad’s, put the cursor on the lower right edge of the screen. There’s a hidden panel that pops out from there with the shut down option on it.

Pfff, just install Ubuntu.

@Fonypan  

I’m using Windows 8.1 on my desktop and laptop computer. I myself did like the old start menu though so I installed classic shell and with it, using Win8 is pretty much identical with Win7.  
I say pretty much identical though on the top of my head I can’t think of things that would work differently. Sure the metro UI or whatever is still there somewhere but nothing forces me to use it so no worries.

@Mildgyth  
Microsoft can’t count to 10.

@Mildgyth  
7 ate 9.

Why are they having a Windows 10 already? what happened to Windows 9?

Has anyone heard about the discontinuation of Windows 7 & 8?

unpopular opinion: I like Metro UI and I hope it is still an option in 10

I know that feel. Microsoft claims they don’t make updates for XP, but they do it anyway because such a ridiculous number of people and workplaces still use it instead of going through the hassle of updating every year.

I am holding onto my windows xp program as long as I can, granted I have already had to shoo some of my maintinence programs off of it as they seem to be picking at it like flies but I just don’t want to go through the trouble and MONEY of a new operating system.

ClassicShell is your very best friend.

And I have no ability to shut it down unless I change the default settings in the control panel.

Screw Vista! Windows 7 all the way baby!