I’m going to use Win7 for as long as possible.
I boot Linux, Win7 and XP depending on what I’m trying to do.
I run linux on bare metal and run Win7 in a VM on top of linux for work. It’s kind of cute using kRDP (separate desktop) in linux to access the win7 vm.
I think MS bet the farm on Win8 and tablets only business didn’t adopt tablets like they thought they would and now they are reeling from that decision.
Windows 9? They should introduce multiple desktops, native vm technology (akin to WINE) in the kernel to support apps going back to XP and give the beta(s) away for free to anyone that wishes to download it with a literal feedback app built in (and crashdump capture app - with the users approval, of course, that sends results back).
MS got too bulky (kinda like google is getting now), but I don’t think they are out of the game by a long shot. They can still recover and have prominence.
Meanwhile, I’ll run my commie operating system, linux. ;)
I bought a new lap top with Windows 8 on it last fall. I hated it so much I wouldn’t use it. I spent 105.00 on Windows 7, had my son, a computer engineer, change it out for me. Best 100.00 I have ever spent!!