DON’T buy Windows 10! It’s virtually impossible to prevent it from updating. Sheese, come on, Microsoft!
I prefer Windows 7, but 8.1 is acceptable as well.
Buy the ‘Disk Builder’ version of the software from Amazon, it saves some money.
When installing 8.1 in Parallels you have your choice of a ‘Classic’ install or the ‘Surface Look’ install a nice choice!
Nonsense. You could get the Long Term Services Branch (LTSB), which does not require updates you don't want. It is a Enterprise license option, which means a volume licenses you use deployment tools to push out, but that's how IT departments usually service desktop computers anyway.