Bite the bullet. Get the best bargain you can on an OEM Win 8 machine, with warranty of course.
Use the Desktop view, you can tweak the colors a bit to get closer to Windows Classic. I really don’t like the standard color scheme. Makes my eyes wiggle.
The Start menu issue isn’t really an issue. It’s a modest movement with the times.
Desktops with larger screens (17”+) are required for productive home use. Spreadsheets, database, graphics and even straight coding is more efficiently managed on a large screen with traditional keyboard. Sorry Maxi-pad users, a single pad is simply not as productive as a desktop layout.
On the other hand, my iPad air is the most “requested” machine for down time in the living room.
Do yourself a favor and buy two, one for you and one for your Asawa.
Salamat