The traditional answer is "Get a Mac" or "Get Linux". :-)
Personally I'd recommend a Mac over Linux about 70/30 for convenience unless you're a techie type. The mental shift from Windows to Mac isn't nearly as bad as it's hyped to be. The shift from Windows to Linux is likewise not as bad as commonly believed, but it is true that you spend more time dealing with the computer (as a computer) than you would with a Mac.
If you prefer to stick with Windows, my advice is to use Win 7. Win 8 is dead and will fall the rest of the way over soon, and Win 10 is the thing you're trying to avoid.
Since I spend time on all of them every day -- Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, BSD Unix,... I just install updates for all the systems as they arrive and accept the inconvenience as cost of doing business and pleasure.
Something I came across today regarding the win 10 upgrade for those who are in the cue.
If you keep checking to see if it’s available via a manual update check, you may discover that you will get a number of “failed update notifications for win 10”.
Do not panic and think something is wrong with you computer or the update because it it’s just fine...
What has happened is something akin to opening the freezer door every 5 minutes to see if it’s getting colder! Or the oven .......(you get the picture)
Microsoft has your order in a cue and you will receive it when your number comes up, so to speak. The failure is because it is not yet time.
Carry on....