Win7 is the last best stable version. I use Windows 7 Ultimate and will keep it going until (if ever) they create another desktop version. Win 8.1 is intended for mobile devices and touch screen devices. If I went to that I'd then have to find a large touch-screen monitor. I use Win 8.1 on my touchscreen laptop and would find a non-touch system using it to be frustrating. I expect we'll be hearing these reports of less support of Win7 for some time to come. Microsoft wants to move customers along to new versions, but they do always drag us kicking and screaming.

Win 8.1 isn't bad, and you can use the "old desktop" easily enough. It comes up any time you open a tile for a program that is older.


SRS