Chrome "Fuck you Firefox you'll never catch our number" Version.

An interesting thought. When we're sick we continually blow our noses and try clear out as much of the mucus as possible. Perhaps the habits of nose blowing and picking are what causes us to get sick most of the time in the first place - our nose detects a virus and starts producing mucus to fight it off, we blow our nose removing the barrier to infection? Perhaps when we're sick we need to let our bodies do the work and let the mucus sit there sort of thing.

I agree on static devices Linux "Just Works ^tm" but even on your own example of Android it's a headache. I have a Samsung Galaxy S 2, my work provided phone is an iPhone 4 and my partner has a Nokia Windows 7.5 phone of some kind. Of all 3 the Android phone is BY FAR the buggiest and most least user friendly. It consistently locks up at random times, GPS is still innacurate as shit at times and things are just no where near as smooth. My partner who is not at all technical has at no point ever asked for help doing something on Windows phone - previously on her LG Android POS it was constant issues and "how do I do x again?". Kinda exactly like my Linux on desktop experiences! Also I'm no MS Fanboy - I'm the first to attack them on many things and there phone OS is still not near OK I.E. There Sharepoint app requires some non default BS security enabled on your server, but download any Sharepoint App on Android or IOS and no issues, Just Works. They also don't get the Just Works idea sometimes, but the Linux Community on desktop don't at all.

Pain in the ass? Microsoft provide better documentation, both from an enterprise and consumer level, than any other vendor for how to change these type of things. Your igorance is not shared. As for gouging - not one single point of yours I've quoted involves any financial costs.

Users should never see a PC until both Windows and Office is activated. Your IT Support have not done their job correctly - they were slightly correct in saying talk to your tech support. Sometimes Microsoft do have problems with their activation system (when calling) - I'll give you that one. I'd say call back later or some BS but I know what it's like to be say onsite somewhere and needing it done now. For the 99% of the time though the system is pretty good - a lot better than other vendors activation systems/BS.

And because Slashdot seems to either impose some kind of miniscule undocumented character limit or something is broken here's part 2:

They set the default home page as their own search page? Surprised? Or that the default search is Bing? What's the default search in Chrome? Again, easily changed, they never try to force or change your choice if you change it and controllable via Policy across multiple PCs.

You had over 10 years, you knew how long they would support it from day 1. All they're doing is stopping security updates - no ones saying you can't keep using it. Please give me another OS that will have been supported for 13 years.

There's balloon popups and Security Centre/Action Centre that both can be disabled very easily via either Control Panel or Policy across multiple PCs as required. I see a popup saying your AV is out of date, that you have no AV or that you should setup a backup as a good thing for home users - in a business it's not and thus disabled via policy. Tell me I'm wrong.

I think last version where this came on as default was 2003? You're really using a 10 year old slight annoyance that again could be very easily disabled via settings in Office or Policy as your argument against MS?

Sitting here on Windows 7 I can click start and select Switch User any time I want - won't be concurrent but that's multiple users logged in. If you want multiple then Microsoft provide Remote Desktop Services (you may call it Terminal Services because you're obviously a dinosaur) which is a very robust set of technologies and features for multiple server logons through multiple methods that I believe is more than far that MS ask to be paid for.

When you create an account you can choose whether or not to have a Microsoft or Local Account. Choose Local and uninstall the Apps. Again controllable by Policy. I do agree with you though that pushing a touch OS on Desktop is stupid.

I can open a 20+ year old Word file in Word 2013 and can then open a brand new Word file in Word 2000 or later with updates. There are issues with formatting when converting Word files from doc to docx but MS provide tools to identify and fix these issues before converting if required. The updated document formats provide many features and collaboration abilities that you would complain are missing otherwise.

Eh I've tried running Linux as a novice multiple times over the years. Everytime it's a nightmare of googling and forum posts that get arrogant replies and an unwelcome community.

It's a disjointed mess (Linux) that never "just works". There's always issues with hardware compatibility or issues that honestly I don't get or see as someone who maintains thousands of desktops running Windows.

This is my own experience though and this is Apples to Oranges I understand in terms of the hardware side. But the community is horrible and you need to realise it's your type of attitude that makes it that - Apple aren't stupid enough to attack MS by bagging out Windows (well sort of - they attacked the usability through the "I'm a Mac" videos but not the product), they provide a VERY good alternative that people use and people jump. Linux fanboys have this idea that by attacking Windows it will make people move to Linux?? How about you make a product deserving of people making the switch and the people will do it themselves.

The infrastructure is there both through Windows Update and the Hardware Installation wizard for vendors to make their drivers available - you can also update the built in Hardware Wizard drivers. It's 100% the vendors fault if it is not there and you should be contacting them and voicing your anger at their shortcomings.

Microsoft even provide instructions through their built in troubleshooting for devices on how to acquire drivers for some devices where an installer is required (with links and step by step instructions). This is through the Devices and Printers control panel.

The article and summary ignore the fact that the systems is obviously older than Windows XP at the least. They cannot guarantee it will work on anything newer. Like any website or system designed for an older system... This is not news.

Just bought 5 PCs from Dell, with Windows 7 Pro. No downgrading or BS... What are you talking about?

You and your friends stood in the rain for over a decade. No one ever made any secret about this date, they even extended it. Windows 7 has been out for years now and for the couple of hundred dollars at most you could have paid for XP you got your use.

Why shouldn't they? Embedded licensees as you point out have a separate license agreement. MS want's people to buy new Windows, they are a business after all.

There's no where to. Microsoft provide no way to report bugs in their desktop products. I have half a dozen threads on the technet forums reporting bugs - some years old - that I bump once a month with no response ever from MS. This is where I've provided extensive documentation, screenshots, process to reproduce etc.

Don't think for even a second that you even matter to MS.

Why?