Linux users are incredibly prideful and niave and feel vulnerable and will not believe you when you claim you are infected. The perfect demographic.

Arstechnica had something a few months back on Linux malware. It is easier to infect linux users because they feel they are secure and do not run AV software and many run outdated versions because they do not like gnome 3

The problem is if you install java 6 and early java 7 it will install plugins for your browsers.

Visit a website and you are 0wned as it runs as full admin since javaw.exe runs as a freaking service with admin privledges! ... facepalm.

I think the old myth do not click on ads is 2004 knowledge. Unfortunately recent operating systems have terrible GUI's so many run older flavors like 7 and XP which do not have the same level of protections.

It pulls my hair out to see java 5 and the same users whine I AM INFECTED week after week after week because some beancounter does not want to upgrade to save $1,000 means $10,000 in lost productivity.

Not really
  Java is easy to exploit and almost everyone has an obsolete version with dozens of exploits. Double bonus if the user is running XP as a local admin.

Once I imaged a computer and opened IE to go download Firefox and other apps and my webcam went on instantly! Ad appeared doing a fake AV scan all from msn.com since computer had 0 updates yet it was 0wned.

Had to reimage again.

XP users really are in trouble and you don't need social engineering. Just IE, no updates, reader, or Java. Scary stuff.

It is why I don't run ancient operating systems, updates, and never use a root or admin account.

Macosx has its applets but on a desktop. The taskbar and start is there with applets running on a real desktop. Unplug keyboard and start stretches into full screen for tablets. DONE

I want aero back is my last complaint but that is soooo skeumorphism sigh. I think win 8 is anti skeumorphism taken to extremes.

What if they are like the IOS applets in MacOSX where the emphasis is on the desktop?

As long as things do not go all full screen closed door syndrome I do not see it as a problem

It's a good thing none of these industrial controls require IE 6 with an unsupported OS with updates turned off requiring a live internet connection or anything stupid. For a minute that would imply mass incompetence

YEAH and I could say IE 6 is just as secure as no security in design does not mean more exploits. One of my clients who switched from XP to 7 noticed a drop in malware.

Newer kernel features reduce 0 days as evident in 7 compared

Actually Windows 9 will have HUGE impact on games as the DirectX will have mantle like performance where CPU waits on redraws are near gone. Trim in raid and PCI ssd is nice too and cortana ... Well we will see but I always wanted a system like the enterprise on star trek with voice.

I can't find anything to fix. 7 is better and has more features and takes advantage of modern hardware

Yeah on a Pentium IV. On a modern i5 the same code will run faster as a new kernel supports better smp, page swap, ram buffers, and the runtimes use all your CPU instructions. Not part as XP had to run on Pentium IIs.

Yeah that's real secure. FYI your chrome is not even sandboxed on it because the kernel is so ancient.

Am I in the minority of prefering the ribbon over crappy nested menus all over the place and mouse hover/ change preview?

It only took me a week to get used to it and I don't use open office because the menus are all so cumbersome.

Has Slashdotters aged into their 40s and hate change or perhaps many use Linux so much that adopting to ribbons never took place? I also like the keyboard shortcuts integrated into the ribbon when I hit alt. No mouse nor learning combos thanks to the visuals.

I have not heard anyone outside of Slashdot complain about the ribbon in years

That my friend is what the difference between an i5 and i7. For having many apps and tabs open an i5 is fine. For compiling code more ram channels from an i7 help