My MS frustration ran me to Mac. Not interested in going back. Spent so many hours working on then Win software trying to get it to work. Now I just work, I haven't stressed over software in two years.
I was a diehard Linux user for a while. Found Ubuntu to be the most stable IMHO. But in the end I got tired of installing distro after distro. If I didn't need my computer for school I would seriously take a hard look at the new chromebook and the Chromebox's. A cheap external hard drive for picture storage and the chromebook for everything else.
OP. You may be able to fire MS and move to Chrome OS for just a few bucks. It automatically updates in the background.
Thanks
Jeremiah