windows 8.1 or windows 7

I went from XP straight to Win 7 Professional and just ordered my third laptop with that OS. I have no regrets and originally went the Pro route so I could have the Virtual XP mode if needed, but that has not been an issue. I have no experience with the various flavors of Win 8, but just based on the initial reviews when it first came out I just didn't want to mess with it and would have been happy to stay with XP if that had been an option. I've been working with every flavor of OS from DOS in 1984 to present except for Win 95, Millenium, and Vista and of course Win 8/8.1. Heck my favorite was Windows Workgroup 3.1 with XP a close second :p

I don't think I would ever consider going to the dark side since IMO that means loosing all control and having what you can and can't do dictated to you so it's basically Apples way or no way.

Larry