Quote: "I personally really like Windows 8. That being said I still only use Desktop and never use the start menu really at all.
But the speed and stability ability of it is more than worth the change in my books."
I use my Windows PC mostly for gaming, so I like Windows 8 for the same reasons. It boots up quick and all of my games are available for quick access from the Start Screen. But I haven't really used it for "real" work, so I can't comment on its functionality there.
Quote: "Oh dear - why I do keep winding Mac-lovers up? Far too easy.
There's not much DOS left in Windows since NT. Personally I think the W7 core is utterly reliable."
Well deriding the core of the most popular non-Windows operating systems (OS X, Linux, iOS & Android) is bound to make someone pipe up.
Windows 7 being reliable (which for the most part it is) doesn't preclude Unix being reliable. Simple, stable systems are still used in the cores of modern technologies for a reason.
Quote: " I have 16 different machines in this room"
Are you working in a personal data center?! I have enough trouble finding plugs for my desktop & laptop (+accessories) over here
EDIT: Obviously I need to refresh before posting, yikes!
Quote: "This thread is about how awful W8 is - but it is a certainty that if you say W8 may be better than OS X, a large number of fairies will jump out of the shrubbery trying to spray MacDust over you with their wands."
You never argued that Windows 8 was better, you just said Unix was ancient and gave the impression that it was therefore automatically lousy in comparison. And nobody here has said anything about Apple not being as greedy as Microsoft or any other such nonsense. I mean, kaedroho was talking about Linux and he's said as much as I have!
It doesn't seem to matter whether the target is Apple or Microsoft or Google, somebody will always treat those who actually like the products like unintelligent sheep worshipping their 'god'. Are you only safe from this attitude if you just proclaim to hate everything?