New
#201
Regarding change. Here's the #1 thing you should know about Windows 8 and it's successors (including Windows 10).
Windows 8+ is not about giving you a better Windows 7. It's about transitioning you to WinRT (ie Modern/Metro/etc).
It's sole purpose is to transition people to WinRT applications. If you refuse to be transitioned, then you might as well stay on Windows 7, because each new version of Windows will be a larger percentage of WinRT.
At some point, Windows 7 will no longer be supported (yes, that will be a long time from now, but that's only 5 years... to put this in perspective, Windows 7 was released 6 years ago.. so in other words, in less time than the timespan of Windows 7's release to today, windows 7 will be unsupported). At that time, you will have to choose whether you use an unsupported OS (which my previous post details the risks of doing that) or having to jump to a fully WinRT system. I don't know about you, but I like to learn things in small steps rather than all at once, so I'd much rather transition over the space of 5 years than all at once.
Yes, it's true that software doesn't "get old" like physical things.. but it gets old in other ways. For instance, new releases of software you use may not work anymore on your OS, even though it may be officially "supported" by Microsoft. New hardware can be released that the hardware vendors decide they won't support Windows 7 with drivers... So you may buy hardware and find it won't work with your OS (think things like cameras, or MP3 players, or other things you plug in). Another way it might get "old" is that more and more security patches have to get released and applied, and these patches are bolted on the side rather than a built-in part of the OS. This is less efficient, and can even slow down your system significantly.
The point about "driving it into the ground" means that you use it until it can't be used anymore... XP, for instance really shouldn't be used anymore, so anyone who is still using it has "driven it into the ground". And its well past time to upgrade to something else, much like a jalopy being held together with bondo and bailing wire, belching smoke and parts falling off wherever they go.. sure, it still works and gets you around... but we can safely call it well beyond its expiration date. Even if you've managed to keep that car in pristine shape, and it's as good as the day you bought it... you might find that it just doesn't stand up to more modern usage and demands. For instance, a 50 year old car is trivial to hotwire and steal, while a modern vehicle with modern anti-theft technologies is less vulnerable.
This is not "change for changes sake". There is a purpose and a plan, and an end result Microsoft is trying to achieve here. You can either buy in, or not.. but if you're not, complaining about it isn't going to stop it. The choices have been made, and MS is going there and it's way too late for them to back out now.