Well Windows 8/8.1 doesn't have as much telemetry and data grabbing as Windows 10/11 and you can always block Windows phoning home either using the `hosts` file

Well Windows 8/8.1 doesn't have as much telemetry and data grabbing as Windows 10/11 and you can always block Windows phoning home either using the `hosts` file or using various privacy powertools. Windows 10/11 is not your computer anymore, so I avoid it at all costs. I have a Windows 8 virtual machine for things like Photoshop and other softwares, but I don't connect it to the public Internet. Since most software is targeting Windows these days, it's useful to have a VM where you can try out different software.