I am utterly lost when it comes to Windows and people opinions. Edit: .... and what MS are up to. I start with the notion that, IMHO, XP SP3 was and remains a

I am utterly lost when it comes to Windows and people opinions. Edit: .... and what MS are up to. I start with the notion that, IMHO, XP SP3 was and remains a great OS. Its like the OS that Win 95 was building up to. I then replace my main go to desk top machine and it comes with Vista installed. Im worried because every geek and his dog hates it. I buy my new machine intending to wipe the HD and install XP instead. It wrong to hate with out trying, so I give Vista a go. 3 or so years later, Im still using Vista with zero problems. In my eyes its XP with added stuff and a bit of a fluffing. Fine. Now, kids get new machines and this time its Windows 7. IMHO, good thing it was the kids machines because IMHO Win 7 looks like a kids OS. I try to do some set up stuff and it takes me ages to get anything done. So, that's that for me. Don't want 7 any where near my computer(s). Although to be fair, the kids get on fine with it. Next up, last Christmas, more computers for the kids, laptops with Win 8. All I see its a tablet OS forced on non tablets. Get by the tablet interface and its mangled Win 7, worse to use and find my way around than 7 was. Two identical laptops, but both have different issues. Wireless being the most frustrating. Right now Im wondering a) why people hate Vista, and b)what my next OS should be. I want XP, I'm happy enough with Vista, but the idea of Win 7 or 8 fills me with dread. And if any one says Linux or Mac, I'll die laughing. Neither even begin to be suitable. (Mac devices are brilliant for the kids, but never me) I am NOT a serial MS hater, I have always been happy enough with their products as long as I never have to use the first release, and wait for the first service pack and decent drivers. Not great, but the system works. But now I feel un-catered for. Win 7 and 8 are miles away from what I want and I can only see it getting worse. It feels like MS have annoyed all the usual suspect, but now they are going all out to annoy the people who still like them and their products. And lastly, why on earth force a tablet UI on to desk tops and lap tops? What one earth is that about? Why not a core OS, and you just buy a tablet or PC version? Like I say, the whole MS thing has me utterly lost. And that is really sad as, as it turns out, with out realising, I'm a loyal MS customer. But right now, Im sticking with Vista until I literally cant.