Windows 8 on the desktop has failed for me twice; the home OS build had issues so was changed to Mint Linux and the work/personal laptop Windows 8.1 build broke

Windows 8 on the desktop has failed for me twice; the home OS build had issues so was changed to Mint Linux and the work/personal laptop Windows 8.1 build broke during normal use. I have chosen to Install Ubuntu on this computer and have a Windows 7 under VMWare Workstation. That has become the greatest OS(s) for me, installing Windows 7 in the background with VMWare for the Enterprise Software and keeping Linux forefront for the rest. The thing that gets me is the constant upgrading of Microsoft products with exuberant costs with little room to upgrade, migrate, rollback, repair or anything for that without either spending more money and/or finding ways to fix yourself. At least with Linux, the community is trying to help you out and not forced to use a script on what to discuss or share as a fix. As long as Microsoft is not listening to the community, they will go down these odd paths and continue to keep those who support them lost, trying to keep up; before finally giving up. It sucks that they along with Apple are allowed to squeeze open source of technology and not even making good use of all these patents, partnerships and agreements. Maybe these f the world guys are onto something.