[Fury]

Might as well just jump to a Linux distro and dual boot with XP for offline stuff. I have been honestly thinking about it even though I have Seven.

No need to dual-boot, just install Windows on a KVM or Xen virtual machine. There are ways to use either to play Windows games with nearly native performance.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kvm+windows+gaming
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=xen+windows+gaming

Better yet, not too long ago support for experimental Direct3D 9 state tracker landed to mainline Mesa. With this state tracker it is no longer necessary to translate Direct3D calls to OpenGL calls, allowing native performance. There are plans for D3D10/11 state tracker once D3D9 has matured. Even in its experimental state, performance and compatibility has already far surpassed that of standard Wine. Considering the large number of big-name titles with Linux support already and many more coming this year, the future of Linux gaming is looking bright.

If you do, I'd go Mint.  If not that, then maybe some other flavor of Ubuntu.

No, Manjaro. (Seriously, try Manjaro.)

[jr2]

Might as well just jump to a Linux distro and dual boot with XP for offline stuff. I have been honestly thinking about it even though I have Seven.

No need to dual-boot, just install Windows on a KVM or Xen virtual machine. There are ways to use either to play Windows games with nearly native performance.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kvm+windows+gaming
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=xen+windows+gaming

Better yet, not too long ago support for experimental Direct3D 9 state tracker landed to mainline Mesa. With this state tracker it is no longer necessary to translate Direct3D calls to OpenGL calls, allowing native performance. There are plans for D3D10/11 state tracker once D3D9 has matured. Even in its experimental state, performance and compatibility has already far surpassed that of standard Wine. Considering the large number of big-name titles with Linux support already and many more coming this year, the future of Linux gaming is looking bright.

So thaaaat's why they're working so hard on DX12... a little pressure never hurts big, overweight companies.   

If you do, I'd go Mint.  If not that, then maybe some other flavor of Ubuntu.

No, Manjaro. (Seriously, try Manjaro.)

Never heard of it.  Will research / try.  I wish MS would add support for other bootloaders in this Tech Preview.  I have to keep fixing my Linux bootloader (either by adding it to Windows' boot selection menu with EasyBCD or by using a Linux rescue disc).  EDIT: to clarify, it will stay in Windows' boot selection menu once you add it, but I kind of like Linux's GRUB menu, just because it doesn't load half the OS before asking what I want to boot

[Mongoose]

I had an absolutely hideous time trying to get an Ubuntu partition working in order to get a free item in Team Fortress 2 (don't judge me! ), and the only working end result I wound up with was incredibly slow.  I'm not really looking to return to that any time soon.  Plus I know 7 is a really solid OS, and I'd at least like to have it on the theoretical new machine I'll theoretically attempt to build in the theoretical future.  Meanwhile this old ****box still chugs along on XP.

[FlamingCobra]

If you do, I'd go Mint.  If not that, then maybe some other flavor of Ubuntu.

No, Manjaro. (Seriously, try Manjaro.)

No, Sparky Linux: Game Over edition.

[Luis Dias]

I installed Ubuntu on an old laptop of mine. It works. But oh it's painful to use. I hate it, reeks of amateurishness all over it. Thinking of it, I haven't used it for quite some time now. I guess it's that kind of stuff that only really shines when you really know the works and so on.

[Charismatic]

When is the expected release date for WIN 10?

[LHN91]

If I'm not mistaken, this fall. Probably September/October time frame.

[jr2]

I've downloaded Sparky Linux: GOE, and i was going to wait for Manjaro to finish 0.9.0 before grabbing that too (even if I don't install, I like having nice Linux Live .isos ... they are sooo handy).

I noticed Manjaro offers XFCE (really barebones last I checked) and KDE (really overdone almost Windoze class bloat last I checked)... have either of those DEs changed much?

[Fury]

Each DE caters to specific design goals, but you may still want to revisit XFCE and KDE anyway to see whether you like them or not. And if not, there are plenty more to choose from. http://sourceforge.net/projects/manjarolinux/files/community/

Some community editions may have slightly outdated isos, but its nothing an update after install won't fix.

[deathspeed]

Might try to triple boot XP/7/10. 

[jr2]

Just install them in that order.  But, if not, then use EasyBCD to put back the 7 / 10 bootloader, and then use it to add XP to the 7/10 bootmenu.

[BirdofPrey]

Speaking of installing in order, I really hope you can install fresh from just the Win 10 install (rather than JUST being an upgrade like the previous discounts)

Windows upgrades have always been a pain in the ass on reinstall because you either HAVE to install the previous version then upgrade, or wrangle a bit to make it THINK you did that.  I get they want to ensure you have the previous version and aren't cheating them, but it would be much nicer if there were a way to verify you own the previous OS and leave it at that.  Something simple like fresh install "Enter old" "Verified" "enter upgrade key"

[jr2]

Well, if it's a free upgrade... hopefully, yeah.

I think last resort you would be able to just do a custom install, with the previous edition of Windows installed == then the old folders (\Users, \Program*, \Windows) get moved to \windows.old (which you can delete after transferring anything you want and making sure the new install is up to snuff).

[-Sara-]

I'm still waiting for them to completely reinvent Windows, simply calling it 'Windows' without a suffix, or if they're really confident 'Win'.

[Zacam]

I'm still waiting for them to completely reinvent Windows, simply calling it 'Windows' without a suffix, or if they're really confident 'Win'.

They sadly probably won't, because of brand recognition. Apple has only marginally managed to reduce "Macintosh" down to "Mac" (ala iMac, Mac Book). WinX would have a nice ring to it, but then Apple could yet again complain of infringement/confusion against OSX.

A reinvention would be nice though. Something to start on the ground up. Legacy applications are one thing, but legacy hardware/protocols are another. But they also tried that with Vista, if you wanted DX11. They're now trying the same with Spartan (Win 10 only).

[-Sara-]

I'm still waiting for them to completely reinvent Windows, simply calling it 'Windows' without a suffix, or if they're really confident 'Win'.

They sadly probably won't, because of brand recognition. Apple has only marginally managed to reduce "Macintosh" down to "Mac" (ala iMac, Mac Book). WinX would have a nice ring to it, but then Apple could yet again complain of infringement/confusion against OSX.

A reinvention would be nice though. Something to start on the ground up. Legacy applications are one thing, but legacy hardware/protocols are another. But they also tried that with Vista, if you wanted DX11. They're now trying the same with Spartan (Win 10 only).

I strongly suspect though that a reinvented Windows would not be installed on our own PC, but on a server which we access, where not impossibly all our data is also stored. Strongly focussed on the know-nothing PC user, who when breaking their installation has to simply click on a wrench icon and the helpdesk troops instantly restore their data and OS. And when grandpa's darling grandkids break the copywrite laws, they can seize all data as evidence. Ofcourse it wouldn't sell to the serious PC user, but many elderly and small-time PC users seem to adopt the I have nothing to hide policy all too eagerly, while they also much prefer to be done with hassle of owning a physical PC which would need constant upgrades and maintenance. I'd dread the day that happens.

[Zacam]

So, basically like what workstation environments do with Blade style chassis-less "remote" systems where the workstation is a WEISS terminal with a monitor, ethernet, keyboard and mouse, only with a bit more of a PC. It would be a logical extension of "Software as a Service" to set the OS up that way. And I too shudder at the thought of it, but as with most decisions there will be a bottom line of interest involved.

I'll take an OS that I can control on my own terms (and the hardware to go with it) any day.

[-Sara-]

So, basically like what workstation environments do with Blade style chassis-less "remote" systems where the workstation is a WEISS terminal with a monitor, ethernet, keyboard and mouse, only with a bit more of a PC. It would be a logical extension of "Software as a Service" to set the OS up that way. And I too shudder at the thought of it, but as with most decisions there will be a bottom line of interest involved.

I'll take an OS that I can control on my own terms (and the hardware to go with it) any day.

Hear, hear.