>>Hopefully without going to deep into conspiracy theo[log/r]y....
>
>Something is only a "theory" when there is insufficient evidence to prove it. That is not the case with what Microsoft is doing to its consumer base. It is now a matter of history.

As making money from software is not evil in itself IMO, from my POV it is a question of degree. Forcing me to call each time I want to switch installs for something I bought (and heightening the bad expirience) is crossing the Rubicon. My personal paranoia revolves more on gov extending its reach into personal freedom by technical means ;-)

>>For me too big in the "disadvantages" camp ;-)
>
>Recommend Linux and LibreOffice. A change in the way you operate, but you'll never go back. For everything Windows I use Windows Server 2003 in a VirtualBox VM. Works perfectly.

Over here quite a few Virtualbox VM - some with W2K prof if used for old stuff (tiny mem usage, no browser [at least IE links also banished], no firewall, no AV, tiny VHD [yes, I know, but explained by usage history...] also one on person with USB stick - used only for work) or XP prof (got more usage when some Dotnet would not run in W2K). Bought a couple of licenses for update to W8 to have some VM's patched, but unsure if I downgrade them to W7 - time will tell. Linux mosty used as emergency OS here, but might change if all normal usage is done with VM's.

LibreOffice: tested, but felt sluggish on some machines. I am happily using my Office97 and don't care if spell checker is from last century as it loads and handles FAST. Even faster are Winword 2 and Excel4 I still have on one disk, but for most of my usage that is enough, unless I need something esoteric in Excel. Only then one of the newer Office installs gets to heat up the CPU.
Sometimes thinking about switching on desktop and pad to softmaker for Office software: carried forward on Win, Linux and Android and not too bloated. No real need but nerd shopping lust ;-)

BTW: good way handling technical posts an religious ones now. Will still read all your technical ones and might look in a non-tech thread where another of my favorites also participates ;-)

regards

thomas