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My thing is I’ve got years of experience in Linux. I began using Ubuntu in 2012 because my laptop’s hard disk failed, the sticker with my product key had worn away, and I wasn’t paying $100 for another copy of Windows 7.
I’ve only been noncommittal about it this this long because of my Steam library. But with the Steam Deck and Proton being so damn good, and all my games working just as well on Linux as they did in Windows (many times, better), I just stopped using Windows altogether.
So there I was, staring at GNOME Disks for a couple hours. Knowing that like a bad relationship that was doing something for me, but also hurting me, it was best to break things off. And then I nuked that bitch lol
There was a promotion around at the time where if you bought a Windows 7 laptop within a certain time frame, you could get $25 off your Windows 8 Pro license, which cost $40 on launch day.
And so on launch day, I paid $15 for my retail copy of Windows 8 Pro and installed it on my new PC.
Everyone shits on Win 8, but I had some shell extension that brought back the Win 7 start menu so I have somewhat fond memories of Win 8. I almost never had to deal with the Metro Start Screen.