Solved Sticking with the latest version of Windows & Office 64bit

I just wanted to share my experiences in this lounge area about switching from Ubuntu 14.04.2 64 bit LTS GNU/Linux to Microsoft Windows 8.1 Professional with Media Center Update 1 64 bit on my Lenovo IdeaPad Y510P high end gaming notebook PC. I purchased Crucial Ballistix Sport PC3-L 12800 16.00 GB DDR3 1,600 MHz SO-DIMM RAM, Crucial M550 2.5" 9.5 mm SATA-III 6 GB/s 1.0 TB solid state disk, and a Transcend M.2 42 mm NGFF SATA-III 6 GB/s 256.00 GB solid state disk and I installed them in my notebook PC.

I still love the free, libre, open source philosophy driving GNU/Linux and BSD UNIX, but I had a lot of problems with Ubuntu 14.04.x 64 bit LTS GNU/Linux recently. For example, installing third party, closed source, proprietary, and commercial software applications was a nightmare when I updated Ubuntu 14.04.1 to 14.04.2 64 bit LTS GNU/Linux not too long ago. Long story short, software packages, libraries, and dependencies were broken and I spent countless weeks creating and responding to numerous support tickets with System76, Codeweavers, and CrashPlan in order to isolate, pinpoint, and troubleshoot highly localized technical issues. Then, another batch of software updates popped up and it broke my software applications completely once again. Rinse, lather, and repeat all over again. In the past, upgrading from an older version of Ubuntu 64 bit LTS GNU/Linux to the current version also resulted in a broken desktop operating system.

Often times, you get exactly what you pay for and most GNU/Linux distributions are available to the general public for free of charge.

Now, Microsoft Corporation has made some pretty boneheaded decisions in the past and they have made their fair share of mistakes too. I skipped Microsoft Windows Vista entirely and I went straight to Microsoft Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate SP-1 and it was a good user experience. I am now using Microsoft Windows 8.1 Professional with Media Center Update 1 64 bit and it has been a total nightmare for me. It crashed ten times in less than one year. Naturally, I blame myself since I am the only Administrator on my notebook PC. I also own an Oppo Digital HA-1, CEntrance HiFi-M8 LX XL4, and Western Digital My Cloud Personal Cloud 4.0 TB NAS drive. They only work with Microsoft Windows 7 and 8.1 or Apple Macintosh OS X Tiger, Mavericks, and Yosemite 64 bit. These companies do not support GNU/Linux whatsoever.

The reason why I switched back is due to several facts. First, I have been a Microsoft customer for a few decades (I'm getting close to my forties). It's familiar territory. Second, hardware and software compatibility along with customer service and technical support are excellent from companies that sell products or services to Apple and Microsoft customers on the whole. Third, I am becoming a hardcore PC gamer enthusiast and my Electronics Arts' Origin, Ubisoft U Play, and Valve Corporation Steam PC game libraries only work for Microsoft Windows 7 or 8.1 64 bit especially with regard to older PC game titles. Fourth, I am eagerly looking forward with slight trepidation to Microsoft Windows 10 Professional with Media Center 64 bit. It seems to correct many of the deep flaws associated with Microsoft Windows 8.1 64 bit. Finally, I actually prefer to pay for my hardware, software, and premium content in order to get legal access to advanced and unique features and capabilities that simply are non-existent within the GNU/Linux or BSD UNIX ecosystems.

Microsoft Windows and Office and their ecosystem of hardware and software products and services are simply more interesting, diverse, and richer than what I have found in the GNU/Linux and BSD UNIX ecosystems so long as I am willing to pay for each one. It's simply easier, faster, better, but not cheaper to use Microsoft's products and services or from companies that sell products and services catered toward Microsoft customers in the long run. One key differentiator are premium content providers. I subscribe or pay for Netflix, Hulu Plus, Spotify Premium Family Plan, Tidal Hi-Fi, Next Issue, ScribD, CrashPlan+ Family Plan, Microsoft Skype, Microsoft Office 365, Reviversoft [PC Reviver], Bitdefender Total Security 2015 Multi-Device, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Professional Registered, Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Premium Registered, VS Revo Group Revo Uninstaller Professional Registered, Super Anti-Spyware Professional Registered, jV Power Tools X VIP Platinum, QFX Software's KeyScrambler Premium, WinPatrol PLUS, Google Earth Pro, Adobe Photoshop, HitMan Pro Registered, Sandboxie Pro Registered, Acronis True Image 2015, EaseUS ToDo Backup Workstation, Blue Ridge Networks AppGuard Registered, Stardock Object Desktop, Advanced System Optimizer Registered, LastPass Premium [including three Yubico Yubi Keys], J River Media Center, 1UP Industries Bins for Windows, InSync Plus, VM Ware Workstation 11.x 64 bit, and Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 Ultimate. I also plan to pay for a Microsoft Windows 365 Home subscription for Microsoft Windows 10 Professional with Media Center 64 bit after the first 12 months in the future if it becomes available to the general public.

As you can see, I have invested a lot of my time and money into the Microsoft ecosystem. My Valve Corporation Steam PC game library totals 460.00 PC game titles alone. I don't even know how many PC games I have with Ubisoft or Electronics Arts because I never bothered to check recently.

It ain't perfect, but when it works, it does indeed work well. I'm not switching to another desktop operating system ever again. My hope is that Microsoft Corporation will announce the launch date of Microsoft Windows 10 worldwide during their upcoming BUILD conference in April 2015 and it will launch sometime in June 2015 or later. I also hope that Microsoft Corporation gives its home consumers choices similar to Microsoft Office whereby customers can choose to buy a shrink wrapped version or pay for either a monthly or annual subscription model with value added bonuses like extra Microsoft OneDrive storage, Microsoft Skype credits, or something else that would be cool to have as a part of a subscription package. I'll definitely choose to sign up for a monthly Microsoft Windows 365 subscription if it becomes available since Microsoft Corporation plans to release Windows 10 as a service. We shall see.

Microsoft Windows is a whole lot easier to use compared to GNU/Linux and BSD UNIX. I still use VM Ware Workstation 11.1.0 64 bit and I installed Ubuntu 14.04.2 64 bit LTS GNU/Linux in a 64 bit guest virtual machine to play around with it and kick the tires around. I won't abandon GNU/Linux or BSD UNIX completely, but I won't choose to double or triple boot them by installing them bare metal on my Lenovo IdeaPad Y510P notebook PC either.

That's it! Thanks for reading. Be kind to me as I just had to get this off my chest.