For those who say to use linux, do you just think about yourselves or have you actually thought about, is linux a easy to use OS for the masses? I've tried a few linux distros before and the amount of time to get a simple job done is beyond ridiculous. By the time a linux novice has managed to learn 1 linux feature, they will probably be a expert in using Windows or OSX.
Those who say avoid Windows 8, well have you actually try it out or are you just repeating what those Windows 8 bashers are saying? Windows 8 isn't not a difficult to OS, if you sit down and use a bit of time to learn it. How can someone who is able to operate their smartphone, tablet, automatically become unfamiliar on how to use Windows 8? Aren't all of them similar to one another? All them them have icons on a home screen, you open a app by tapping the screen or click on it. If anyone can use a smartphone or tablet (ipad,galaxy tab, transformer, etc) then Windows 8 won't be that difficult to use.