Windows still matters only if you need Microsoft Office or some other program that only runs on windows.I started computing in 1994 and I'm just a above average user but I would say they just keep making it more difficult for the average user not easier.I think Windows 8 will be a big bomb for them.I could be wrong but for me there doesn't seem to be any improvement there that I need.I will continue to use Windows 7 for as long as possible then switch to Linux on a computer that it's not locked out on.