Microsoft need to just figure out what makes their odd-numbered operating systems better than the even-numbered ones.

Hopefully, Windows 9 will be awesomesauce.

I've said that many times. The oddness is is that its actually true. The even numbers seem to be quirky and I think its because newer innovations meant to improve upon the previous OS aren't that well thought out as in the case with Vista and now Win8. Win8.1 corrected some on those quirks but I have to agree with RnD as far as handling resources is concerned. I had limited experience with Win8 and it does take some getting used to. Should this trend continue Win9 really will be 'awesonesauce'.

This is a no-brainer for MS. Only give your OSes ODD numbers...problem solved.  

With the demise of the desktop PC, do these stats really matter?

If you would include smartphones and tablets, then windows fares a lot worse.

I think that after some time, there will be a backlash from tablets back to PCs. People who are used to say Android on their tablet, would they want to upgrade to windows when they buy a PC, or do they want to stick with Android (if that is at all possible) ?

I like windows btw., I use it every day on my PC and it's pretty good.

I just upgraded to windows 7. Had to do soooo much tweaking though to get the OS to run the way I want it to...

That's just it.  Windows 8 performs better than any previous MS OS iteration to date. 

People of course can find patterns wherever they choose to look but that 'pattern' concerning even/odd numbered MS OS's has been most decidedly 'broken' with Windows 8 (at least in the performance category).  How 'liked' or not Windows 8 is on it's 'look' may be an entirely different thing and may suit someone else's pattern.

I have news...the desktop PC is here to stay. No demise.

No argument there. I'd like to see a 'Phablet/Tablet' handle the kind of memory a PC can or a huge HDD, say two to four TB. Not to mention the kind of power they're capable of. Gaming machines like Alienware is a good example. No Tablet and/or whatever is going to handle multiple HDD's or SSD's, multi-core processors like the dual quads or the graphics cards that are out there. PC's will always be here in one form or another.

I'd still be using 98se if it had better hardware support/fewer limitations, just sayin'.  Lean and mean...

If I could have 98SE with 64 bit support, etc., without all of the 'bloatware' that has crept in since 98se, I'd be a happy camper.  This trend of increasing the OS footprint just because larger memory configurations are available is just silly.

But then I'm a pretty basic user, that generally turns a LOT of stuff off using msconfig.  Other than antivirus, etc. of course.

Oh, and tablet interfaces belong on tablets, not on PCs...

/rant off

Using Vista currently.  Will pretty much HAVE to go with 8.1 when I replace my 'desktop replacement' laptop in the summer.  My other laptop is XP, but is a fair bit slower so I don't use it much these days.  The hybrid drive in my Vista laptop helps performance significantly.

What demise?

Give that man a cigar....

Windows8    the best OS i ever had

Exactly right ! I think people forget about the energy that is released in the form of heat from high performance computers. It takes a lot of cooling power and you just can't squeeze that into a tablet , or a laptop, for that matter. Also of course , high performance computers are an absolute must in this new age of cutting edge design and developement. The desktop PC is not going anywhere , and from what I have been seeing , the design technology for the latest and greatest desktop PC's continues to get better and more advanced. Oh , and let's not forget about those wonderfully large desktop monitors ,everybody loves those !