Ginny,

Not too long ago I purchased a non-touchscreen laptop with 8.1 on it.
I'm not sure why everyone without a tablet was so freaked -- there is one box you can click on that brings up the traditional desktop view. The start menu doesn't function the same. You have to suffer through making a shortcut from each program onto your taskbar or desktop. Maybe the original 8 did not have a desktop view--now that would've sucked.

The next big thing is Windows 10 as far as Operating systems go. All I know is that they are offering free upgrades to 8.1 users who purchased within a certain time frame. Not sure on details.

You may also wish to consider a 2 in 1 touchscreen laptop or a true 2 in 1 tablet with detachable keyboard. The learning curve is a bit steep but with no keyboard (you hide it from yourself) you figure stuff out.....
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Programs for ME&98? Seriously? At a corporation? Please tell me there is an updated server still supported by Microsoft and a firewall. Otherwise , well, let's just say it's , well, "not optimal".

 

Derf, when does 10 come out? It seems like every other operating system Windows comes out with is really good, so with that being a model I think we'll wait to see what 10 is all about and once it's stable go that route. Who knows, I may win something too somewhere!

 

not sure, but they sure kicked into high gear when 8 hit the floor face first

 

Derf, wasn't aware that 8 did a major face plant out of the gate. There was a lot of hype around it and the touchscreen stuff. I just ignored it (ostrich mode) and figured we had a lot of life left in what we've got. Of course, our netbook is the only thing new enough to Skype on now LOL. A friend had an XP laptop that she replaced with an 8 one, she said there was a pretty good learning curve.

I may have to start doing research...