Thank you for the news Brink! I will keep it in mind, if someone I know wants to purchase a new computer.

My friend really needs a new laptop by Christmas, maybe he'll be stuck with Windows 8 then, although he said he didn't mind if it comes with Windows 7 or Windows 8.

I think he might be better off saying with his Windows Vista machine which overheats after opening a few tabs on Chrome, and battery which doesn't work either I guess adding a fresh SSD/HDD and then clean installing Windows 7 will work

This is making me very glad I moved from PC to Mac for my laptop and home-build my desktops (now used for an HTPC and will run 7 for the foreseeable future). I might even have to convince my dad to move to an iMac or Mac Mini for his next desktop (I self-build for him as well).

It is really quite simple, if a client buys a laptop or desktop from Best Buy, Wal Mart, Target etc. and "cannot get on with it" for what ever reason the retailer will take it back under their 30 day no quibble satisfaction warranty. The retailer wants your money but they want you to be happy with the purchase and come back and spend some more money. Those units show up as refurbs or managers specials. At the time of return if Windows 8 is the problem the client will demand either Windows 7 or a total refund. Any salesman worth his salt is going to find a product with what the client wants on it Windows 7 rather than lose the sale completely. We have been here before with Vista, they can blow hot and cold all they like but if the public don't buy it other arrangements will be in place....AKA Plan B.

This is no different that they way OEM's have always enforced their factory preinstalled sponsor bloatware, so the solution remains the same: If you need tech support get it here where it is vastly better, or if you must talk with them do not reveal you have clean reinstalled or "upgraded" 8 to 7. If you need to ship it back under hardware warranty have the Recovery disks on hand to run Recovery first from its partition or disks. Save a backup image so you have another way to recover.

This will either force consumers en masse to touchscreens or force MS and OEM's to offer "downgrade" rights to 7 as they did during XP>Vista debacle. Consumers are not going to put up with having a productive desktop experience ruined by a gimmicky Wall of Buttons slamming down on their work, or go through the trouble of modifying WIn8 to include Win7's explorer with Start menu using best solution Windows 7 explorer for Windows 8.

gregrocker said:

This is no different that they way OEM's have always enforced their factory preinstalled sponsor bloatware, so the solution remains the same: If you need tech support get it here where it is vastly better, or if you must talk with them do not reveal you have clean reinstalled or "upgraded" 8 to 7. If you need to ship it back under hardware warranty have the Recovery disks on hand to run Recovery first from its partition or disks. Save a backup image so you have another way to recover.

At least the bloatware could be removed. With the UEFI locking that Microsoft is requiring the OEMs to do you CAN'T get rid of Win 8 (you say this is no different but it IS different). Microsoft is forcing enthusiasts to build their own (many do anyway) and possibly NOT buy a Windows license if they can get away without Windows.