Another data point: My parents' computer (which was running XP) recently died -- so I helped them pick out a new system (came with Windows 8.1). First, I had to install a classic shell program, because the Start screen was throwing them off. Then I couldn't get their USB scanner to work -- HP don't make drivers for it for Windows 8 (scanner is too old and unsupported). But the scanner works find under Linux.
I picked up a lot of printers for free that were orphaned from windows vista, 7, and now windows 8. They worked fine under linux, without any monkeying around. Free printers due to windows updates. Great stuff!
