"Windows 8 is an unacceptable security risk"

That's not just my opinion (I actually have no opinion other than that Windows 8 is a web page).  Via The Covertress, we find that this is the opinion of the German Government:

According to leaked internal documents from the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) that Die Zeit obtained, IT experts figured out that Windows 8, the touch-screen enabled, super-duper, but sales-challenged Microsoft operating system is outright dangerous for data security. It allows Microsoft to control the computer remotely through a built-in backdoor. Keys to that backdoor are likely accessible to the NSA - and in an unintended ironic twist, perhaps even to the Chinese.

Yes, but other than a backdoor for the NSA and the Chinese, it's the MOST. SECURE. WINDOWS. EVAH. And this is extra cool:

From the BSI's perspective, the use of Windows 8 combined with TPM 2.0 is accompanied by a loss of control over the operating system and the hardware used. As a result, new risks arise for the user, especially for the federal government and for those providing critical infrastructure. In particular, on hardware running Windows 8 that employs TPM 2.0, unintentional errors of hardware or the operating system, but also errors made by the owner of the IT system, could create conditions that prevent further operation of the system. This can even lead to both the operating system and the hardware employed becoming permanently unusable. Such a situation would not be acceptable for either the federal authorities or for other users. In addition, the newly-established mechanisms can also be used for sabotage by third parties.

"Could" be used for sabotage?  How about "will" be used for sabotage?

By the way, the BSI (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik, the Federal Office for Information Security) is more or less equivalent to the half of NSA that does computer security.  They have some scary smart security guys.  This is a Big Time reality check on Windows 8.  That well known computer security expert, Vice President Joe Biden calls it a "big f'n deal".

Linux may suck, but in a whole different way than the NSA and Red Chinese* reading everything on your Windoze tablet.

Hey, Redmondites - I know that you're all a bunch of Dirty Commies who gave money to Obama's campaign.  I also know that you all have stock options riding on the success of Windows 8.  With Germany shutting down, feel the Hope N Change.  It's shadenfreudalicious!

* I only say "Red Chinese" to afflict the too-comfortable Usual Suspects™.