That crap was from sometime last year, not years ago. I found articles on the over commiting of ram, all very old. All I am saying none of my Linux boxes have ever ran out of RAM so whatever is taking place sure is doing better then Windows, Fact. Further more where is your fact on Windows 8.1 being faster? With Vista you quickly put bench mark scores to prove a point but you will not find on Windows vs Linux. Please grace me with some real information of Windows 8.1 being faster then Linux other then start up and shut down times as any person worth their salt knows that is a unfair comparison due to the fact Linux does a complete shut down and Windows 8.x does not as it uses a hybrid shutdown. The only area I have found Windows to prefrom better which I already gave it credit for being better at is gaming but that is more of an argument of better graphic drivers due to having a larger community of gamers.
Actually what I am curious to and maybe you can answer is why does Windows use crappy NTFS? A file system which requires the user to maintain the file system otherwise it will get all fragmented. Would it be possible for Windows to use something like ext4 or btrfs which is a maintenance free file system? I know they would not use those but come on when will they realize NTFS is completely crap?
All I am saying is that from what I have read and personal experience Linux blows the doors off Windows. Under Linux it never slows as I open more and more applications, I have never ran out of resources, I never have to do maintenance, I am provided with a fast and secure way of downloading application, I only have to reboot after updates if the kernel was updated and finally I just put in a Ubuntu disc and checked on this brand new Lenovo in my specs is 100% compatiable which means I could do a install right now in under 45 minutes including all my updates. Couldn't even come close to that on Windows with needing all my drivers installed and how Windows has to install updates in series as it could not handle a mass update as it would probably break Windows. Plus lets not even start to talk about good old Windows BSOD's.
I agree with the file system fragmentation happening.I kinda always hated that in NTFS.
I sometimes loose too much unneccessary time to maintain the file system in order to keep it fragmentation free.
So yea lol...it would be good if Microsoft makes a new file system which does not require maintenance.

I guess this is one of the reasons why so many people use Linux and their file systems...
I am not saying NTFS is bad.I like it too.I use it after all lol.
On the other hand some people just cannot use Linux and must use Windows instead if they are making programs for Windows systems using programming tools from Microsoft such as .NET development...
So in this case Linux is not the best option.
Many people (not all of course) who use Linux are happy with it because they don't know a lot about computers and all they mostly do is surfing the internet and listening the music,watching movies and so on...They don't do any programming or some advanced computer stuff so even simple Linux system is more than enough for them.
Of course...there ARE people who do advanced things on Linux systems so in this case Linux is again good option for them IF they are doing things FOR Linux.
However if they are programming for Windows systems instead then Windows is better option than ANY Linux system.
If you are programming for Ubuntu for example,you will logically use Linux.
If you are programming for Windows 7 for example,you will logically use Windows.
Of course...you can always make Windows programs on Linux or vice versa (make Linux programs on Windows) and then test them in the virtual Windows or Linux OS using virtual machine.
But most people will use the actual OS if they are making programs for that OS.
As for Windows Vista...
That OS is not so big crap like people say...It worked just fine on my 15 years old PC...so come on...Hell I was even able to run aero just fine.
And yes...Windows 7 and 8.0 and 8.1 are better than Vista for many reasons (the RAM usage is just one of them)...
And that's okay and logical.
I mean...Microsoft would never earn a lot of money if they make new systems which are worse and worse every time when they come out.
Sure there were few exceptions like Windows Millennium,but that was a long time ago.
Windows Vista is not even close as bad as Millennium was lol.
So...
If I was able to run Vista just fine on my super old PC WITH AERO ENABLED then come on...
If Windows Vista works fine for your needs then USE IT.
Look...both Windows AND Linux are great.
So which one is better OR THE BEST???
That answer CANNOT be answered since the one which you will choose REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
There IS NO the BEST OS.
The best one is the one which suits your needs the best.
For some it is Windows 8.0.
For some it is Ubuntu 9.04.
For some it is Windows XP.
For some it is Windows 7.
For some it is Fedora.
And so on and on and on and on and on blablabla...
"The best operating system (Windows/Linux/Unix/Mac/or whatever"
= "the level of it's ability to suit all your needs".