Is it possible to buy a stock desktop computer without having to accept Windows 8 as your OS?

I mean without purchasing an Apple product.

I have not heard very many positive things about Windows 8 online and the three people I know who purchased new equipment recently all detest it.

Other than wiping the hard drive and purchasing and installing Windows 7 over it (something I do not feel capable of accomplishing without major consequences) is there anything I can do? Can you go to someone like Dell and request an older OS or am I just SOL?