windows 8.1 or windows 7

I would get Windows 7. You'll still get a Free upgrade to Windows 10 when its released for the first year. At least for the basic versions.

With a little patience you can make 8.1 much like 7. Most of what I do use old style windows programs and have found it faster, stable. Bite the bullet and go with 8.1 then upgrade to 10 when it comes out.

Hi Jeff,

I had specific software that had to run in what was called "real mode". After two years the latest Apple OS no longer supported that mode with the amount of Ram I had--which I had maxed out when I made the original purchase. Therefore 6k/2 = 3k per year. I was left with an obsolete Mac that I had little or no use for. The program I needed was distributed on CDROM, so I had to buy a drive and a docking port. I was already emailing clients so I had to buy a modem. I needed a floppy drive, so that was another expense. None of this made the laptop particularly portable, and the Mac did not support my database, so I had to carry two computers.

The replacement for the Mac was about 1500, and I had to buy nothing extra.

I really wish that computers would stop evolving, and that they were worthwhile fixing, instead of being a "throw away".

SCVJeff wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Jeff,

This was back in 1996, so I don't remember the details. All said it done it cost me 6 grand. 3k per year is too rich for my blood

3k all in for top of the line Mac is about right in US$$, but per year??
I'm just barely getting used to 7, and now I gotta learn 2 more? Grrrr

FWIW

1. Get Win 8.1. My logic. Win 7 is a great operating syste. Win 8.1 is just as good. Win 8.1 is much easier to use than Win 8. You will not have that big of learning curve with Win 8.1.

2. Please do not base a decision on the forth coming Win 10. It might be a free upgrade but that is looking like for the first year only. After that you will be likely be paying anual dues to continue with Win 10/11/12/13 etc. Have not seen the pricinig yet but appears that you will just be renting.

I have 8. Every time Microsoft does me a favor and upgrades me to 8.1, the computer quits working.
Either, I have to restore or do a system recovery with only the original programs re-installed. At least the restore doesn't remove all my personal info and files.
3 or 4 of each.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Jeff,

This was back in 1996, so I don't remember the details. All said it done it cost me 6 grand. 3k per year is too rich for my blood.

Mac's are nice. So are Pc's. Find the program you want to run, then buy the platform that supports it.

3k all in for top of the line Mac is about right in US$$, but per year??
I'm just barely getting used to 7, and now I gotta learn 2 more? Grrrr

Hi Jeff,

This was back in 1996, so I don't remember the details. All said it done it cost me 6 grand. 3k per year is too rich for my blood.

Mac's are nice. So are Pc's. Find the program you want to run, then buy the platform that supports it.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I had a Mac. It was a pain. It was the most expensive laptop I've ever owned and was totally obsolete within 24 months. I had maxed out the ram and there was still not enough memory to run the one program I got it for in "real mode" so it could not be upgraded to the next apple OS. It had no modem, no disk drive, and a special docking port was needed for using a cdrom drive. It would lock up on a regular basis, requiring me to "zap the pram". If I wished to change the battery, it had to go back to the factory. I'll never willing own another Mac.

The OP should go for win 7 and probably consider transitioning to windows 10.

Altern wrote:
Neither. Do yourself a favor & buy a Mac.

what did you own? I have had more mac's than PC's and never had one that you couldnt pull the battery or RAM. I have a Mac laptop currently running the Mac OS, as well as XP, and Windoz 7, all running at the same time, and XP or 7 are faster than the laptop with an i7. Its pricy between the powerbook and the various OS's, but this the way to go

Either one as both will migrate (hopefully for free) to windows 10.

If you can afford it, pay the guy to place the OS on an SSD for 15 second boot ups. If you go this route free and easy software is available to backup the SSD drive onto the HDD weekly or monthly. Therefore the OS is easy to restore after it gets messed up.

I won't (again) comment on a Mac. Nor will I own one or suggest them to others. Interesting

JMHO

Good luck.

wandering1 wrote:
What does this have to do with an RV? Try the tech forum.

Close, but no cigar....

*Not* the "Tech Issues" forum..:R

Wander over to the *Technology Corner* forum.

(Mod/s know..;)..)

.