windows 8.1 or windows 7
Getting a new computer. Which operating SYSTEM SHOULD I get? Windows 8.1 or windows 7.
Forum Discussion
I would go with a Win 7 computer. I have a new laptop that came with Win 8.1. The day I started it up I got a message from Microsoft that said Win 8.1 would soon be discontinued and replaced with "Win 8.1 Update" and I must update now. (Yes that is the actual name of the OS that is now supported - Win 8.1 update.) This was before the announcement of Win 10 which has yet to happen other than in Beta testing.
The Win 8.1 Update put back a few familiar features from Win 7 including a Shut Down button. The first thing I did with the new laptop is tweek it - only with Windows settings - to not have to log in every time the OS starts and to open directly to Desktop bypassing the annoying app screen. The app screen is nothing more than a glorified Start Menu and if you stop all of these apps from connecting to the internet and delete most of them what you get is a full screen start menu with all of your installed software - not just the mostly useless Microsoft apps. With the computer set up like this - especially on the desktop, it is no different from Win 7. But you have to stand on your head to get it there.
I have experienced a few problems - when it wants to update it updates and I have found no way to turn this off - and it will not shut down until the updates are complete once started. I also wanted to back up the hard drive with Acronis and Win 8.1 would not work with the version of Acronis that I have (it could not find the laptop's hard drive) and apparently only works with the newest Acronis version. I had to find new back up software just for the laptop. Installing printer drivers was not as easy as Win 7. Screen resolution on the laptop is limited and if you have trouble seeing small fonts there is no way to just set the resolution to a easily readable font without losing half the screen. The touch screen can be bypassed. My laptop has a touch screen but I don't use it unless the mouse is being a pain.
All and all I would stick with Win 7 - it is all there and you don't have to jump through a circus hoop to get it to work the way you are used to. And apparently Win 10 is going back to Win 7 in its interface - chalk up another MS mistake with Win 8/8.1- like Windows Millennium and Vista.
The Win 8.1 Update put back a few familiar features from Win 7 including a Shut Down button. The first thing I did with the new laptop is tweek it - only with Windows settings - to not have to log in every time the OS starts and to open directly to Desktop bypassing the annoying app screen. The app screen is nothing more than a glorified Start Menu and if you stop all of these apps from connecting to the internet and delete most of them what you get is a full screen start menu with all of your installed software - not just the mostly useless Microsoft apps. With the computer set up like this - especially on the desktop, it is no different from Win 7. But you have to stand on your head to get it there.
I have experienced a few problems - when it wants to update it updates and I have found no way to turn this off - and it will not shut down until the updates are complete once started. I also wanted to back up the hard drive with Acronis and Win 8.1 would not work with the version of Acronis that I have (it could not find the laptop's hard drive) and apparently only works with the newest Acronis version. I had to find new back up software just for the laptop. Installing printer drivers was not as easy as Win 7. Screen resolution on the laptop is limited and if you have trouble seeing small fonts there is no way to just set the resolution to a easily readable font without losing half the screen. The touch screen can be bypassed. My laptop has a touch screen but I don't use it unless the mouse is being a pain.
All and all I would stick with Win 7 - it is all there and you don't have to jump through a circus hoop to get it to work the way you are used to. And apparently Win 10 is going back to Win 7 in its interface - chalk up another MS mistake with Win 8/8.1- like Windows Millennium and Vista.
