Windows 7 or 8?

[JimmyB78]

My boss has agreed to buy me a shiny new computer as my current one is starting to struggle.

Got it all specced up and that's fine, only thing I'm not sure of is whether to go Windows 8 or stick with what I know works with Windows 7. Any help on which way to go would be much appreciated.

Will all my current programs still work with 8?

Thanks

 

[oldbloke]

Everything should work with 8, but 8 is just horrible. Get 7.
The user interface for 8 is designed for tablets with touch screens and really doesn't work well without, and all the stuff you're used to having is hidden...

 

[Wez]

I'm not getting on well with Windows 8 at the moment, MS are due to release 8.1 late June iirc which will add some of the things from Win7 back in; like the 'start' button.

 

[wilsoa1111]

totally agree, had a play with win 8, it was awful to use for even 15mins, as this was when it stopped being new and interesting and just downright irriating and counter productive- every "improvement" they make to it seems to be setting it up so that it works more like win 7 from the get go. so in a few years it will just be a lighter, better version of 7 but at the moment to do actual work pick 7

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Is windows 8 the new -

 

[JimmyB78]

Thanks, that pretty much confirms my gut instinct which was to stick with 7, which has never really caused me any problems whatsoever.

Sounds very much like 8 is the new Vista then!

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

Windows versions are like Star Trek films. Every second release (ME, Vista & 8 so far) can be relied upon to be ****.

 

[bobsbeer]

If at all possible stick with Windows 7. 8 is ****. And I'm not convinced 8.1 will be much better, but I hope I'm wrong. :pray: :pray:

 

[Hawks]

Every second release (ME, Vista & 8 so far) can be relied upon to be ****.

too true, I found 8 a nightmare to use on a laptop, its crying out for you to touch the screen - but that just left a finger print

 

[rpt]

I tried the Windows 8 beta but it was awful on a normal desktop computer. Maybe it works well on a tablet but I'd far rather have Android or even IOS on one of those. So stick to Windows 7.

 

[musher]

Have you thought of Linux ?

 

[rpt]

I'd use Linux (and dump Microsoft) if I didn't have various apps that only work with Windoze.

 

[RobWalker]

right now 7 is too wonderful to get rid of if you ask me. runs like a dream, drivers are stupidly easy, fixed everything that was wrong in Vista. it's staying on here for another 5 years I reakon!

 

[JimmyB78]

Have you thought of Linux ?

Not really no, would I be able to run all the same stuff I don now on it? (mainly adobe web stuff)

 

[MadrikXIV]

Windows 8 is a nightmare, its usuable.
Microsoft will be patching it soon, they have listened and will be bringing back the 'Start bar'
Have no idea how my parents are using it, as I get confused when ever I have to fix their pc!!!

Windows 7 has the look you expect, 8 may give you that look back soon, as long as you keep up to date with the updates

 

[fbsf]

Erm, no - they are only bringing back the start BUTTON. And all that does is take you back to the bloody metro interface.

The start menu is still gone unfortunately. I'll be staying with 7 as long as possible, although I have a horrible feeling I'm going to be forced to move to 8 as I'll need to support it...

 

[morethanworts]

When 7 came out, the rumour I heard was that the smart move was to stick with the 'more stable' XP.

Sounds like similar 'advice' is now proliferating around the move from 7 to 8!

 

[MadrikXIV]

XP was awesome, 7 was good, providing you had a new pc.
AS to the look, I always turned off every bell and whistle and kept with the 95 look

8 is very cheap, I thought the new start bar (Windows Icon) was going to allow a little more customisation, like taking you straight to apps, I mean PROGRAMMES!!!

8 is a pain as it stands, unless you have a touch screen of course, they may bring back the full desktop look eventually, as the extensions to do so are fairly popular

 

[LeithR]

+1 for Musher's view.
I left the horror world of MS 2 years ago for Puppy Linux and haven't missed it for one second.

You can (I think its now fair to say) always find a Linux app which will replace the Windoze equivalent and run faster and use less resource.

 

[RobertP]

I got a new ultrabook with touchscreen and windows 8 and its great :)

I also got a book on windows 8 as it is the first time I'd used it. Once i got my head round the idea that it is 2 operating systems in one (metro tile apps from the store and windows 7 type desktop) all became clear.

I can see the problem if you don't have a touchscreen but with one it is perfect. I don't miss the start button at all.

For a desktop and no touchscreen I'd go with windows 8 but buy the 'start 8' add on that makes it work like win7. 8 starts faster and handles things you plug in better than 7 but needs a bit of learning.

FWIW I've been using windows and building my own PC's for many years. After reading lots of comments like those above I thought I'd hate 8 ... but I don't :)

I can't see the start menu coming back in future versions as you just don't need it. The tiled launch screen customised to how you want it combined with the built in search just does it all better. I don't really use the start menu in 7 - I just click the start button and type the first few letters of what I want.... just like you can on the tiled page you get to by hitting the windows key in 8.

So 8 is OK by me.