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Windows 7 or Windows 8?
Central cake
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I currently have Win 7 but have to chance to upgrade to Win 8. Is it worth it?
I have an i5 board with 8gb DDR3 so I am sure it can run it but should I stick with 7?
Cheers
I have an i5 board with 8gb DDR3 so I am sure it can run it but should I stick with 7?
Cheers
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As far as your PC is concerned, it will run W8.1 just fine...
Personally I use Windows 8.1 but have configured it with Start8 menu so most of the time it looks like Windows 7. I now find that occasionaly I flip to Windows 8.1 Metro (or Modern!) mode as somethings are actually easier to do (less menus). To me Windows 8.1 is the system that will be properly supported for a while to come.
No matter what anybody says, Windows 7 will be at some time not be supported other than basic security type issues.
Also, W8 is a 64 bit only system, whereas W7 could do 32 bit and 64 bit. What this means is 32 bit systems are really finished now and will soon no longer be available. I doubt the support for W7 drivers will be actively pursued by vendors in the future.
To me, you get best of both worlds going to W8.1 (you may have to upgrade to 8 first, and then 8.1 upgrade is free), but you set it up to be very W7 alike.
The only minor downside I see of going to 8.1 is that there are still some sofware vendors playing catchup to 8.1 e.g. Symantec SSR Destop 2013 (replacement for Norton Ghost 15) worked on W8, but fails on 8.1, and an update is being awaited.
If you have an critical applications that must work under W8.1, check with software vendor first.
Of course, you could maka a full backup of Windows 7 (using Macrium Reflect is my advice as it works with 8.1). Then if you upgrade but have issues or unhappy, you can revert back to W7.
By the way, I really don't like the W8.1 Metro UI as I consider it the designed for computer numpties and rarely use it but the point is I can when I need to, and I know my OS is properly supported and will be until a major new version comes out.
sorry - I got distracted and noticed replies since. As you will see, some will say don't, and some will say do. In the end,
" pays yer money and takes yer chioce"
I suppose I could always create shortcuts on my desktop of all the programs that I use. This would save me having to go to another screen to find them.
If you're not familiar with Metro and want to see what's it's like before making any decision, Microsoft have a free downloadable tutorial (which for some strange reason they call an "End User Training Brochure"). AFAIK it's for W8.0 rather than W8.1 so I guess some details might differ but the fundamental principles will be the same.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39055
What? Of course you can still have Windows 8 32-bit!
The misinformation posted here sometimes is mind boggling.
Only took till post 8 for you to arrive.
The person that was thinking about getting Windows 8 for their Mac.
To the op - I'd upgrade if you can and if you like the new way of working keep with what you have. If not install Classic Shell and then enjoy working the old way but with a quicker/better OS underneath.
I couldn't resist I wasn't going to install W8 as my main OS on my Macbook Air, I was gonna install it in Parallels or maybe VMWare Fusion. I still haven't bought a copy yet. Anyway if I was to use Parallels I red the latest version of it has a 'Windows 7 mode' for W8 which means it has a Start menu and whatever and I wouldn't have to see the Duplo tiles.
Even on touch screen UI is just about the least intuitive system I've ever seen.
Stick with windows 7, it's stable, usable and will be supported for many years to come.
The Metro UI is a useless pile of crap though, but easily avoided. For a new system, I can't see any reason to stick with 7, but for an older system there is no point in upgrading to 8.
The only tweak you need is to install Classic Shell (http://www.classicshell.net/) and you'll never see the Metro/Modern UI ever again.
As above, if your Windows 7 machine is stable then I wouldn't bother upgrading it but if you get 8/8.1 on a new non-touch machine then I'd stick with it and just install Classic Shell.
I made the mistake of upgrading to Windows 8 from 7 and deeply regret it. It is a frustrating piece of crap.
I'm sure this works well, but who supports it and what if some windows update unexpectedly breaks it. PITA.
I know it's not an option for consumers on new PC's but if you have the choice go for windows 7.
It will be supported for a long time and I think Microsoft will come to their senses now that idiot Ballmer is leaving and give users the option of a sensible desktop user interface.
Ok I was wrong - I did not consider retails versions of W8 can be in 32 or 64 bit. I guess OEM version could be as well, but I have only seen 64 bit version myself.
I checked this out further. It is a point worth noting that according to Microsoft website, you can only upgrade using same as you original i.e. if you have 32 bit, upgrade will be 32 bit (same for 64 bit). There may be workaround for this.
So if you have Windows 7 32 bit, you might like to install the 64 bit version first (my W7 upgrade disks provided both).
By the way STIG - please learn to respond in a grownup way. By all means tell me I am wrong in a nice way - I am man enough to accept error.
The situation regarding upgrades has been the same with all versions of Windows; you cannot upgrade from a 32-bit to 64-bit. A clean install is required. Any workaround is messy, and not worth it.
If I appear tetchy, I apologise. There is so much crap written about Windows 8 on this forum. Personally, I don't like it much either, but statements like "It's unusable without a touchscreen" are wildly inaccurate.
The amount of people coming on here and posting crap for the sake of starting an argument is astounding.
You do realise the 'idiot' Steve Ballmer was also in charge when Windows 7 was launched?