Windows 8 or 7

[Mulac]

I know there's been a lot of discussing on the topic of windows 8 but I'm building my first PC and I got all the parts but stuck on the OS.

I want to use my pc for everyday stuff like writing documents and surfing the web and gaming. At amazon win 7 pro and 8 pro are the same price but I really don't know which one to pick.

Some advice would be appreciated.

 

[hackalive]

I find Windows 7 better - its what I am used to in terms of interface. To date I have found the 8 interface okay on tablets but annoying for my multi-screen desktop setup.

 

[dugdiamond]

tip:

• get win7 x64 ultimate
• installed all drivers, serice packs and updates
• install all apps and games

• then.... if you wish to... install win8x64PRO 'upgrade'
• all your win7 apps and games will work
• buy start8 from stardock (cheap) to give you win7 feel and start-menu

the reason:

win8pro does not come with alot of features that were present in win7ult (NET3, DX9, certain fixes, etc...), and it can be quite difficult to make a fresh install of all your apps that would normally work in in win7, launch correctly.

win8pro is aimed at ALL m$ devices, it has the ability to act like a tablet, but can very easily be used like all previous windows versions.

-------------------------------------------------

i am currently writing a dummies guide to win8pro for the forum, and i have writing several useful 'tweak' apps too.

 

[MacLeod]

Win7 no doubt. I've played around on 8 a bunch of times and cannot get into it. Metro just totally ruins it for me. Ill just stick to 7 until Win9 comes out cause 7 is superb.

 

[hackalive]

Win7 no doubt. I've played around on 8 a bunch of times and cannot get into it. Metro just totally ruins it for me. Ill just stick to 7 until Win9 comes out cause 7 is superb.

Hopefully 9 ditches the metro though.

 

[Kyze]

I dont know why youre hating on metro, as i barely ever use it.

Im finding 8 alot faster especially on boot and shutdown.
Same goes for compatibility as i havent had a game that had any errors yet.

 

[hackalive]

I dont know why youre hating on metro, as i barely ever use it.

Im finding 8 alot faster especially on boot and shutdown.
Same goes for compatibility as i havent had a game that had any errors yet.

I dont mind it for my tablet or smaller notebook - but on my desktop and larger work notebook it makes things harder (IMHO) for me.
I liked the start menu - the quick search option in it - the fact that I could have loads and loads of icons on the desktop and could have lots 'at my fingertips' on my desktop easily.

It's just my opinion and one day it may change - but for now i'll continue to use Win 7 Ult x64 on my desktops and bigger than 11" notebooks.

 

[Mulac]

tip:

• get win7 x64 ultimate
• installed all drivers, serice packs and updates
• install all apps and games

• then.... if you wish to... install win8x64PRO 'upgrade'
• all your win7 apps and games will work
• buy start8 from stardock (cheap) to give you win7 feel and start-menu

the reason:

win8pro does not come with alot of features that were present in win7ult (NET3, DX9, certain fixes, etc...), and it can be quite difficult to make a fresh install of all your apps that would normally work in in win7, launch correctly.

win8pro is aimed at ALL m$ devices, it has the ability to act like a tablet, but can very easily be used like all previous windows versions.

-------------------------------------------------

i am currently writing a dummies guide to win8pro for the forum, and i have writing several useful 'tweak' apps too.

But surely that's just going to cost a lot. What advantages would I get out of it?

 

[hackalive]

But surely that's just going to cost a lot. What advantages would I get out of it?

For $4.99 (or $49.95 if you want to go "Object Desktop") you can have your start menu back - good idea for people who want to use the latest Windows and still have their start menu (cake and eat it too?)

 

[Kyze]

I liked the start menu - the quick search option in it - the fact that I could have loads and loads of icons on the desktop and could have lots 'at my fingertips' on my desktop easily.

Thats where our way of using windows differs:

I didnt use the startmenu at all, not a single shortcut in there.
Same goes for the desktop, as i only hat the bin on it.

So the only thing i used in the start menu was the quicksearch and
i can use that in 8 just as fast.
I just hit the windows button plunk in the name of the programm i want
to launch and hit enter.
No need for a dekstop cluttered with shortcuts.

So the thing people seem to miss most in 8 (start menu) beeing gone
just doesnt bother me at all and i have the improved looks and speed
of 8.

 

[dragoonk]

Personally, I thinks Windows 8 kicks butt. It's about 20% faster than Win7, it looks better, it has some new features, the metro apps are useful... I had it on both my desktop and netbook ( I had to go back to windows 7 on my desktop cause of a driver issue with my graphics card ). As far as gaming perfrmance, I haven't seen any improvement yet, but with new driver releases things will definitely improve.

 

[dugdiamond]

DX11

win7 doesn't utilise any of it (only the subset - which is only DX10 or less)
what is the point of having a DX11 GPU in your rig, if the OS on cannot acces most of it?

win8 has DX11 built into it

 

[dragoonk]

Yes, and much more... like the super fast "Find", the auto maintenence in idle mode, the updates are all done automatically and don't slow the pc down as much as in Win7. What I was disappoingted to find out was that they took out the Gadgets.. I could of used a couple on the screen. I also like the new task manager except for the fact that it doesn't show all your cores, it shows the total usage of your CPU. You have to open the Resource Monitor to see each idividual core. I also like that it shows which program uses the most out of your Hard drive... a whole bunch of features, It's really good and very stable. I am happy wth it.

 

[Pr3d4t0r]

W7,

W8 imho is a good os for a 5" tablet or a smartphone, doesnt give you near enough freedom that W7 does, not to mention the incompatibly with alot of apps and games.

give it few months maybe but im still going to stick with W7

 

[dragoonk]

You people are forgetting that Windows 8 for your normal PC has a desktop and all the features and more of windows 7. I agree that for the desktop version the Metro style isn't absolutely necesary but not bad at all. I found alot of the apps there very useful even on a desktop. And about the incompatibility with some apps and older games... well ... you recall it was the same with windows 7 when it was released. Windows 8 was probably addapted to work with all the range of computers, high powered ( PC ) and low powered ( Lapttops, tablets, cell phones ). I guess not many people are not very susceptible to change. Anyway, I like it

 

[SeekaX]

got to try windows 8 on a pc and it was terrible, it felt like it was made for a tablet. until i tried it out on a tablet today. its exactly as terrible as on the pc. clearly windows 7

 

[Yemi]

Go to this site
Under Utilities there is: Classic start
Normal free start menu. Highly userfriendly.
Can pick W7, vista and xp startmenus
You can change a whole bunch of little options to make it work exactly as you like.

Yemi

 

[hackalive]

Im going to try the start8 idea over this holiday season maybe.

 

[SieB]

Don't know why people moan about the Metro screen so much, you don't have to use it and apart from that it's the only real major thing that is different between 7 and 8. Personally, I like it, you can pin all your shortcuts to it and it takes less than a second to switch to it and load your program/game, or to switch to it and back to the desktop.

There are other minor changes but nothing you won't adapt to in minuets if you go from 7 to 8. Everything else is basically the same, what you did on Windows 7 you do it the same way on 8, as for app and game incompatibility, the list is very small.

Even if you come across something that won't work there is compatibility mode which will run the program under Windows 7/XP requirements, if it still doesn't work then it's either an old program and there is a newer better alternative or you are very unlucky.

As for performance and functionality Windows 8 is much smoother and faster than 7, if you don't already own 7 and can get 8 for the same price, or even if it's a bit more expensive, 8 is the way to go.

 

[hackalive]

Don't know why people moan about the Metro screen so much, you don't have to use it and apart from that it's the only real major thing that is different between 7 and 8. Personally, I like it, you can pin all your shortcuts to it and it takes less than a second to switch to it and load your program/game, or to switch to it and back to the desktop.

There are other minor changes but nothing you won't adapt to in minuets if you go from 7 to 8. Everything else is basically the same, what you did on Windows 7 you do it the same way on 8, as for app and game incompatibility, the list is very small.

Even if you come across something that won't work there is compatibility mode which will run the program under Windows 7/XP requirements, if it still doesn't work then it's either an old program and there is a newer better alternative or you are very unlucky.

As for performance and functionality Windows 8 is much smoother and faster than 7, if you don't already own 7 and can get 8 for the same price, or even if it's a bit more expensive, 8 is the way to go.

I think this is where start8 may be good - best of both worlds
Thanks for dugdiamond for letting us know this exists