Wind 8 - No experience of previous windows help please

MollyJoe

Please could you help.
My son is 8 years old and would like a laptop.

My question is not on the which laptop to buy but on Windows 8.

We have a macbook.

He has never used a windows laptop / pc .

So many threads on here as to pro's and con's of Win 8 compared to previous versions and how to get back to them.

What I want to know is not having used any windows before will WIN8 be fine for us.

He is now going to be using a laptop for school work, they have advised they use office 2003 which again will mean if I understand correctly work would have to be made / saved compatabily.

Thank you

Chickabiddybex

Do they use Windows at school? If so then he'll be able to use one at home. It's good to learn how to use both anyway as you don't always get a choice! Have you considered security by the way? Basically, will he have Internet access and have you thought about how to protect him?

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

go for windows 7 and forget windows 8 and make sure you have at least
4gb of ddr memory.

MollyJoe

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

Do they use Windows at school? If so then he'll be able to use one at home. It's good to learn how to use both anyway as you don't always get a choice! Have you considered security by the way? Basically, will he have Internet access and have you thought about how to protect him?

Thank you, at the moment he doesn't. I spoke to the teacher who advised the school is using office 2003.

He is familiar with the internet as he uses our macbook and we have security. thank you .

MollyJoe

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver wrote: »

go for windows 7 and forget windows 8 and make sure you have at least
4gb of ddr memory.

Thank you, the laptop is a samsung 350V5C - A08

It has 6GB ram and 500GB, not sure if this is DDR memory you mention?

thank you

oneblondebrow

If he really hates windows after you buy it then install a Linux distribution, I would suggest Linux mint which is free, esspecially if he is only using it for office and web surfing, if anything that specification is wasted.if that all he is doing.

Also Linux has free.office software that's compatible with Microsoft office.

tonyh66

oneblondebrow wrote: »

If he really hates windows after you buy it then install a Linux distribution, I would suggest Linux mint which is free, esspecially if he is only using it for office and web surfing, if anything that specification is wasted.if that all he is doing.

Also Linux has free.office software that's compatible with Microsoft office.

don't over complicate things, if they are using office 2003 at school its best they use it at home so they can become more used to it. Any new laptop will do for the OP and im sure they will work out how to use windows 7 or 8, its not rocket science.

macman

Office 2003 will run fine on W7 or W8.

arrallas

An 8 year old will have no problems at all with Windows 8. It's the people who have been using Windows for years who struggle...

Chickabiddybex

MollyJoe wrote: »

Thank you, at the moment he doesn't. I spoke to the teacher who advised the school is using office 2003.

If the school are using Office 2003 then that 99% guarantees that they are using Windows.

JJ_Egan

Users can always use something like Classic Shell on Win 8 to aid the transition . It gives the old fashioned start menu laid over the W8 .

I must say i have no problem moving from W7 and with MS offering me Win8 Pro Media centre edition for £15 its an easy jump .

jje