Windows 7 or 8 for non touchscreen pc

chateauneufdupape

I am going to buy a new Desktop PC which will not be a touch screen. So as I will be using a mouse and keyboard, should I go for Windows 7 or Windows 8? I know it will take me a while to get used to a new OS but I can handle this. What are the pros and cons?

GunJack

what OS are you using now?? If any previous windows, then 7 will probably suit you better, without all the faffing around you'd need to do to 8 to get it to look & behave in a similar way...go into a store and look & play with them "in the flesh" as it were, and then make your mind up..

chateauneufdupape

I use multiple platforms, but particularly XP and Windows 7. I had a playof Windows 8 in a local shop, but it is difficult to form a reasonable opinion in about 10 mins.

szam_

Personally, i will not being moving to 8, at least not anytime soon until the industry deems that all new PC's come with 8 and they stop selling 7 commercially.

I'd recommend 7, we've had 8 in the office as a test for compatibility with our software, and while its as good as 7 in terms of an OS, trying to use 8 just felt like it wasn't really designed for the mouse and keyboard, it felt a bit forced to the style of touch.

Just my 2cents after 10 minutes play with it anyway.

edit:
Also, as a quick one, Microsoft really should have just named it 7-T or something, it really does feel like 7, just catered to touch screen. I hate the idea that everything may go to 8 in a couple of years in terms of new machines. But then i'm cynical and it took me a little while to get used to the jump from XP to 7.

penrhyn

Windows 8 could be renamed Windows Vista 2012.
If you are not a tablet, touchscreen or a phone stick to Windows 7.

I'm running it and apart from it booting up faster than Windows 7 its the dinner of a dog.

Johnmcl7

Windows 8 is odd to start with as quite a lot has been moved around but I do find the more time I spend with it I'm getting on well with it and appreciating some of the improvements. Initially I disabled the seemingly pointless start screen on my non-desktop PC but actually now I have installed quite a few applications it's a handy way to get access to them. I've got rid of the tiles for the touch applications and just have the icons for the programs I'm using grouped by type so I can just press the start button then choose the program from a single screen rather than having to browse through the start menu as with older versions of Windows. Also if you start typing in the start screen it automatically starts displaying applications with the name you're typing so if you want to get to control panel you just type 'con' and it shows it which I'm finding is quicker than using right click at the bottom left or through the run box.

I was initially used Windows 8 entirely on a touch PC but finding it a useful upgrade on a desktop PC, over 7 I prefer the more responsive performance, the new task manager which is much more detailed and the modified file transfer dialogue where it locks multiple transfers together (rather than having to find the separate boxes dotted around the screen). The main annoyance with it I've had so far is the removal of Aero (the graphics effects to show transparencies and similar on the windows) and the shutdown command using the keyboard only is a bit clumsy although alt+F4 still works for shutting down.

John

banger9365

i do not understand all the gripping about win 8,and i do not understand its not for keyboard and mouse ,it works very well with them,
the start button sorry screen give you the same stuff has win 7 but bigger and it give you all the other stuff too ,so what is wrong with it , its really not in the same class has vista which took a few years to sort out or ME
i prefer it over win 7 ,but i do have an open mind and can take change unlike some people

tyw7

I don't like the full screen start button as it feels "jerky" especially if you are using word and wants to find another document. It gets in the way unlike WIn7's start, which I FREQUENTLY launch.

Read my review. http://my.opera.com/wikipedian/blog/2012/10/26/windows-8

bertie1989

banger9365 wrote: »

i do not understand all the gripping about win 8,and i do not understand its not for keyboard and mouse ,it works very well with them,
the start button sorry screen give you the same stuff has win 7 but bigger and it give you all the other stuff too ,so what is wrong with it , its really not in the same class has vista which took a few years to sort out or ME
i prefer it over win 7 ,but i do have an open mind and can take change unlike some people

I agree. windows 8 it a very stable OS. Literally took all of 10mins to get everything set up and working how i like it and another 10mins just finding where things have moved to. It works well for me , and for £25 upgrade its the cheapest version of windows yet

visidigi

if you only use a PC for a handful of apps then Windows 8 is a great platform once customised.

If you use lots and lots of different apps then I would go with 7 for ease of access.

chateauneufdupape

Maybe, I should go for Windows 7 and pay £25 for the upgrade so that I can go backwards if I don't get on with it.