Windows 7 x64 vs. windows 8.1

for me on my rebuild i went with win 7 64 as i already have it
it also keeps all my OSs the same around the house

i will go straight from 7 to 9
 
It's pretty interesting that you see a genuine split between the two with a lot of love on both sides. So you probably can't go wrong either way in all fairness.

If that's not enough then I'd consider posts that explain their preference, rather than the blanket statements, because a lot just upgrade for the sake of something new.

Either way I'm willing to bet you'll be happy.
 
Last edited:
Windows 8.1 is great.

I used to be on the side of the haters, but then I got used to using Metro and I can't go back. It simply works better.

Windows key + typing instantly searches for whatever you want
Windows key + X (or right click the start menu button) brings up advanced commands

I just avoid the fullscreen apps.
 
It's pretty interesting that you see a genuine split between the two with a lot of love on both sides. So you probably can't go wrong either way in all fairness.

If that's not enough then I'd consider posts that explain their preference, rather than the blanket statements, because a lot just upgrade for the sake of something new.

Either way I'm willing to bet you'll be happy.

People have different approaches to how they use the OS and can't always comprehend any other way to do it i.e. as people have mentioned typing to search, etc. which Win 8 is great if thats how you work but for me thats a completely alien approach and less efficent for me personally.

Windows 8 tends to be more polarising in this regard than many previous OSes.

Personally would just stick 7 on as its closer out the box to the way I work and the desktop UI is less of an eye sore, a lot of the explorer ui, window controls, etc. in 8 seem almost a careless after thought.
 
That is a better idea. I use win 7, and find nothing wrong with it.

I found nothing really wrong with DOS 6.22,Win95,98,XP,Vista,7 or 8,I just move with the times.

I'll be getting Win9 for sure(something new to play with) but nothing wrong with 8.1 IMHO solid and fast OS.


I just hope they give us something new UI wise,please not a rehash of Win95 to Win7,been in groundhog day long enough ie almost two decades :D .
 
Last edited:
8.1, I wouldn't even bother with a start menu replacement, I never use the damn thing anymore. hit windows key, start typing what I'm after, hit return, job done. Honestly I've note had to use the mouse to open an application in ages unless it's on the quick launch bar or the desktop, works great!

I loved Windows 7 but 8.1 is pretty sweet.

Dont get this - usually you will have to use the mouse when you are in the application so not using it just to launch the app is surely just cutting your nose off to spite your face
 
I just hope they give us something new UI wise,please not a rehash of Win95 to Win7,been in groundhog day long enough ie almost two decades :D .

I'm all for something new, but that style of OS didn't happen by accident neither was it by accident its been around so long (on other OSes it actual predates Win 95 and even in Windows 3.xx people made 3rd party taskbars and startmenu like systems).

End of the day the OS is supposed to facilitate the user - within reason irrespective of their individual approach (though you can never be all things to everyone) not force new paradigms on the end user that may or may not be more efficient for them.
 
I'm all for something new, but that style of OS didn't happen by accident neither was it by accident its been around so long (on other OSes it actual predates Win 95 and even in Windows 3.xx people made 3rd party taskbars and startmenu like systems).

End of the day the OS is supposed to facilitate the user - within reason irrespective of their individual approach (though you can never be all things to everyone) not force new paradigms on the end user that may or may not be more efficient for them.

I keep hearing all for something new but when it happens users still moan,you should look at some of the Linux distros if you want a proper desktop OS, Linux does it way better then any Windows including 7 ,regardless you can bet some people will moan about Win9.


I just hope Microsoft keep reinventing new ideas and pushing forward,we don't want to be stuck in the past forever,I hate the old tree start menu system and UI in Win95 to Win7 its long overdue for a change,even Linux knows how to do it better.

Microsoft have to push forward and keep reinventing,users/people in general are afraid of change we all know that.
I started way back on DOS so have seen all the changes of Microsoft OS going back decades.

Sad fact is users now have to be spoon fed,when I hear users say they can't handle Win8/8.1 or find it hard I've to think do they have a brain or are they stupid?....Nothing hard about a mouse click or two,sure you can hate an UI but the OS is still simple to use and I don't buy its hard by any means.

Having said all that I would like to see a new UI but then you know some users will bitch and moan and want the old Win7 UI back,stubborn afraid to change,lazy comes to mind.
 
Last edited:
I keep hearing all for something new but when it happens users still moan,you should look at some of the Linux distros if you want a proper desktop OS, Linux does it way better then any Windows including 7 ,regardless you can bet some people will moan about Win9.


I just hope Microsoft keep reinventing new ideas and pushing forward,we don't want to be stuck in the past forever,I hate the old tree start menu system and UI in Win95 to Win7 its long overdue for a change,even Linux knows how to do it better.

Microsoft have to push forward and keep reinventing,users/people in general are afraid of change we all know that.

I started way back on DOS so have seen all the changes of Microsoft OS going back decades.

Sad fact is users now have to be spoon fed,when I hear users say they can't handle Win8/8.1 or find it hard I've to think do they have a brain or are they stupid?....Nothing hard about a mouse click or two,sure you can hate an UI but the OS is still simple to use and I don't buy its hard by any means.

Having said all that I would like to see a new UI but then you know some users will bitch and moan and want the old Win7 UI back.

Maybe we should get square wheels on our cars. Sick of all these round wheels and drivers wanting a smooth ride. Sure it'll be spine shattering but it'll be new!

Fortunately even MS aren't as blindly loyal to their new UI as you and have slowly made it more usable by reverting to a UI that is mouse friendly rather than something that was designed for people who interact with their computer by licking it.
 
Last edited:
Maybe we should get square wheels on our cars. Sick of all these round wheels, drivers wanting a smooth ride. Sure it'll be spine shattering but it'll be new!


Old square wheel argument,why not just walk and have no progress or try nothing new.




I'm not saying don't change GUI or OS again down the road ,but you have to be reasonable ie expect GUI and OS to change from time to time,users should be able to adapt to modern technology and move forward.

So don't give me the old square wheel crap argument,does not wash at all.

I have my front seat booked for Win9,should be funny on what some users moan about on Win9,maybe triangled wheels?
images

:rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
Adapting for the sake of adapting isn't progress, what your suggesting is very much an extension of the square wheel analogy.
 
Old square wheel argument,why not just walk and have no progress or try nothing new.

I'm not saying don't change GUI or OS again down the road ,but you have to be reasonable ie expect GUI and OS to change from time to time,users should be able to adapt to modern technology and move forward.

So don't give me the old square wheel crap argument,does not wash at all.

It's a perfectly reasonable argument as it points out very clearly that changing for the sake of it is not always the smart thing to do.
 
It's a terrible argument, as it's nothing like square wheels.
It's a great UI, and people who don't like have issues, or only ever use it for work. Plenty of apps are far better than the desktop equivalents and the whole can't use it with mouse and keyboard is old and also rubbish, there is zero issue using it with mouse and keyboard, as most of is use it like that daily.

It's odd how the "technical" people have issues, yet everyone who's given it a fair chance and normally computer illiterate rind it easy and useful, even with k+m.
 
It's a perfectly reasonable argument as it points out very clearly that changing for the sake of it is not always the smart thing to do.


Sorry its not change for sake of it ,Win7 is based on Win95 so that goes way back to August 1995,modern Windows needed to be updated to take into account modern hardware,remember Win8 is not the end or start of change but continuous evolution of OS changes.

I expect Windows OS to change again down the road,Linux does it all the time so it's not change for sake of it,that argument always comes up like the square wheel argument mainly from users that don't want any changes regardless of Win8 likes or dislikes.

In fact I'll be surprised if things don't change again ,we all know it happens with computers and hardware,OS is no different.
 
Tested 8.1 for several weeks still don't like the pile of crap

Doubt it. Nice constructive criticism.

Both 7 and 8.1 are good, I use both every day. My main gaming rig is 8.1 and I've not had a single problem, some games are smoother.

If your buying new then it doesn't make sense to buy the older os.
 
I simply don't like the interface in Win8. I rather the classic desktop but again, Classic Shell fixes that so I don't see the point of opting for 7 over 8 based on looks.
 
It's a terrible argument, as it's nothing like square wheels.

I'm not going to repeat what I've already said...

It's a terrible UI, and people who like it have issues, especially when trying to use it for work.

Fixed. It can work both ways.

Plenty of apps are far better than the desktop equivalents

Subject to opinion.

It's odd how the "technical" people have issues, yet everyone who's given it a fair chance and normally computer illiterate rind it easy and useful, even with k+m.

Actually no, the only people I find defending Windows 8 are in these forums (funnily enough a technical forum and it's split). I work in IT and most of the clients dislike Windows 8. Those few that have Windows 8 have a Start Menu.

Outside of work I actually know even fewer people who have Windows 8. Some of them have it forced on them and say they really hate the new UI.

It's funny, because outside of these forums I tend to be the one defending Windows 8 as not being completely useless, but on here I find I have to switch sides. I never defend Metro in any shape or form, except on a touch screen.
 
No it really can't work both ways, people can dislike it, it does not make it a terrible unusable UI which doesn't work with k+m, it really can not work both ways, and it's stupid to day that.

Everyone I have actually spent 20mins showing them, love it and would no go back to ein7, these are non technical people like parents and friends. Most of them "hated it", they didn't really, just repeating what they've heard.

As to apps, it relay is not subject to opinion. Plenty are demonstrably, far better than desktop version.

Ever tried audible desktop solution?
Even Netflix is a far better app, than the website alternative.
Ever seen a universal package tracking app, available to the general public?
Let alone live tiles for emails and weather, something most home users do not use outlook and is a massive step up from having to open up and login into multiple web based emails.
 
Last edited:
It's funny, because outside of these forums I tend to be the one defending Windows 8 as not being completely useless, but on here I find I have to switch sides. I never defend Metro in any shape or form, except on a touch screen.

You are missing my main point,change happens sooner or later,look at history of Microsoft OS and even Linux ,Win9 will probably have some changes and that is to be expected,what I can't understand is the Win95 to Win7 mentality where users expect everything should stay the same,are they really that naive?

It's not a case of defending Win8 because that is really not the issue,OS evolve and change over time regardless of likes or dislikes,Win9,10,11 will probably have the same old arguments.

I'm looking forward to Win9 and probably end up defending that from some users lol,they have it so damn easy nowadays OS wise yet still complain.


:)
 
Back
Top Bottom