Help picking new OS

[sebastian869]

I'm currently using vista 64 ultimate. I'm in the process of buying and assembly of a new computer. I was wondering what you guys think is best, should I just get Win7 professional or win 8.1.
I heard that win 8 was a letdown and I was wondering if they fixed the issues in and is 8.1 closer to 7 as far as usability (the normal desktop icons) in that it doesn't make you use the tiles. Are there any real advantages in 8.1 vs. 7 for someone with a new build? It seems like support for vista will disappear soon as they have already stopped support for SP1

Thanks,
Sebastian

 

[Imaginer]

The tiles, as I mentioned before, are not a big deal. it is better than a mess of icons on the desktop, accessed in the same way if you have open windows on the desktop (either by the "show desktop" icon in 7 (hot area on the right of the taskbar in 8) or hitting the start key on a keyboard, start icon in the lower right corner.

You can pin anything to the start screen, folders, programs, shortcuts. So if that isn't a good enough replacement for the desktop icon paradigm, I don't know what is.

If you run multi monitors, each taskbar is monitor independent and shows any open windows for each monitor unique to each taskbar.

The new task manager update along with transfer file statuses are a nice change from 7. Performance improvements under the hood, a better searching feature across all files and of a simpler access to search, File History (which may also be in 7), and a good backup system option.

The start screen is more of an effective organization method, tiles can be grouped and named, unlike the desktop (which some people substituted by custom wallpapers - which in my opinion, is a mess).

7 is good, but 8.1 is even better and there is no reason not to take advantage of it, unless there is a known issue with your current peripherals and devices that is logged and shown on the net, along with your current running software (which may just need updated or a reinstall of the old software to fix and restore some library issues).

Also, multi user for a single machine usage is just as nice. Each setting, files, etc works like 7 did but in a nicer manner.

 

[Imaginer]

And the thing is, the only reason why I know, got used to 8 and 8.1, and like it overall, because it was DIRT cheap when it was offered. Otherwise, I would have held off like I did with the XP/Vista days.

 

[Little n00b]

Go with Ubuntu Linux. It's free and very easy to navigate on. You have built in Microsoft Office equivalents and more and more games are becoming compatible.

If you love Windows then get Windows crappy 7 or something





Again, the OP is asking about the choice win 7 or win 8.

Your reply is:Go with linux
" If you love Windows then get Windows crappy 7 or something "

That's not acceptable.

I will give you one chance to clean your act up. First read the rules:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=60552

Secondly, talk to the topic. Do not threadcrap in it. If the subject doesn't interest you, just leave the thread.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director
[/b]

 

[CRCSUX]

I would go for 8.1 if you like gaming otherwise Ubuntu/other friendly linux depending on how confidant you are of trying new things.

If you get 8.1 and give it a try you will probably like its speed improvements over 7. Don't listen to people saying it sucks therefore I don't need to try it. Imo most people saying its bad are just repeat what they have heard from other people that have not even tried it.

99% of people I know that have given windows 8/8.1 a genuine go love it. Sure some things are different and may seem wrong at first glance, but after a little practice everything is faster.

 

[ultimatebob]

If you liked the way Windows Vista worked, Windows 7 is probably your best bet. It's basically Vista with some performance tweaks and bug fixes.

If you're willing to try something new, I'd recommend giving Ubuntu or Linux Mint a try. They're free, so you don't have anything to lose. If you don't like it, reformat the system and install Windows 8.1 instead.

 

[lxskllr]

I don't believe in buying old tech. If I were building a new machine, I'd use 8.1. If I wasn't willing to do that, I'd switch away completely, and not use Windows at all.

Edit:
Vista hits EOL in 2017. Win9 should be out by then, so you can wait to see what happens if you're happy with Vista.

 

[denis280]

+1 for windows 7

 

[glugglug]

another +1 for Win7.


I tried 8 for my new Haswell system, and was hopeful that with StartIsBack to avoid having to deal with Metro it would be like an improved 7. It was a nightmare between the Win8 media center issues, and hardware compatibility issues (yes, hardware issues on 8 with brand new hardware!), so I ended up getting another Win7 license.


There was finally a new BIOS released that supposedly takes care of the Win 8(.1) Haswell + USB3 device compatibility issues last week, but for now I'm sticking with a very stable install of 7 that has better WMC support and believe it or not even boots noticeably faster than 8 did after optimizing some service startup settings and making it use all 8 logical cores during boot.

 

[homebrew2ny]

There is almost zero reason to go with 7 over 8/8.1.

With a simple program like classic shell, 8.1 = a faster, smoother, smarter 7.

 

[code65536]

Go with 8.1.

And this is coming from a curmudgeonly person who spends virtually all his time in the desktop.

A lot of people overlook the improvements to the desktop, esp. to File Explorer (formerly Windows Explorer). The poweruser menu is awesome. If you ever Remote Desktop into your system, Windows 8 is an immensely better host system. And the incursion of Metro can be managed. I don't even find it necessary to use StartIsBack--I just unpinned every single modern app (except for Weather--that's actually useful) and turned the start screen into a giant launchpad for my desktop programs.

 

[oynaz]

Windows 8.1 fixed many of the issues with Windows 8, but unfortunately turned it into a schizophrenic mess in the process. However, under the hood it is an improved Windows 7, so I would still go with it.

 

[smakme7757]

I'm not a fan of Windows 8.1 for my own reasons, but i wouldn't buy an old OS.

Unless you can find Windows 7 for dirt cheap stay current and use Windows 8.1.

 

[nemesismk2]

another +1 for windows 7

 

[John Connor]

Windows 7! If you chose Win 8 and want to get rid of Metro use Startisback. I installed Win 8 into a virtual machine and when Win 8 booted I said, "what hell is this!"

Just look at this guys reaction to Windows 8. LMAO! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9v95hzURkQ

 

[Pardus]

I'm currently using vista 64 ultimate. I'm in the process of buying and assembly of a new computer. I was wondering what you guys think is best, should I just get Win7 professional or win 8.1.
I heard that win 8 was a letdown and I was wondering if they fixed the issues in and is 8.1 closer to 7 as far as usability (the normal desktop icons) in that it doesn't make you use the tiles. Are there any real advantages in 8.1 vs. 7 for someone with a new build? It seems like support for vista will disappear soon as they have already stopped support for SP1

Thanks,
Sebastian

vista and 7 are outdated, get 8.1, install Classic Start Menu which is free and you'll be fine. I boot direct to the desktop and never see/use Metro unless I want to.

Windows 7! If you chose Win 8 and want to get rid of Metro use Startisback. I installed Win 8 into a virtual machine and when Win 8 booted I said, "what hell is this!"

Just look at this guys reaction to Windows 8. LMAO! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9v95hzURkQ

Francis Hates Windows 8 Francis Is A Moron

 

[ultimatebob]

I don't believe in buying old tech. If I were building a new machine, I'd use 8.1. If I wasn't willing to do that, I'd switch away completely, and not use Windows at all.

Edit:
Vista hits EOL in 2017. Win9 should be out by then, so you can wait to see what happens if you're happy with Vista.

Normally I'd agree with you, but Windows 8.1 is brand new and seems to have a lot of bugs. I'd wait until they fix these before installing it on a system that I would use to do actual work.

Besides, Windows 7 is supposed to be supported until 2020.

 

[John Connor]

Windows 7 is like XP. It just works.

 

[lxskllr]

Normally I'd agree with you, but Windows 8.1 is brand new and seems to have a lot of bugs. I'd wait until they fix these before installing it on a system that I would use to do actual work.

Besides, Windows 7 is supposed to be supported until 2020.

Well, everything has bugs. It seems like most people's problem with 8 is intrinsic with the design. Win9 will probably be the same, so putting off the inevitable just buys a bit of time. Bugs will get worked out, and those that don't will probably migrate to 9. That makes the Vista option appealing. That'll last until 9, so MS can be given one more chance to make it right. I also prefer Vista. That's been my favorite Windows so far, so I personally wouldn't be suffering with that choice.

I'm very averse to **buying** old software for a new machine. If old stuff is already paid for, then there's no harm, but I don't like purposely limiting my future, and paying for the privilege. I'm biased, but I'd choose a system that doesn't lock me into the MS treadmill of forced obsolescence, and dropped support. If a GNU/Linux distribution changes in a disagreeable way, you can change it back to suit yourself, or change to something else altogether. Your data isn't tied up in a proprietary format, and your future is wide open.

 

[John Connor]

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Wind...-Unify-Tablet-Mobile-OSes-Report-368188.shtml

I believe Windows 9 is called Windows Blue.

 

[antisober]

I think it comes down to personal choice and personally I'd prefer Win 7 from my experiences with Win 8. Don't know about any improvements as far as 8.1 goes. Why not run dual OS and see which one you like better? I guess that's what I would do.

Windows 7 is like XP. It just works.

Lmfao it's true though. +1.

Just look at this guys reaction to Windows 8. LMAO! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9v95hzURkQ

LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[John Connor]

Well at least one person agrees with me! That's all that counts. LOL!

I would run Win 8 in VMware first or Virtual box which is free.

 

[Matt1970]

There are trial versions of both. You have a brand new build so you don't really have to back anything up.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I'd go with 8.1 - maybe with a few tweaks if you need them but it should run great for you.