What can't Windows 7 do that Windows 8 can?

[Compman55]

If there is a link that will simplify that would be ok too. Just would like to know what windows 7 can't do that would justify me converting all my systems over.

XP is no longer usable as a main OS. Although it does have its purpose still. And I still respect it.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Secure boot, free xbox music streaming, integration of your contacts into a "people app" which collects all your contacts from email, gmail, hotmail, google+, facebook etc and puts them all in one convenient place so when you want to contact someone click their name and you can hop right to the messaging app and send a message or email This makes it a little bit easier to keep in contact with everyone.

More under the hood things here http://arstechnica.com/information-...er-on-the-inside-under-the-hood-of-windows-8/

 

[IamDavid]

App store. Single reason why win8 will succeed.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The app store is more or less useless on the desktop since most things are designed for touch and most of the useful stuff has a desktop version anyway, but I see your point.

 

[IamDavid]

The app store is more or less useless on the desktop since most things are designed for touch and most of the useful stuff has a desktop version anyway, but I see your point.

My kids absolutely love it. Simplifies everything down so far my 65 year old mother now installs her own apps. No touch screen on any of the 3 machines they use. 2laptops, 1pc.
It does look like an IT managers nightmare! How to restrict? Gonna be interesting.

 

[JackMDS]

Windows 8 vs Windows 7

Metro interface and touch

Windows Store and Apps

Better security, cloud integration, better task manager.

Faster to boot and faster Desktop Mode.

Edit - Storage Spaces too.

 

[zerocool84]

I use W8 mainly for the better security features.

 

[QueBert]

It has fast boot or whatever it's call, I hardly ever reboot so it's kind of pointless to me. But pressing the power button and having your desktop up and ready to use in just a few seconds is pretty damn impressive. I do love Pinball FX 2, hopefully they'll put the rest of the tables on the app store, if they do I'll definitely be buying them all. I don't like Metro but Start8 cost $5 so now 95% of what I do's pretty much like using Windows 7. Metro is nice for a few things here and there

 

[Subyman]

Biggest feature for me is storage spaces. Not quite zfs, but getting there.

 

[kirant]

The app store is more or less useless on the desktop since most things are designed for touch and most of the useful stuff has a desktop version anyway, but I see your point.

Tried the new Minesweeper? One word "ADDICTIVE"

I used to spend hours on that game and now they have made it even better + real XBox achievement points in a free game

Win8 FTW!

@Compman55
Personally after the upgrade the system feel like buying a new $40 PC. 9 coverts in my group and no one is regretting. I would describe Win8 as basically Win7 done better and now with an app ecosystem.

I was worried about the "supposedly steep learning curve" as I spend a lot of time on the PC with work but it was all a farce as it took me exactly 5 mins to figure everything out. Just remember the shortcuts Win+X, Win+D, Win+Q and in the desktop mode Alt+4 to bring the shutdown options.

Off the 50+ software installed in my comp, not one has had any compatibility issue. And there are ones that I purchase almost 5 years back and ran with Win XP

Yes, your system will feel faster, my Atom powered netbook now feels like a laptop

 

[KeypoX]

Tried the new Minesweeper? One word "ADDICTIVE"

I used to spend hours on that game and now they have made it even better + real XBox achievement points in a free game

Win8 FTW!

@Compman55
Personally after the upgrade the system feel like buying a new $40 PC. 9 coverts in my group and no one is regretting. I would describe Win8 as basically Win7 done better and now with an app ecosystem.

I was worried about the "supposedly steep learning curve" as I spend a lot of time on the PC with work but it was all a farce as it took me exactly 5 mins to figure everything out. Just remember the shortcuts Win+X, Win+D, Win+Q and in the desktop mode Alt+4 to bring the shutdown options.

Off the 50+ software installed in my comp, not one has had any compatibility issue. And there are ones that I purchase almost 5 years back and ran with Win XP

Yes, your system will feel faster, my Atom powered netbook now feels like a laptop

Is there an equivalent to, windows key, right arrow, space to sleep your computer (after changing default option)?
Im guessing something like Alt + 4, enter might hit the default in that menu? Maybe a down arrow will goto sleep?

 

[dagamer34]

Is there an equivalent to, windows key, right arrow, space to sleep your computer (after changing default option)?
Im guessing something like Alt + 4, enter might hit the default in that menu? Maybe a down arrow will goto sleep?

I would just change the power key on your computer to make it sleep.

 

[Rvenger]

Everybody and their mother will now have an Xbox live account.

 

[xSauronx]

My kids absolutely love it. Simplifies everything down so far my 65 year old mother now installs her own apps. No touch screen on any of the 3 machines they use. 2laptops, 1pc.
It does look like an IT managers nightmare! How to restrict?

group policies. theyre sort of handy for IT management in a windows environment

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/10/going-to-work-with-windows-8-enterprise/

Microsoft's AppLocker, a feature introduced in Windows 7 and Server 2008, gives IT administrators a way to exercise total control over applications, allowing them to create policies on which applications can be run on an enterprise PC, blocking even executable files that don't usually require elevated privileges to run (including JavaScript and VBScript). AppLocker is largely hidden from the user—at least until he or she tries to install their favorite, non-corporate piece of software.

That sort of capability makes AppLocker a must-have for companies and other organizations looking to totally lock down their desktops and notebooks to limit the avenues of attack for malware. Once a policy is built out, it can be applied through group policies to sets of PCs. You don't need an Active Directory environment to deploy it—you could, in smaller environments, install local security policies on every system.

The only really significant change made to AppLocker in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 is the addition of rules for handling "packaged" apps and their installers—which are specific to Windows 8 in any case. Two more types of files were added to Windows 8's AppLocker control: .mst files used in Windows application installer packages and .appx files used to package Windows 8 Store apps for the Metro environment.

Perhaps the easiest way to get started with AppLocker is to use a reference machine with approved applications installed to automatically create a rules set.