Windows 7 Home vs Pro vs Windows 8

[Torval]

What are your opinions regarding OS? As an XP man for the last 10 years or so, I am hesitant when it comes to new bloated versions of Windows. I hear 7 is the way to go, but is 8 really so bad? It IS cheaper for an OEM version. For my uses (gaming, multimedia, general use PC) do I need the PRO version, or would the Home version suffice? I am all about less is more when it comes to OS.

I believe I am fine with OEM vs Retail as I will probably keep this version attached to this PC for a while.

As for where to buy it, I have found some branded OEM Win 7 Pro versions for as low as $60.

If this is the wrong forum please point me in the right direction 🙂

 

[nickbits]

I installed 8 at the beginning of the year and hated it--went back to 7. Recently installed 8.1 and think it will be fine. Not that there is much difference between 8 & 8.1 but I actually took the time to learn it this time around.

 

[QuietDad]

Wait for 9. Microsoft OS you buy every other release. 3.1 was upgraded to 95(buggy) then fixed with 98(rock solid). that was upgraded with ME(the worst operating system of all time) and fixed with XP(really rock solid). That was upgraded with Vista(lacking and buggy) and fixed with Windows 7(the best of the bunch). Now they are out with 8 to make it look like and act like a phone. Already updated with 8.1 to make it more like a PC again (Gave you the Start button back). Time to pick 7 or wait till 9. Pro gives you WINXP compatibility mode, Bitlocker, Ability to join a domain instead of just work groups, Backup and restore and 35 languages. If you don't need the features, stick with Home.

 

[Ketchup]

7 will be an easy transition from XP. My parents did so about 2 years ago (for their home PC) and very few questions went along with it.

In 8, things will be completely different. Not necessarily better, just different. If you are up to the challenge, go for it. People hated Vista, but 7 is VERY similar to Vista, just runs better due to better hardware at it's release and more realistic system requirements by Microsoft.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium is good enough for me. But if you want multiple CPUs, more than 16GB RAM, or RDP server support, then Win7 Pro should be your choice.

 

[glugglug]

I bought 8 Pro + Media center pack for my new Haswell build (which replaces my old Bloomfield WMC based whole-house-DVR build), thinking that with Win7 active support ending in Jan. 2015, I wouldn't want to be redoing it and losing any DRMed recordings in only 15 months.


Let me tell you, this was a major disaster, and I ended up buying another Windows 7 license for it after giving up on 8/8.1.

Among the problems with 8/8.1:

USB doesn't work properly on Intel Series 8 (Haswell). The intel drivers for Windows 7 won't install because as the FAQ on Intel's site says "Windows 8 includes built in support for USB3" -- the thing is the built in MS drivers aren't really compatible, and a lot of devices won't work. 8.1 is better about this than 8, but still horrible. In fact, I would be the reason every Haswell motherboard includes a PS/2 port is because the keyboard and mouse won't work properly during the Win8 install process on USB. You can hack the INF and disable driver signature checking to install the Intel drivers, but Windows Update in Windows 8/8.1 will SILENTLY find the MS ones again in the background and reinstall them screwing it up.

RDP in 8/8.1 has RemoteFX added. This actually makes the RDP session noticably faster and support aero. The thing is, it is NOT backwards compatible!! The latest Windows 7 client can connect, but very few Mac/Linux clients have been updated to connect to 8, and I could find NONE that connect to 8.1 RTM. Trying every mac client updated for 8 that I could find, I managed to bluescreen my 8.1 attempting to connect, which permanently broke the ability of the XBOX 360 to connect to it. I find it humorous that I can do multi-session-per-user RDP to my Windows 7 Home Premium box with a hack that adds that feature, but could not RDP to Windows 8 Pro from my main box at work without tunneling through a Windows 7 box. Also, for some bizarre reason the new RDP only uses 250Mbps of a 1Gbps LAN connection, even for file transfers.

Some software that should work without issue in 8 and especially 8.1 refuses to install, even in compatibility mode. The only lightscribe labeler app I found that installed in 8.1RTM currently is the Simple Labeler. In this case at least it really isn't the fault of 8.1, but the stupid installers that check OS version doing an == instead of a >=, which compatibility mode isn't effective for because the installers are basically self-extracting archives that create temp files then launch them and the faked OS version won't affect the temp files.

Media Center add-in and extender compatibility has been broken so many ways in 8 and even more in 8.1 it is ridiculous. As a Media Center user, I absolutely will not be upgrading before 2020. Also, in 8.1 the guide only has 12 days of data and only indexes if Media Center is open instead of indexing in the background. In 7 it had 13 days and background indexed much more quickly, in XP 14 days.

Most currently popular disk imaging apps are not compatible with Windows 8.

While the new task manager at first looks kind of awesome, it is actually limited compared to what you have in 7. It isn't showing all processes, just processes running as you, doesn't have all the same sorting options, and doesn't let you select other columns to view. The graphs are cool, although that info is already available in "Resource Monitor" in Windows 7, its just a separate process launched from task manager performance tab and not as snazzy. Really, sysinternals process explorer is better than either of them (even with the gradual memory leaks).

 

[SimMike2]

If you want Windows Media Center, which is free with Windows 7, you have to pay extra with Windows 8. If you have the normal home version of Windows 8, to get WMC requires you spend over $90 to upgrade to the "pro pack."

 

[BrightCandle]

Windows 8 will become Windows 8.1 in a day or so time. It'll be the most advanced Windows yet and despite its change interface its got a lot of worthwhile improvements. Once you take the time to learn it the tablet focussed metro screen won't cause you any genuine productivity reduction if you just start typing what it is you want anyway. By and large you can ignore Metro most of the time on the desktop anyway with pinned applications on the taskbar and the search system.

I have had issues in the past with stability but MS do seem to have fixed that now, and NVidia has even improved their drivers so that dual screens works as intended unlike on Windows 7. There isn't any point missing Windows 8.1. Its basically Windows 7 with a different start menu type completely and a lot of other improvements across the entire OS. If it wasn't for the metro interface people would be raving about Windows 8.

 

[CRCSUX]

... I am hesitant when it comes to new bloated versions of Windows...
...For my uses (gaming, multimedia, general use PC)...
...I am all about less is more when it comes to OS...

For bloated windows, Win 8 is very light and uses less ram/cpu than 7/vista.
For gaming Win 8 I think its faster and so far so do bf4 beta players.
And I think I was like you a year or two ago ran XP due to it needed less hardware specs to operate and think If Win 8 was out back then I may have given it a go.


If I was you I would wait a few days for Win 8.1 to come out and get it.
Id get the normal Win 8.1 non-pro version as it should be cheaper and if you dont need all the bitlocker and wmc jazz then it makes sense.

The metro interface is what ppl hate and if you give it an honest unbiased go im sure you will love it too. I see the metro screen for 5 second every few days, its not a big deal.

Win 8 has a lot of performance increases and I love the windows power user menu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR1L-ApJMKw Win 8 on 256mb ram and a 1GHz duron
http://windows7themes.net/how-much-ram-does-windows-8-need-made-to-run-on-64mb-ram.html

 

[escrow4]

Windows 8 will become Windows 8.1 in a day or so time. It'll be the most advanced Windows yet and despite its change interface its got a lot of worthwhile improvements. Once you take the time to learn it the tablet focussed metro screen won't cause you any genuine productivity reduction if you just start typing what it is you want anyway. By and large you can ignore Metro most of the time on the desktop anyway with pinned applications on the taskbar and the search system.

I have had issues in the past with stability but MS do seem to have fixed that now, and NVidia has even improved their drivers so that dual screens works as intended unlike on Windows 7. There isn't any point missing Windows 8.1. Its basically Windows 7 with a different start menu type completely and a lot of other improvements across the entire OS. If it wasn't for the metro interface people would be raving about Windows 8.

This. No reason to move back before 8 unless you have really old hardware/software. At which point, upgrade. Its 2013, not Pentium 4 time.

 

[capeconsultant]

I could use 7 forever. I went to 8, added Stardock's Start8 and never looked back. 8.1 I could care less.

7 was so rock solid. Even more so than XP. But I got used to 8 and that was that.

 

[Elixer]

The metro interface is what ppl hate and if you give it an honest unbiased go im sure you will love it too. I see the metro screen for 5 second every few days, its not a big deal.

Don't think so.
Metro was made for a tablet, and it belongs on a tablet, not a desktop machine.

I am all for trying out something new, but, even after using this for a few days, it became clear that is was a huge cluster*** of a design choice.

It imposes too many limitations, when before, we didn't have such limitations, and it has other artificial limits for no good reason, except that they want to force the 'tablet experience' on desktop people.

In 8.1, yeah, you can go directly to desktop mode, but it still is sloppy seconds.

They will stop support for win 7 in a few years, so, best bet for OP would be to keep using win 7 and see what happens with win 8.2 or win 9.

 

[Berryracer]

Don't think so.
Metro was made for a tablet, and it belongs on a tablet, not a desktop machine.

I am all for trying out something new, but, even after using this for a few days, it became clear that is was a huge cluster*** of a design choice.

It imposes too many limitations, when before, we didn't have such limitations, and it has other artificial limits for no good reason, except that they want to force the 'tablet experience' on desktop people.

In 8.1, yeah, you can go directly to desktop mode, but it still is sloppy seconds.

They will stop support for win 7 in a few years, so, best bet for OP would be to keep using win 7 and see what happens with win 8.2 or win 9.

I never ever see Metro, installed StartIsBack, and it looks exactly like 7

So if you do use a Start Menu Alternative and never have to see or deal with Metro, what stops you from using 8 and making use of better performance features and better support for the new Haswell CPUs?

 

[nemesismk2]

Wait for 9. Microsoft OS you buy every other release. 3.1 was upgraded to 95(buggy) then fixed with 98(rock solid). that was upgraded with ME(the worst operating system of all time) and fixed with XP(really rock solid). That was upgraded with Vista(lacking and buggy) and fixed with Windows 7(the best of the bunch). Now they are out with 8 to make it look like and act like a phone. Already updated with 8.1 to make it more like a PC again (Gave you the Start button back). Time to pick 7 or wait till 9. Pro gives you WINXP compatibility mode, Bitlocker, Ability to join a domain instead of just work groups, Backup and restore and 35 languages. If you don't need the features, stick with Home.

i agree 100% with everything you said because i had 3.1, windows 95 (bit buggy), windows 98, windows xp (I refused to upgrade so just using my windows xp pc for offline games) and windows 7 (i really didn't want to start using windows 7 but it's more secure but it will be replaced with ubuntu full time because i don't play many online games)

 

[Mem]

Wait for 9. Microsoft OS you buy every other release. 3.1 was upgraded to 95(buggy) then fixed with 98(rock solid). that was upgraded with ME(the worst operating system of all time) and fixed with XP(really rock solid). That was upgraded with Vista(lacking and buggy) and fixed with Windows 7(the best of the bunch). Now they are out with 8 to make it look like and act like a phone. Already updated with 8.1 to make it more like a PC again (Gave you the Start button back). Time to pick 7 or wait till 9. Pro gives you WINXP compatibility mode, Bitlocker, Ability to join a domain instead of just work groups, Backup and restore and 35 languages. If you don't need the features, stick with Home.

There was a few Win98 versions ie A or B version and 98SE etc..

Win XP had 3 service packs.
XP rock solid?...Really you don't remember the early days and how buggy it was,I won't even bother mentioning how bad it was security wise, full of holes.


ME I agree was crap ,Vista was fine in my books especially after SP1,as to Win7 even that got a service pack ,end of the day Win9 is not here yet and we have no idea what it will look like or what it will have or how buggy it may be,some like myself will always jump on latest OS regardless,however truth is nobody knows how good or bad Win9 will be at this moment and the actual release date.


The big question is does he want to go for a four year old OS ie Win7 or move forward and go for the latest ie Win8.1 out officially tomorrow/Friday.
I think he will be fine with latest ie Win8.1 which has latest DX,improved security and DX11.2 down the road ,he can always add a third party Start button Mod if he wants it more like XP.

Some people may not like the look of Win8.1 but that does not take away the fact that its very stable and has all the latest features etc...

 

[Insert_Nickname]

USB doesn't work properly on Intel Series 8 (Haswell). The intel drivers for Windows 7 won't install because as the FAQ on Intel's site says "Windows 8 includes built in support for USB3" -- the thing is the built in MS drivers aren't really compatible, and a lot of devices won't work. 8.1 is better about this than 8, but still horrible. In fact, I would be the reason every Haswell motherboard includes a PS/2 port is because the keyboard and mouse won't work properly during the Win8 install process on USB. You can hack the INF and disable driver signature checking to install the Intel drivers, but Windows Update in Windows 8/8.1 will SILENTLY find the MS ones again in the background and reinstall them screwing it up.

OT, but have you tried restarting windows. Not shutting down but restarting. I had similar problems with 7-series chipsets. The problem almost disappeared when windows was allowed to shutdown and restart properly, not keeping the user profile running. This "bug" apparently has something to do with how windows resumes from hybrid sleep.

Never understood the point of that "feature", its a pain in the you-know-what. Besides it only takes 1-2 seconds extra to boot windows fully...

 

[ControlD]

USB doesn't work properly on Intel Series 8 (Haswell). The intel drivers for Windows 7 won't install because as the FAQ on Intel's site says "Windows 8 includes built in support for USB3" -- the thing is the built in MS drivers aren't really compatible, and a lot of devices won't work. 8.1 is better about this than 8, but still horrible. In fact, I would be the reason every Haswell motherboard includes a PS/2 port is because the keyboard and mouse won't work properly during the Win8 install process on USB. You can hack the INF and disable driver signature checking to install the Intel drivers, but Windows Update in Windows 8/8.1 will SILENTLY find the MS ones again in the background and reinstall them screwing it up.

Are you sure about this? I am running a Haswell system with Windows 8 and I have never had any USB problems at all, including doing a full install with a USB mouse and keyboard.

 

[Kenmitch]

I recently switched to Win 8.1 Pro and can say it isn't as big a turd as some make it out to be....A person just needs to get used to it is all.

I'm not a big fan of the metro UI but the desktop is just a click or two away anyways.

Debating on if I'll pony up for StartIsBack or something similar.

Still debating on if I'll do a dual boot to Win 7 Pro on my 2nd SSD or not.

Are you sure about this? I am running a Haswell system with Windows 8 and I have never had any USB problems at all, including doing a full install with a USB mouse and keyboard.

Same here....Almost

I have no issues with my USB keyboard/mouse all the way thru the install....Windows update kills them when it tries to install the following update leaving me no choice but to boot from the media and go to a restore point before the update.

Broadcom Bluetooth 3.0 USB <---- Hide this update is my work around 🙂

The above update is related to my antique(circa 2005) Logitech Bluetooth Desktop MX5000 keyboard/mouse combo as far as I can tell.

 

[wiin]

Wait for 9. Microsoft OS you buy every other release. 3.1 was upgraded to 95(buggy) then fixed with 98(rock solid). that was upgraded with ME(the worst operating system of all time) and fixed with XP(really rock solid). That was upgraded with Vista(lacking and buggy) and fixed with Windows 7(the best of the bunch). Now they are out with 8 to make it look like and act like a phone. Already updated with 8.1 to make it more like a PC again (Gave you the Start button back). Time to pick 7 or wait till 9. Pro gives you WINXP compatibility mode, Bitlocker, Ability to join a domain instead of just work groups, Backup and restore and 35 languages. If you don't need the features, stick with Home.

Windows 9? Naaaah. Gonna wait for Windows 10 or maybe Windows 11. Gonna wait for windows version that is completely stable. oh wait, I culd turn off the computer and never use it again. Totally stable Windows OS. The only way to break it is if I were to turn it on and go online.

 

[glugglug]

OT, but have you tried restarting windows. Not shutting down but restarting. I had similar problems with 7-series chipsets. The problem almost disappeared when windows was allowed to shutdown and restart properly, not keeping the user profile running. This "bug" apparently has something to do with how windows resumes from hybrid sleep.

Never understood the point of that "feature", its a pain in the you-know-what. Besides it only takes 1-2 seconds extra to boot windows fully...

Yes, many times. And one of the first things I did is disable sleep. Even without the well known Haswell USB sleep issues, I wouldn't trust the CableCARD tuner to wake from sleep properly for example.

Are you sure about this? I am running a Haswell system with Windows 8 and I have never had any USB problems at all, including doing a full install with a USB mouse and keyboard.

Quite sure. Mouse and keyboard worked properly during install at least for 8.1 RTM (not 8.0, although it would at least let you type intermittently 75% of the time if xHCI was disabled and legacy USB enabled in BIOS), but my SD card reader, multi-drive external enclosures, and webcam did not. Or rather the webcam only worked in certain apps. Surprisingly my single drive enclosure works.

 

[glugglug]

The more I think about the "every other OS" idea, I think more accurately it should be "every other OS wait for SP2".

95 was a pretty huge improvement over 3.1, but really came into its own with OSR2.
98 was great from the start.
2000 was OK for business, but had compatibility issues with games (limited Direct3D support), and was pretty insecure at first release until about SP2. ME came out about the same time as 2K, don't know if there ever was a service pack for it?
XP was basically 2K with a different default theme, so OK from start. 2K3 on the server side is just XP with the 2K theme, literally. In fact the 64 bit versions of XP and 2K3 are the same ISO.
Vista had bad driver support at release, but eventually (by SP2) not that different from Win7 other than the taskbar.
Win7 = best OS yet.
Win8 = still rough; way too many incompatibilities; terrible interface until you install a 3rd party fix. Maybe 8.2 will finally be good.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

FYI re: disk imaging, Macrium supports win8:

http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50098.aspx

 

[QuietDad]

The more I think about the "every other OS" idea, I think more accurately it should be "every other OS wait for SP2".

95 was a pretty huge improvement over 3.1, but really came into its own with OSR2.
98 was great from the start.
2000 was OK for business, but had compatibility issues with games (limited Direct3D support), and was pretty insecure at first release until about SP2. ME came out about the same time as 2K, don't know if there ever was a service pack for it?
XP was basically 2K with a different default theme, so OK from start. 2K3 on the server side is just XP with the 2K theme, literally. In fact the 64 bit versions of XP and 2K3 are the same ISO.
Vista had bad driver support at release, but eventually (by SP2) not that different from Win7 other than the taskbar.
Win7 = best OS yet.
Win8 = still rough; way too many incompatibilities; terrible interface until you install a 3rd party fix. Maybe 8.2 will finally be good.

Windows 2000 was a server OS and not a consumer product. As such it didn't support all the graphics and sound and such. 2000 was supposed to be the last update on the Windows NT Kernel. Windows 98 was the first attempt merge of 3.1 and NT. There has been a 2003 and a 2008. It will never end.

 

[Dr. Canny]

I would say stick with Windows 7 Home and wait for Microsoft to release Windows 9 (or whatever's next). I say this because Microsoft will probably make the next OS for all of the people that complained about Windows 8. At least I hope.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Yes, many times. And one of the first things I did is disable sleep. Even without the well known Haswell USB sleep issues, I wouldn't trust the CableCARD tuner to wake from sleep properly for example.

Then it is likely a different issue from mine. Windows has always had a lot of strange issues waking from sleep.

Do let us know if you figure this out, it might come in handy... 🙂

2000 was OK for business, but had compatibility issues with games (limited Direct3D support), and was pretty insecure at first release until about SP2.

Huh? Never had problems after SP2. Win2k with DX9 rocked. 😎

Don't get me started on ME, that one ranks quite highly on the worst OS of all time list...