Windows 8 tech preview or 8.1 for my parents?

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I bought the motherboard, memory & cpu to upgrade my parents' pc just over a month ago. I finally got around to testing the memory, and found out that the stick is bad, so I'm doing an RMA. Dad mentioned something about hearing on the news that Windows 9 is coming out in about a month, and I was dubious - thought it was next summer or fall.

So I find out that there is something called Windows 9 tech preview coming out in a month or so - probably right around when I would be putting the hardware in for my Dad. All they do is browse the Internet, do email and watch the occasional video on their PC. I've never messed with tech preview before - always waited until retail version was available.

I have this retail copy of Windows 8.1 that I bought a month ago to put on there, but now Dad is saying he almost wishes he had waited for Windows 9.

I'm wondering - should I wait another few weeks and simply install the Windows 9 tech preview on there for them - letting them get used to the layout, etc. for a year, then upgrading them to the full version of 9? If I did that, then I could get most of our money back for 8.1 by selling the shrinkwrapped copy. Or, I could just go ahead and install 8.1.

Which way would you go about it? They used XP for years, and I think Windows 7 for about the last 4 years or so.

 

[nickbits]

8.1+classic shell is what I did for my mom. She hated 8 before that.

 

[Gunbuster]

Windows 8.1

Set it to boot directly to desktop, pin apps to the task bar, spend 1 minute to teach them how to click on the desktop tile if they manage to open the start menu.

 

[corkyg]

Using my 8.1 with Start8 1.45 is no different than using 7. I call it 7 on steroids (better security.)

 

[JackMDS]

From a Tech Point of view the preview of so called Win 9 is coming very soon.

If I would build a computer I'll put it on.

That said you are building a computer for your parents.

If they are computer Enthusiasts, wait the week and then put the New preview.

Otherwise, for the time being.

Using my 8.1 with Start8 1.45 is no different than using 7. I call it 7 on steroids (better security.)

:thumbsup:

 

[RampantAndroid]

The tech preview should never be used for data-critical stuff. It's going to have bugs in it, and it might take a while for them to be fixed. Run it in a VM, or dual boot it.