Windows 7 or 8?

Geo-TH,In · Apr 15, 2014

I'm still trying to decide what to do after Windows XP became junk. I've read and been told by many, they don't like win 8 or 8.1. One computer guru said it took him 4 days before he figured out how to use 8. Then he said you need a password for everything. If that's true, it's a deal breaker for me.

So, I go to town to buy a computer. New computers only have win 8 or 8.1. Check on line. Dell has just a few win 7. Went on ebay. Found there are many MS certified re-manufactured used computers & laptops with win 7 one year warranty for under $200. New window 7 program is around $100 which my 10 year old Dell computer may not have the horsepower to use win 7.

Short term solution, I bought a kindle. I have WIFI at home. I can do many things with it, check emails, ebay, amazon, YT, gasbuddy. I think for $140 it may be nice to go traveling with as long as where we stay has wifi. Even McDonalds has wifi.

Has anyone bought a MS certified re-manufactured used computers & laptops? If so is a good or bad idea? Reasons? If re-man computer dies, could I transfer win 7 to another used computer?
thanks,
George

Greg_Ky · Apr 15, 2014

Neither, Ubuntu, Linux.

Dave H (MI) · Apr 15, 2014

crawlerjohn · Apr 15, 2014

I have 8.1 and like it fine but I had 7 after XP. 8 and 8.1 take less power to run and seem to be quicker than 7. They are pretty much self explanatory .

crawlerjohn · Apr 15, 2014

7 will go obsolete faster than XP did.

Matt H NY · Apr 15, 2014

8 is junk. I have it. Hate it. Recently got an IPAD as well. Much more user friendly and intuitive to use.

Howard H. · Apr 15, 2014

Hi George -

For a timeline, Windows 7 update support is scheduled to end on January 14, 2020. Windows 8 ends on January 10, 2023.

If you are comfortable getting around in XP and don't need touch screen capability (an 8 strength), then it would probably serve you well to stick with 7.

You can order straight from Dell and get Win 7 PCs.

I tend to shy away from used laptops, because there tends to be a lot of used "lemons" floating around. A desktop might not be so bad.

But a new Inspiron desktop starts out at $369, so depends on how tight your budget is versus propensity to fool with something used.

You are right - if your old PC is 10 years old, even if you squeezed 7 onto it, the performance would be terrible.

Howard

Anonymous-0 · Apr 15, 2014

I ordered a dell with 7. Came though with 8. I hate 8
Everett

JDemaris · Apr 15, 2014

How do you figure XP is now "junk" Just because MS no longer updates it to be Web-safe? I'm still running XP Pro on two computers and will do so as long as the computers last. Programs cost a lot of money and many that run on XP will not run on Windows 7. Many Windows 7 programs will not run on Windows 8. My current video/photo/sound editing programs do all I'll ever need on my XP machines. Same with desk-top publishing and word processing. Seems silly to condemn a system just because it may be vulnerable for Web-work. Just as easy and cost-effective to just buy a newer and cheap unit just for Web-work. Plenty of Windows 8 laptops around for less then $300 new.

Keith Williams · Apr 15, 2014

George,
I purchased a new HP in Jan with Win 8. It is a desktop with 12 G Mem, 2 TB Disk, i5 processor and HDMI Graphics. I already had a 24" Flat Screen TV as a Monitor.

Got it home and loaded Win 8.1 first thing.

The HP has an HP Quick Start in the desktop view that acts like the old start menu. With a few config changes, I feel very confortable on the new machine. It loads much faster. I hardly ever go to the "Start Menu" with the Tiles that everyone hates.

I just boxed up the old XP PC the other day.
Overall I am very pleased.
HTH
Keith

Geo-TH,In · Apr 15, 2014

You are not the first person to tell me they hate 8.

Allan in NE · Apr 15, 2014

I dumped all the anti-virus stuff and then bought the full-bore PC Matic. Works like a champ now for only $49.

Got a brand new machine with Win 8.1 sittin' here that's not being used...........

Allan

JDemaris · Apr 15, 2014

What did you do for replacement programs to match what your XP machine had? E.g. word processing, photo editing, DVD burning, desktop publishing, etc.? My wife's Windows 7 laptop died while we were on the road. In a hurry we bought a new Windows 8 based laptop. Found out first that the email (client based) would not work because Windows 8 gives no support for POP based email. IMAP only. Then tried to install her MS Office Suite and it too will not work with Windows 8. Then tried to install her Windows 7 version of Corele photo-editing and it too will not work with Windows 8.

TomA in CA · Apr 15, 2014

Good move getting the Kindle.

I was always a Mac guy. I could never stand Windows. Once Mac went to System 10 it became more like Windows. Now I cant stand Mac either.

Solution: Get a tablet. A tablet will do anything a desktop computer will do except your taxes.

You can get a case where you can prop the screen in front of you, get an external keyboard, you can get an app that will send files to your printer. What more could you want?

The only drawback is the Android system is owned by Google and there are a lot of built in tricks to get you to sign up for Google services. I was tricked into this before I found the back button on my tablet. Once they get your information you cannot get it back.

Android is based on Linux is why it is good I think. I like to stay away from Microsoft, Apple and Google.

Mike (WA) · Apr 15, 2014

I thought about that as well, but QuickBooks, at least, requires an internet connection for getting updates. Maybe you could just go along forever without updating, I don't know.

As mentioned earlier, I have two Duration computers at work, only need one, so bringing one home to replace the XP machine. Surely you've heard of a Duration computer- Has what I want, I know how it works, and by gawd, its going to last me for the duration.

IH2444 · Apr 15, 2014

Windows 7 is my vote. I got a computer with 8 on it.
I could not load hardly any of my library of programs on it.
Not even Office Pro.

Wife got a new computer with windows 7 on it and I can load any of the old XP programs I have so far tried.

I am going to install 7 on my PC as well.

Goose · Apr 15, 2014

I just bought a Dell refurb with Windows 7 Pro to replace a Gateway All In One that drove me nuts with glare off the shiny screen. The Gateway was only a year and a half old, but enough was enough since I spend a lot of time on a computer for business purposes.

I already had a 23" monitor with matte finish so all I needed was the processor. This Dell refurb has twice the capacity of the Gateway it replaced. I've been impressed so far. I bought it from Amazon. It cost $334, but it was worth it in reduced eyestrain alone.

lmike51b · Apr 15, 2014

8 is not so bad. It does have a very different look and feel (metro screen & no start button) compared to previous versions. I avoid the metro view, just use desktop, and have added a start button. There are plenty of free or reasonably priced start button options to download. I use 8 on my laptop & 7 on my desktop at work, 8 seems faster.
If your having a hard time buying from the usual retail outlets that just provide 8 - try some of the online builders. The one I have used for my last two desktop purchases is Magic Micro. They will supply what you want.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 15, 2014

Thanks, ebay has a 14 inch laptop msn refurbished windows 7 two year warranty $225. 19inch desktops for same money. If win 7 is only good feeling 6 more years, I am going used.

DaninKansas · Apr 15, 2014

I have Windows 8 at home and windows 7 at work. Windows 8 might be OK if you are used to using a smart pad. I HATE WINDOWS 8.

retired farmer · Apr 15, 2014

I am not impressed with Windows 7. XP was a lot better.

John T · Apr 15, 2014

I DESPISE Windows 8 and 8.1 however I don"t see trying to stay with 7 since new and upcoming programs will likey be tailored to use 8 so a body may as well suck it up and get used to it as I have grrrrrrrrrrrrrr I may not like it but I doubt Microsoft cares about me and will keep changing from 8 to 9 or whatever in the future so no sense in sticking with the old I figure. However, if anyone likes 7 or Vista or XP that"s their choice and fine by me, go for it.

John T

Deere Scotty · Apr 15, 2014

I have Windows 8, & 8.1, After 16 months of using it I wish I had never bought it. I could list a dozen reasons for it; but mainly because it does not recognize Blu-Ray. It should; but doesn't.

Dick L · Apr 15, 2014

I have 8.1 now on my laptop and I like it. Drove me nuts at first because of my slow learning curve but for what I do with the computer I am now happy.

jimg.allentown · Apr 15, 2014

Before banishing XP to the "junkpile," I would suggest a bit of evaluation. How dependent were you on security patches and updates from Microsoft in the past? I ran XP for the last 3 years or so WITHOUT any security patches or updates. I finally have been pressured to upgrade because of lack of OTHER resources.
Many websites are now using HTML code that is simply not supported by IE8. A work around for me was Firefox for the interim. Other problems with compatibility begin to arise with newer programs coming onto the market - such as tax preparation software, Word documents. etc. Sooner or later, the backward compatibility will fade away - just a little at a time.

I have looked at Win 8. Not impressed. Using Win 7. Better than 8, still not as comfortable as XP was. There is a learning curve, but it is not necessarily a difficult or unpleasant one. My vote goes to Windows 7. JMHO.

HughB · Apr 15, 2014

I bought a Dell with windows 8. The computer has all kinds of memory. Upgraded to windows 8.1. After I got used to it I have had no problems. If you try to load windows 8 on an older computer you won't have enough memory to run it properly.
that has always been my experience on any MS upgrade.

Keith Williams · Apr 15, 2014

jdemaris,
I had already purchased Office 2010 as others I work with had gone to the newer version. 2010 worked on 8. The HP machine had all the other SW I needed bundled.
I used Hotmail which works fine.
I really like the Automatic backup facility built into V8. It even keeps multiple versions something I have missed since working on VMS.
Keith

Jerry/MT · Apr 15, 2014

We just changed over and the computer folks suggested Windows 7 and we made that change. We found out that our rugged ol" HP 722C printer will not work with Win 7 because there is no compatible driver for that model. there is some sort of half**sed patch system that can make that work but I haven"t figured out how to install it.

I have a real problem with Microsoft policy on operating systems. Their real money is made on the software and so I wish they would follow Gillete"s old philosophy: givem "em the razor, sell "em the blades" or in this case, "give "em the operating system, sell "em the software"!

JayinNY · Apr 15, 2014

George, forget windows and Microsoft, go to Apple. After having my IPhone, I won't buy another windows based compuker. When my dell desktop kicks it my wife and I agreed were gonna get a Apple Mac computer, there more $$ but that's because there better. Just what I've seen using windows since 1995. I will not use any new windows.

Ohio88 · Apr 15, 2014

It is reasonably easy to make windows 8 look like windows 7. Get a product call classic Shell, it is free. You can configure the desktop with Classic shell to come up by default. By doing this when we went from 7 to 8 my wife never complained about the new system. She did not see a difference. I configured the windows button to go to the desktop and that was all it took.

Paul from MI · Apr 15, 2014

My laptop running XP died while I was on vacation. I got an ASUS laptop running Windows 8, had a local guy install shell to make it function like Windows 7. All of my programs except my CAD program loaded and functioned fine. I'm looking for a CAD program to replace the old one, but other than that I'm OK with it. New laptop had touch screen, Windows 8 has other features I'm not using now but may in the future. Plan on taking a class in windows 8 this summer or fall.

old bc · Apr 15, 2014

I have ordered several refurbished Windows 7 computers for others from TigerDirect and have had no problems so far.

Dennis (VA) · Apr 16, 2014

I find Windows 8.1 much better that than 7. It's faster, when you click on the desktop icon, it looks and acts just like the normal old Windows. I was like you really p--- after load 8.0 but got use to it and really liked it after a week or so and after downloading the free 8.1 upgrade wouldn't do without. As far as passwords, you only need on for the start screen.

farmall300u · Apr 16, 2014

I vote for Windows 7 unless you want to use a touch screen, then get Windows 8.1. A touch screen is not very useful for work.

Windows 7 or 8?

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