My next box: Windows 7 or windows 8?

[five.five-six]

Windows 8.1 and then load classic shell on it. I had an xp computer that I built in 2006. I decided it was time to upgrade my hardware since I needed to ditch xp. 7 sucks. I don't like 8.1 all that much better but it runs great. Classic shell let me disable the stupid charms bar and it gave me a real start menu. I don't use the start page or any of the stupid pop up menus. I am running a gigabyte brix mini computer, actually 2 of them, and a non touch screen monitor. I am not a fan of the apps style programs and didn't even bother to setup a microsoft account. The SSD combined with 8.1 means I can restart the computer in around 10 seconds. I am glad I went with new technology and I am glad that classic shell fixes some of the drawbacks to 8.1. I tried ubuntu/linux but just didn't like it. I don't do anything apple, so that was out.

How did you do that? It didn't seem like it would let me complete the install without their stupid account which I didn't want


These boxes are i7 3.7GHz on ASUS Sabertooth X79 MOBOs with SSDs, They should run like raped apes when I get to playing with them.

[CGT80]

How did you do that? It didn't seem like it would let me complete the install without their stupid account which I didn't want


These boxes are i7 3.7GHz on ASUS Sabertooth X79 MOBOs with SSDs, They should run like raped apes when I get to playing with them.

I forget the exact way to do it, but it was not hard. There is either a skip option or cancel option, or you can choose to set it up later. It didn't take me long to figure out I didn't need an account right then. I don't know if you will have any issues later though. I haven't needed or wanted any apps and I have been fine without an account. I did add a desktop theme to one of my computers after the fact. I don't recall having to make a MS account to do that.

A google search might tell you how to skip making an account as well. Yep!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9eX0yUxtgw

[blazeaglory]

All pot jokes aside, I really like Win7. It hasnt crashed on me yet and is super stable. It reminds me of Win98

[SMR510]

How did you do that? It didn't seem like it would let me complete the install without their stupid account which I didn't want


These boxes are i7 3.7GHz on ASUS Sabertooth X79 MOBOs with SSDs, They should run like raped apes when I get to playing with them.

I have a 4930k in a x79 Sabertooth and it is awesome. OC'd it to 4.5 ghz with a Noctua D-14 on it and 32gb of ram running @ 1866 with the ability to go to 64gb if I ever need it. Been running like that 24/7 for about 6 months without a single problem. Also have my OS and all my programs (minus stuff I dont use much) on a 256gb samsung pro SSD and it is lightning fast. You will really enjoy it but realize that you wont be able to use a normal computer ever again haha.

[ExtremeX]

Pretty sure 7 and 8 / 8.1 use the same kernel... both are excellent stable operating system.

I recently purchased a bunch of system for one of my customers and they didn't like Win 8, so I utilized our downgrade rights to go to Windows 7 Pro.

Its something you can do, so there isn't a reason not to buy the latest version of windows...

[DaveInOroValley]

The poll should have had more choices such as anything other then Windows.

[ExtremeX]

Either Win7/8 will ensure that you're not getting the most out of your hardware. A year of use will transform it into something that feels like a 386.

I'm a recent Mac convert (zealot?), so I must recommend you get a Mac

Please... I like and have respect for both platforms, use an own PC Workstations along with a Mac

Its not like back in the days when Mac used its own processors, everything is PC based these days on the hardware side. A modern Workstation is no different than a Mac today.

In fact, after a couple add-in cards, I've actually had more stability issues with my Mac Pro than I have with quality PC Xeon Workstations and Win7

Even with virtualization im running Windows on my MAC, and MAC on Windows systems as a VM.

I guarantee you if you spend Mac Pro money on a PC, your gona get one hell of a system. Calling it a 386 in a year is silly if you actually buy decent stuff. Its not Microsofts fault your Dell Inspiron was a POS. =)

The gap is dead... both are solid, so run what your preference is.

[Peter.Steele]

Either Win7/8 will ensure that you're not getting the most out of your hardware. A year of use will transform it into something that feels like a 386.

I'm a recent Mac convert (zealot?), so I must recommend you get a Mac

If you're bad enough at using a PC that you can **** up a Win7 installation that badly in a year, then you're probably going to **** up a Mac just as badly in pretty much the same amount of time.

Have fun with your overpriced smug machine.

[Peter.Steele]

The poll should have had more choices such as anything other then Windows.

The poll wasn't what you'd install, but rather which of those options the OP will go with.

[jcourson]

8.1 doesn't recognize ad hoc networks, so if you use them you would need Win7 (was a huge pita for me last month).

[ke6guj]

I've been using Windows 8 since it came out on on my work computer, work laptop, and my home computer ever since it dropped (have to keep current so that I can support any Windows 8 computers that might show up at work). 8 wasn't great but 8.1 made it better and now with 8.1 Update (1) its pretty usable even without a touchscreen. there are some under the hood improvements that are nice in Windows 8, such as being able to pause copy/move jobs, have 2+ different copy jobs going on to a USB/network location and it disk thrashing or saturating the LAN connection and now you can pause one job and restart it after the other one finishes.

And the Start screen isn't that bad once you learn how to modify it for your needs. But some control panel stuff is just hard to find the "windows 8" way if you don't know the Windows key for it or the "name" to search for it. but if you know a windows 7 shortcut, it'll still work in windows 8.

[stilly]

Windows 8 is the WinME of the new OSes, so Windows 7 is the one to go with, plus I use windows 7 at work and windows 8 at my other work and well, winblows 8 SUCKS, but oh well, windows 7 for me when I finally get around to upgrading here at the house.

[Iknownot]

Windows 8 is the WinME of the new OSes, so Windows 7 is the one to go with, plus I use windows 7 at work and windows 8 at my other work and well, winblows 8 SUCKS, but oh well, windows 7 for me when I finally get around to upgrading here at the house.

Such internet hyperbole.

ME would blue screen PCs out of the box with no additional software installed. I know. I had a ME pc that I couldn't get to run with out crashing that I afterwards installed XP on, everything else being the same, and the PC ran like a top after that.

Win 8, from my experience is just as stable or more so than 7 and it is less resource intensive on top of it, from what I can see.

The main difference for regular users (and I have no opinion on power user stuff or network or IT issues) is the RT UI overlaid over the regular windows Desktop. If you have a touch screen enabled device and you spend a little time getting used to the change, both win 7 and 8.1 are functionally equivalent.

I'm using both now between my work PC (7) and a win Tablet (8.1) I recently bought. I don't have an issue between switching from one to another.

The RT UI ends up being the same as the start Menu in 7, once you get used to it. There are things I actually like about it better as you can set up the programs you use most to available in the RT UI and the updating tiles are nice for things like news, email, etc.

Anyway, my 2 cents, but I really don't understand the hate for 8.1 if you have a touch screen. (I think 8 is kind of a disaster if you don't have a touch screen and have to navigate through it with kb/m).

[BigPun762]

Macbook pro

[ExtremeX]

Ya... those are cute, until you get into a real PC workstation laptops like the W series for the same price.

Dual monitor, built in Wacom tablet, and a 10 key so you can actually do some real work when mobile.