Windows 7: Dell to continue offering Windows 7 after launch of Windows 8

Vort Max · 16 Oct 2012

I'm planning to build a new rig soon and I will definitely install Windows 7 based on what I've read in the computer magazines regarding Windows 8. I'm seriously thinking about buying a copy of Windows 8 during the first couple of months though because I've heard it will be offered at a deep discount during the initial roll out. I figure I can always play around with 8 in a virtual environment or on a separate drive to see what it's like before I take the proverbial leap of faith.

lehnerus2000 · 16 Oct 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Vort Max

I'm planning to build a new rig soon and I will definitely install Windows 7 based on what I've read in the computer magazines regarding Windows 8. I'm seriously thinking about buying a copy of Windows 8 during the first couple of months though because I've heard it will be offered at a deep discount during the initial roll out. I figure I can always play around with 8 in a virtual environment or on a separate drive to see what it's like before I take the proverbial leap of faith.

You can download trial versions of W8.
You can play with one of those and save your money if you don't like it.

IMO, Metro is an annoyance, but some of the actual Windows pieces have been improved.

I've created a W8Ent VHD and I've installed Classic Shell on it.
That combination seems to work OK.

Actually I created a VHD for each of the previews, but only W8DP and W8Ent would install my sound driver correctly.

My VHDs stopped booting after I reinstalled all of my real operating systems.
I guess they don't like the fact I repartitioned my HDD.

Alejandro85 · 16 Oct 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by lehnerus2000

IMO, Metro is an annoyance, but some of the actual Windows pieces have been improved.

Do you know what are those? So far I've seen enough of the metro-crap and tons of useful features being removed, but really little about the good things it can bring.

So, staying with Windows 7 is a no-brainer. Win8 seems more a downgrade than a positive change.

lehnerus2000 · 17 Oct 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Alejandro85

Quote: Originally Posted by lehnerus2000

IMO, Metro is an annoyance, but some of the actual Windows pieces have been improved.

Do you know what are those? So far I've seen enough of the metro-crap and tons of useful features being removed, but really little about the good things it can bring.

So, staying with Windows 7 is a no-brainer. Win8 seems more a downgrade than a positive change.

Changes:

On my PC, it uses 1/3 less RAM (compared to Windows 7: 800 MB vs 1200 MB).
On my PC, it's about the same speed or faster then Windows 7
If you like the Ribbon (I don't) Windows Explorer now uses it
It has a built-in anti-virus program (MSE?)
It has a new Task Manager (Meh! I use Process Explorer)
It has a built-in ISO mounter

Check out these Wikipedia links for more information:
Features new to Windows 8 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
List of features removed in Windows 8 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you use something like Classic Shell you can have the benefits without any of the downsides.
Welcome to Classic Shell

OTOH, some people like Metro.

I'll be staying with Windows 7.

**x BlueRobot** · 17 Oct 2012

Dell has learnt from the experience of what happened with the release of Windows Vista, it's great to know that Dell is offering it's customers Windows 7, as many people are not going to be able (or willing) to adapt to the Windows 8 GUI. I would like to see more OEMs take the same approach as Dell.

I have Office 2013 Preview on my HP (wanting to build a gaming computer soon) and I find the Metro-style GUI quite irritating and hard to adapt too; the buttons are bland and oversized.

A Guy · 17 Oct 2012

HP, Lenovo and Acer will all have new Windows 7 PCs after Windows 8 launch

Quote:

A few days ago, it was reported that Dell will sell a number of new PC models with Windows 7 still installed even after the launch of Windows 8 on October 26th. That includes PCs from their gaming themed Alienware lineup. Today, Neowin contacted a number of other large PC makers and asked them if they would also offer some PCs with Windows 7 pre-installed after the launch of Windows 8.

Customer service representatives from HP, Lenovo and Acer all told Neowin today over the phone they would offer at least some new PCs with Windows 7 installed after October 26th. The HP rep that we talked to could not give any specifics on which models would have Windows 7 still installed, saying only they would offer "two desktops and two laptops" for people who still wanted to have Windows 7.

Source

A Guy

mjf · 18 Oct 2012

I just wonder if the luxury offered to the large OEMs will be offered to the small builders.

**x BlueRobot** · 18 Oct 2012

With the rest of OEMs still having preinstalled Windows 7 after the release of Windows 8, looks like which should expect more of us having to tell OPs to clear the bloatware from their computers

Windows 7: Dell to continue offering Windows 7 after launch of Windows 8

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