Windows 7: How to decide: should you upgrade to Windows 8?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. When it's time to do an operating system reinstall, then consider Windows 8 (but buy it now, while it's on sale).

I came to that conclusion owing to the fact operating systems were inherently simpler back then. They simply had less stuff that needed loading on startup. Assuming newer hardware like today's CPUs and HDDs worked with Windows 9x, which from their POV are magnitudes faster than hardware of their era, Windows 9x probably will smoke Windows 8 in a head on bootup match.

Both my Windows 7 machine (in my system specs) and my Windows XP machine running on a Pentium 4 2.66GHz and 1GB RAM boot up in at least under 20~30 seconds from the feeling I get with daily use, I admit however that I never actually timed them with a stopwatch. I might do that some time if I don't feel lazy about it. :P

Both Windows installations (both HDD-based by the way) also have a couple non-essential stuff that I have set to run at startup for convenience reasons, but otherwise they're both well-maintained and fast as ever to the point I don't notice too much of a difference with my dad's Windows 7 desktop which uses an SSD.

Of course, YMMV and factors like older or underpowered hardware will definitely negatively impact Windows bootup times. I just wanted to point out that the perk of of Windows 8's fast boot times that everyone is touting around isn't something that is unique to Windows 8 alone. Regardless of HDD/SSD, all versions of Windows (even Windows ME and Vista!) can achieve fast boot times and answer one's calls for performance if they're taken care of properly.

I have a 3 1/2 year old laptop, which has a 5400 RPM HDD do you think I should upgrade the HDD to a SSD or 7200 drive ? It still runs fairly well, my opinion is "yes", just thought of asking It's a Core2Duo.

I have a 3 1/2 year old laptop, which has a 5400 RPM HDD do you think I should upgrade the HDD to a SSD or 7200 drive ? It still runs fairly well, my opinion is "yes", just thought of asking It's a Core2Duo.

I have a 3 1/2 year old laptop, which has a 5400 RPM HDD do you think I should upgrade the HDD to a SSD or 7200 drive ? It still runs fairly well, my opinion is "yes", just thought of asking It's a Core2Duo.

I have a laptop about the same years old and with a Core2Duo also. I'm also considering if I should upgrade it to an SSD. The problem is there's a problem with the electrical stuff, I've gone through two dead batteries and now it has no battery at all. Maybe when SSDs get even cheaper, but now, I don't think it's worth it.