What will you do when Windows 7 ends?

hazel123 · 18 Mar 2016

I'm asking because it's something I've been thinking about and just wondered what other people would do next, after Windows 7 support ends. Ok we don't know what new thing will be around in four years time, but assuming the choice is Windows 10, Mac or Linux.

My gut feeling was to get an Apple Mac, even though I'm not keen on them - but they're too expensive for us lol. I already use Linux on another computer but like to have Windows as well. I like that Windows 10 seems to have made laptops more popular again (rather than everyone going tablet crazy), but I don't like the uncertainty over user control and all the advertising thingies.

Barman58 · 18 Mar 2016

I'd stick with windows - It's what you know, Windows 10 is simple to use, and you can basically ignore the FUD printed on-line to sell blogs, and if you feel you need control to delay updates, there is the pro version, As you say the cost of apple systems is way too high for what is just average hardware, and the OS is very limiting, they do run quite well if you stick windows on them

Linux is not something I would recommend to anyone for day to day use, It's fine for someone who wants to tinker rather than use.

Edit

I have to state that I am not someone who worries about the looks of an OS, but that it runs reliably and issue free, Seven, Eight and Now Ten have met these criteria

hazel123 · 18 Mar 2016

That's good to hear from a Windows 10 user! I think it's probably the only option for a new laptop - I'm not keen on thin gold laptops anyway. Agree about Linux, although some people seem happy with it full time - I like having it on a netbook.

Alejandro85 · 18 Mar 2016

Your main assumption is wrong. The important thing to realize is that Microsoft support means NOTHING for the end user, that's entirely a political decision on their behalf, but that doesn't affects running systems at all. Reality dictates that Windows 7 will continue to run exactly in the same way as it did the day before support ends, and exactly the same way as today, in fact.

Changing an OS just because MS says so is a bad choice. Base your decision to move to something else on real limitations instead: when something better appears, when 7 finally becomes unusable, when you want to try something else, for example.

What MS did with XP is an excellent example. After it support ended, it's still used in many places, and it continues to run exactly the same way as before (with all good and bad things that carries). Following all the self-FUD MS spreaded was only a move to sell more newer OSs, but little technical reason behind it. As of now, there is no reason to think that 7 will be different.

Barman58 · 18 Mar 2016

The problems with an unsupported OS is that the world changes and things move on, this is not an issue as long as nothing fails, but with an OS like windows 7 at it's current stage in it's lifetime, is that only security updates are available, if at any time in the future, new hardware appears, or existing hardware fails, it is likely that some manufacturers will not support replacement hardware on older operating systems.

The change from XP to Vista was a case in point, XP was beyond the point where it was viable to modify the code to cope with advances in technology, so Vista was introduced using completely new code and techniques to access the current hardware. This change meant that older hardware needed new drivers, which some manufacturers decided were not in their interest and decided to not make vista drivers for existing hardware, and sell lots of new hardware to Vista Users.

The move to not support older Microsoft operating systems has started for XP and Vista users, as more and more general users, (the vast majority of users who only change their OS when they buy new hardware), upgrade their hardware and the Seven market share drops the viability of backwards compatibility will reduce to a point where the manufacturers will just stop support

Emmar · 18 Mar 2016

When our drivers die and there are no replacement parts, we will get a new computer the same if other component dies.

Joan Archer · 18 Mar 2016

Well in some ways it won't effect me I hardly go on my 7 machine now. I'm mainly on this Asus Notebook which I upgraded to 10 when it came out. Hubby has a desktop and laptop that run 7 and he said he'll just get new machines when they fail, that will probably run 10 so he'll use that and as I've been using it for quite awhile I can help him get used to it.

Like Nigel the OS is not as important as making sure it runs the programs I want to use.

MrMii Win 7 · 18 Mar 2016

Seeing that Windows 10 doesn't like my hardware, I'm probably sticking to Windows 7. Granted, it doesn't boot up as fast as Windows 10, but it's fast in performance and runs all the programs I need. (RIP Motocross Madness 2

) The whole "Aero won't work unless I restart" thing is annoying but not a killer. Once restarted it works flawlessly. Don't get me wrong, I like Windows 10 but feel as though it's lacking in a visual style that makes it stand out. The reliability is still the most important to me, but I've had many bluescreens with computers running Windows 10, even in a To Go environment. Regarding 8.x, never really was a fan of it. The start screen and a lack of a start button in 8.0 drove me away. Mac OS is just too different, and personally I don't really feel like dishing out $1000 or more for what hardware I can get from a $200 Windows laptop. And then Linux... I had to use Ubuntu in order to rescue some files off my Windows directory before, but I think it's too complicated for me in regards to everyday use. In a nutshell I guess I'm gonna do with 7 what I did with XP when it's service went out: Keep using it. 7 is fine with me. *cough* 7 for life *cough*

Emmar · 18 Mar 2016

That is what we have always done. I bought a new computer everytime a new OS came out just to learn it, until W 8. I have also bought a new desktop W8.1 recently to replace my W 7 when it dies. My W 7 is slow booting up, so I turn it on when I get up and do something else. When it is loaded it is the fastest PC I have had.

Layback Bear · 18 Mar 2016

What will you do when Windows 7 ends?

What ever it takes to keep proper operating systems.
My darn Chinese counterfeit crystal ball is not working. I'm unable to look into the future.
If the darn thing starts working I think I will be asking for tomorrows lottery numbers and worry about 2020 operating systems when it gets here.