More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8

[whs]

It costs you $100 for a license. Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Newegg.com

I'll definitely buy 2 of these OEM Windows 7 before they run out. One main reason I won't upgrade to 8 is due to some essential programs (chemical process simulation software for example) that are required for my classes aren't even compatible with 8, even when forced to run in compatibility mode. I also dislike the idea to install 3rd party programs just to make Windows 8 function like 7. Lastly, Windows 8 Explorer looks ugly as heck, and it feels like I'm using Windows 1.0 from 1985. Honestly, I don't even see a benefit from upgrading to 8 especially if you have a decent hardware. From what I researched, 8's improvements are only miniscule and unnoticable on any modern hardware.

Right, I have a couple of Win7's in reserve too. You never know. I do run one of the Win8 promotion licenses in virtual - for study purposes. But I don't really do any work with it - too finagle.

 

[Night Hawk]

It costs you $100 for a license. Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Newegg.com

It costs you $100 for a license. Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Newegg.com

I've been finding the upgrade media priced for about $70-$75 which include both 32bit and 64bit media over paying out $100 for one single disk or license even. I put a clean install of the Pro edition on the second case built here last summer after seeing what 8 looked like and deciding a no go there and later not as a second OS either.

Interesting, where did you get that. And is it workable for replacing Windows 8.

I need to look up the vendor that had it for $70 while newegg listed it for $75. Some place like discountmountainsoftware as I recall. hang on here. They must have had a sale going last summer since it is now back upto $134.99! Windows 7 Upgrade - Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade Retail - 32/64 Bit

A Dell 64bit 7 dvd that supposedly will work on all brands as well as custom builds is listed for $75.99 at Microsoft Windows 7 Professional W/ SP1 64 Bit - SoftwareSpeedy.com So it pays to shop around since most on a fast Bing are found for over $100 for the upgrade and very close in price to the 64bit Ultimate by the way.

For a few bucks more you can leap for the higher edition or shop more for a better price if found. Surprisingly the 8 Pro was found for only $3 more then the 7 Pro upgrade. Here's another eye catcher with the 7 Pro full version found for $86.99! Windows 7 Professional Full Version 32/64bit - www.digitsee.com The only problem is no media to download both isos for 32/64bit and no mention of SP1.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

It costs you $100 for a license. Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Newegg.com

I'll definitely buy 2 of these OEM Windows 7 before they run out...

Keep in mind that OEM's are a one time license. The license gets tied to the motherboard and if you should ever replace the motherboard, you won't be able to activate a reinstall unless, possibly, the new board is identical to the old one. Many, if not most, people have been able to sweet talk M$ into allowing the reactivation but you are at the mercy of the operator you get at M$ when you call in. While a retail version costs twice as much, you wouldn't have to worry about moving the license to another computer or motherboard.

You are wise to get a couple of copies since they won't last forever (and the price may go up when they start running out). I've already got a copy of Home Premium (I don't really know why I bought that one; senioritis? cranial flatulence?) and two copies of Ultimate, all retail. That should hold me until 1/1/2020.

 

[Night Hawk]

Branded OEM disks are tied to one machine. For the OEM for System Builders you can upgrade to a new machine but cannot transfer the 7 license over to anyone else as you can with the retail. If you sell a new pc you build the 7 disk goes with the machine used to install Windows.

 

[whs]

This is all very good information. Thanks guys. I may stock up some more. Now I have to find a reasonably priced Office 2007 for 3 machines. I run out of keys and I have already 'borrowed' one from my brother in law.

 

[Night Hawk]

I certainly wouldn't mind grabbing a few more Ultimate as well as Pro disks since both support the XP Mode for some who haven't actually fully upgraded over the years to Vista or 7 and now do not want 8! One has an 8 laptop out of necessity until his main case is back up fully since even a temp install of XP went belly up.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

This is all very good information. Thanks guys. I may stock up some more. Now I have to find a reasonably priced Office 2007 for 3 machines. I run out of keys and I have already 'borrowed' one from my brother in law.

Why 2007? 2010 is better and won't reach its EOL until 10/13/2020, well after Win7's EOL of 01/01/2020; 2007's EOL is 10/10/2017. I normally wouldn't advise anyone with 2007 to upgrade to 2010 unless 2010 had a new feature you needed but with direction M$ has been going, I strongly recommend getting 2010 while it's still possible. There is no telling what abomination will be available once 2007 reaches EOL.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there.

Office 2010 is fine or even Office 2007 if you can get hold of cheap legit copies.
Office 2013 doesn't offer anything special that either Office 2010 or even 2007 doesn't -- especially for home type users.

Probably Office 2013 too won't be around for much longer as Ms is pushing everybody towards its Subscription Based Office 365 offering.

They will of course succour people into this model via cheapish subscriptions -- and then Bang - when you are hooked with no convenient place to go elsewhere the prices will rise.

In any case except in very rare instances I HATE Subscription models for software-- Buying a Newspaper or magazine is one thing but the whole idea of "Renting" Software is against my nature.

The reason Ms is going down this route is fairly obvious -- Ms Office is probably the most heavily pirated suite of software on Earth -- more pirated than Windows itself and obviously "traditional methods" for combating piracy have failed -- well they would if the full price for this stuff is around 400 USD for an incredibly popular product - it's OBVIOUS. !!! -- The student and Teacher editions plus use at home versions of Office 2007 when the price dropped dramatically also caused pirating of this version to show a huge drop too but obviously Ms and corporate greed in general are attempting to foist this method of Software purchase on to us.

I hope it fails otherwise Windows will itself go the same way -- better get those reserve copies of Windows 7 or start brushing up on Linux.

Incidentally another way of running a decent adequate version of office is to get hold of a copy of WINDOWS 97 Small Business edition. The office version which is included in that edition is probably good enough too for 99 % use. I consider myself quite a Power user of EXCEL - but I find there isn't a whole lot that you can't do in the EXCEL included with Win 97 business edition -- and the other nice thing is that all software BEFORE XP doesn't have to be ACTIVATED so even if you get a copy for 3.00 USD from ebay it will work indefinitely never needing an activation code and can be installed on as many machines as you like.

Try this as a VM.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[jimbo45]

Hi everyone.
It's time IMO for some humble pie to be eaten around here by the naysayers.

The surface PRO contrary to what people have read IS doing quite nicely --would be tempted by one of these myself but it's a bit expensive for me at the moment (April --Taxes coming up) !!.

Microsoft's first PC lives! | Microsoft - CNET News

Cheers
jimbo

 

[marsmimar]

I might be wrong (wouldn't be the first time ) but I think many people agreed that Windows 8 would be great on a touchscreen device like a tablet or phone. The naysayers were complaining about using 8 on a traditional PC.

 

[jimbo45]

I might be wrong (wouldn't be the first time ) but I think many people agreed that Windows 8 would be great on a touchscreen device like a tablet or phone. The naysayers were complaining about using 8 on a traditional PC.

Hi there
However the Ms tablet can work as a full Windows PC so it can operate as a "Classic PC" or as a tablet and the speed is no slouch either.
For those that have the money this could be a decent piece of kit -- and as it runs bog standard Windows 8 using an INTEL processor.

I'm sure someone will work out a way to run Windows 7 on it or even Linux.

I'm watching these Forums to see who is the first to get W7 to work on this tablet.

Cheers

 

[indianacarnie]

I've tried to stay out of this debate. Its too much like a "which Anti-Virus is best" thing to me.We all know that you're the biggest cheerleader for 8 here jimbo45 and thats your right, you can support whatever you like. I didn't like 8 when I tried the beta or whatever it was called and I don't like 8 now, which I have tried on a friends machine. But to say its time to "eat some humble pie" I'm afraid I just don't agree with that. I really think it will be MS who'll be eating the humble pie myself. The sales for MS's tablets have been anything but overwhelming by all accounts:

Microsoft still barely scratching "Surface" with tablet sales | ZDNet

Microsoft Surface Pro sales hit 400K - CBS News

AH Tech Talk: Samsung: Windows 8 Isn’t Selling, Surface a Bust | Android News - Android Headlines

I'm not slamming Microsoft, I will be forever in their debt and THANKFUL for Windows as it (the O.S.) has brought these wonderful machines to everybody. The world would be a different place if not for Microsoft handing the keys to computing to the world. However, anyone can make a mistake. I'm a huge Denver Bronco's fan, spent much of my childhood within earshot of Mile High Stadium, but just as they made a mistake letting Elvis D. go so has MS made a mistake by forgetting about the average joe/jane out here in the real world.

My $0.02's worth.

 

[whs]

This is all very good information. Thanks guys. I may stock up some more. Now I have to find a reasonably priced Office 2007 for 3 machines. I run out of keys and I have already 'borrowed' one from my brother in law.

Why 2007? 2010 is better and won't reach its EOL until 10/13/2020, well after Win7's EOL of 01/01/2020; 2007's EOL is 10/10/2017. I normally wouldn't advise anyone with 2007 to upgrade to 2010 unless 2010 had a new feature you needed but with direction M$ has been going, I strongly recommend getting 2010 while it's still possible. There is no telling what abomination will be available once 2007 reaches EOL.

LF, I guess 2010 would be fine. The main user of Office is the wife (she has 3 laptops) and she is used to 2007. And you know how much women like to change. But I could move the 2010's on my systems. Stiil I don't want to pay $149. Anything under $100 would suit me - for 3 systems.

 

[whs]

I might be wrong (wouldn't be the first time ) but I think many people agreed that Windows 8 would be great on a touchscreen device like a tablet or phone. The naysayers were complaining about using 8 on a traditional PC.

Hi there
However the Ms tablet can work as a full Windows PC so it can operate as a "Classic PC" or as a tablet and the speed is no slouch either.
For those that have the money this could be a decent piece of kit -- and as it runs bog standard Windows 8 using an INTEL processor.

I'm sure someone will work out a way to run Windows 7 on it or even Linux.

I'm watching these Forums to see who is the first to get W7 to work on this tablet.

Cheers

Running Windows 7 or Linux should be easy with VMware player. And as long as the thing has an SSD, there should be very little performance penalty. You can even run it from an externally attached SSD.

 

[jimbo45]

This is all very good information. Thanks guys. I may stock up some more. Now I have to find a reasonably priced Office 2007 for 3 machines. I run out of keys and I have already 'borrowed' one from my brother in law.

Why 2007? 2010 is better and won't reach its EOL until 10/13/2020, well after Win7's EOL of 01/01/2020; 2007's EOL is 10/10/2017. I normally wouldn't advise anyone with 2007 to upgrade to 2010 unless 2010 had a new feature you needed but with direction M$ has been going, I strongly recommend getting 2010 while it's still possible. There is no telling what abomination will be available once 2007 reaches EOL.

LF, I guess 2010 would be fine. The main user of Office is the wife (she has 3 laptops) and she is used to 2007. And you know how much women like to change. But I could move the 2010's on my systems. Stiil I don't want to pay $149. Anything under $100 would suit me - for 3 systems.

Hi there
I suggested Office 2007 as there are still a lot of decent legit cheap good copies around and a lot of colleges and Use at Home work offer might be available.

Office 2010 is also a good deal if you can get an upgrade or a Student and Teacher edition -- but these won't be in the stores for too long as Ms is pushing the subscription based Office 365 for all it's worth.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Indianatone]

If you are using Office 2007 or 2010 may I suggest a free or paid for add on for business use. It really makes the office system great. It creates a menu tab in Office Ribbon menu's. Get it from here :
UBit Schweiz: UBitMenu International Languages

That my friends is a real keeper.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

This is all very good information. Thanks guys. I may stock up some more. Now I have to find a reasonably priced Office 2007 for 3 machines. I run out of keys and I have already 'borrowed' one from my brother in law.

Why 2007? 2010 is better and won't reach its EOL until 10/13/2020, well after Win7's EOL of 01/01/2020; 2007's EOL is 10/10/2017. I normally wouldn't advise anyone with 2007 to upgrade to 2010 unless 2010 had a new feature you needed but with direction M$ has been going, I strongly recommend getting 2010 while it's still possible. There is no telling what abomination will be available once 2007 reaches EOL.

LF, I guess 2010 would be fine. The main user of Office is the wife (she has 3 laptops) and she is used to 2007. And you know how much women like to change. But I could move the 2010's on my systems. Stiil I don't want to pay $149. Anything under $100 would suit me - for 3 systems.

I wouldn't wait too long, especially if buying only one three pack (or more). I just did some checking online and some vendors are starting to run out. I haven't seen any sales since shortly after the first of the year when 2013 came out. NewEgg and BestBuy still show some in stock but I doubt if they will ever put it on sale. I frequently order from NewEgg but would suggest going to a local BestBuy or, at the very least, have the order shipped to their store closest to you. $149 for three licenses of 2010 is a lot better than $139 for a single license of 2013. Also, don't buy the key only; it's cheaper but is only one license.

 

[whs]

Yeah right. Normally I buy all my stuff from Newegg, but maybe I head down to BestBuy or Office Depot. If it is all the same price, I might as well get it there and get some points (BestBuy), And I would only get a boxed version, not just a key.

 

[Lone Browncoat]

Incidentally another way of running a decent adequate version of office is to get hold of a copy of WINDOWS 97 Small Business edition. The office version which is included in that edition is probably good enough too for 99 % use. I consider myself quite a Power user of EXCEL - but I find there isn't a whole lot that you can't do in the EXCEL included with Win 97 business edition -- and the other nice thing is that all software BEFORE XP doesn't have to be ACTIVATED so even if you get a copy for 3.00 USD from ebay it will work indefinitely never needing an activation code and can be installed on as many machines as you like.

Cheers
jimbo

Indeed, I have Office'97 Professional edition from way back [ with the SR2 stored on burned CD] as well as the Powerpoint 2007 update [I wanted the fonts]. Although mostly I just start a document in Word '97 and if I need cleanup or xml, just use Open Office or Libre Office, which is proving itself to be extremely powerful, afterwards. For I use the latter whenever someone is a smartass and sends me a .docx document anyhow and they're both cross-platform open source.
For my off-line machines, I still use 2000 Pro. For my Home Theatre PCs, I've gone pirate with permanently activated nLited down to 190MB XPPro to run my legacy gear. Since I install the TV listings manually every few days or so and since modern cell phones are already networked when on, use it to set the other clocks, with just a plus or minus five seconds, always using a one minute lead time and a one minute lag to capture an entire show.

I could if I wanted, put the HTPCs on an isolated NAS but that's just too much busy work when the by hand method only takes a couple of minutes out of my Sundays.

 

[Night Hawk]

Yeah right. Normally I buy all my stuff from Newegg, but maybe I head down to BestBuy or Office Depot. If it is all the same price, I might as well get it there and get some points (BestBuy), And I would only get a boxed version, not just a key.

Check that other site I mentioned discountmountainsoftware since they carry a ton of MS wares as well as each version of Windows plus av programs, etc.. You might get a break there when they start marking things down on sale again sometime that is! Just like the Windows media they generally the $100+ range on everything. Discount?