What functions push you to newer versions of Windows?

[tabbyweg]

I have also 11, 10, & XP. XP is great but sometimes I need 7 for functions like a browser services plug-in, newer browsers, & voice recognition.

Otherwise I am mostly happy in XP. I've yet to really need 10 or 11, but I boot them sometimes. What about you?

 

[Clippy84]

Anyone who wants to do AI image generation on their own PC, really needs Windows 10. Since there are vital bits of the Python sub-software that require Windows 10. One would also benefit from using the later AI-enhanced NVIDIA graphics card drivers, 'Window 10 only'.

I can however do AI image generation using InvokeAI 3.0 or ComfyUI (April 2023), with a little manual .dll replacement which makes it work on Windows 7. But, having got into AI, I think I'll now buy an old refurbished £250 workstation (that ships with Window 10 Pro), and set it up as a dedicated AI 'creativity PC', one that's able to keep pace (for now) with the blistering progress of AI. The other main and current PC will stay as Windows 7. Forever, I hope.

Just looking down to the list of other creative software re: Windows 7, I don;t see many that would entice me. Might be nice to take a look at latest Krita, perhaps. That's all.

 

[White]

Actually in the environment we have realized the versions that we adapt to, precisely because of the equipment requirements that we become obsolete, myself included, but it also forces us to update to more recent versions.

If much of the functions remain the same, for other tools or automatic jobs that is why other recent versions are required.

 

[Mike Lynch]

Say what?

 

[tabbyweg]

Homebrew AI is a good answer though something I do not think much about. The text-based browser services seem to be chugging along.

 

[michael diemer]

Say what?

Exactly. Looks like we may have some AI bots afoot.

 

[YmodemYNot]

Actually in the environment we have realized the versions that we adapt to, precisely because of the equipment requirements that we become obsolete, myself included, but it also forces us to update to more recent versions.

If much of the functions remain the same, for other tools or automatic jobs that is why other recent versions are required.

The mucilage of Microsoft coupled with synthetic concussions will render your computer as with blockchain and SSL dysentery. If you telemetrize your trapezoid the resultant combination will enable tentacle gymnasium and collaboration.

 

[Techy9x]

It's Microsoft bloating everything up pushing me back

 

[quartz1]

Absolutely nothing. Up until Feb this year, my main laptop was a Fujitsu A531 (2012, i5 2nd gen) running Win 7. I ended up buying a Lenovo i5 11th gen because I'm aware the laptop might not last much longer. Having used Win 10 proper for 6 months (as in daily machine) I cannot figure out any reason why people would want this O/S over Win 7 - apart from, as someone said, if certain software doesn't run on Win 7. But as I mentioned, until Feb win 7 was my main O/S so if there are any programs that don't run on it - I haven't yet had to use them. imo, Win 10 is diabolical, and I've documented the things I hate about it so far in 8 pages (not including screen shots)

- - - Updated - - -

I have also 11, 10, & XP. XP is great but sometimes I need 7 for functions like a browser services plug-in, newer browsers, & voice recognition.
Otherwise I am mostly happy in XP. I've yet to really need 10 or 11, but I boot them sometimes. What about you?

Out of interest, how many PC's/laptops do you have?

- - - Updated - - -

Exactly. Looks like we may have some AI bots afoot.

I'm interested - can you explain? Is it an auto generated post?

 

[Alejandro85]

Driver availability. Not really a Windows itself thing, but once drivers for hardware become unavailable at the vendor's website it becomes increasingly difficult to manage things.

As an example, under my last Win7 install I've got a BSOD pretty much daily, and analysing those always yield the same result, a crash of the video driver, pointing out to a buggy driver. But since it's no longer on the Intel website, there is nothing I can update to try to fix it. After downgrading the computer to Win10 (on the same hardware, with pretty similar workload) no more of those crashes. The latest drivers (Win10 only) effectively solved the problem.

Many things on newer Windows work just horribly wrong, but it can be tamed with enough patience. Since older, usable Windows versions no longer feature full drivers such an effort becomes worthwhile.

 

[RD Mercer]

I just fired up my 7 Pro machine, I had to strap myself in my chair.

 

[razorboy]

I do, or may, use, or consider, new versions of Windows because new Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs,) which I use, keep updating and changing requirements, so that is my criteria. Recording software decides my OS, but I mostly use 7 because I don't need or want the newer DAW stuff.
I currently have a fairly hot Dell desktop in W11. I have to decide whether or not to roll it back to W10. The computer is still in the box. Decisions, decisions.

 

[CalebBurns]

I use my 10 desktop for tasks that require more speed, like schoolwork and games. I also use it when I know I'll be at home for a long time in the day. Steam doesn't work on Windows 7 anymore, but I don't think my laptop could handle many steam games for that long anyway. Otherwise, if I've got a minute, 7 has everything I need. In fact, it's interesting to learn just how many features were lost after 7, like briefcases, or Media Center, or half the control panel, or Aeroglass... The list goes on.

 

[Uitlander]

I have also 11, 10, & XP. XP is great but sometimes I need 7 for functions like a browser services plug-in, newer browsers, & voice recognition.

Lack of decent browsers (and the security certificates scam) forced me to leave XP Pro, and move on to Win 7. Not liking it like I did XP Pro, but such is life. I have MX Linux on a SSD in a spare 5.25 bay, and been fooling with it off and on for couple years now (my Plan B).

Win 7 is the end of the road for M$....with all the corporate spyware/malware shoehorned into every Windows rendition since, Win 10, 11, etc., has zero chance of entering my home.

 

[michael diemer]

I also use a DAW, namely, Reaper. The Reaper developers are awesome. Reaper not only works on Windows 7, it works on Vista, and possibly XP. I recently upgraded my original C drive to Windows 10, so I could test any newer software I might think I need. So far, I haven't found anything that doesn't work on W7. If I do, I will continue using W7, then export the project to W10 to apply, for example, a reverb effect that is better than anything I have on W7. I have W7 on its own SSD. I run Avast Premium and have no worries at all.

I read recently that shares of Windows 7 have actually increased, from about 1% to 9%. Most of the users appear to be in the Orient. I have read that most Vista users are in China, so maybe they are finally upgrading to W7?

 

[Bree]

....I read recently that shares of Windows 7 have actually increased, from about 1% to 9%. Most of the users appear to be in the Orient. I have read that most Vista users are in China, so maybe they are finally upgrading to W7?

Worldwide Windows 7 went from 3.59% in August to 9.61% in September.
Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide | Statcounter Global Stats

Windows 7 in Asia as a whole jumped from 5.64% in August to 18.67% in September.
Desktop Windows Version Market Share Asia | Statcounter Global Stats

But it's not down to China, there W7 decreased from 6.83% to 4.9% over the same period.
Desktop Windows Version Market Share China | Statcounter Global Stats

---edit---

It's Singapore! Over 90% are on Windows 7 (apparently)....


Desktop Windows Version Market Share Singapore | Statcounter Global Stats

....but appearances can be deceptive. Allegedly some AI startup is using millions of Win7 virtual machines to scrape the world's websites to train their AI.

 

[michael diemer]

Worldwide Windows 7 went from 3.59% in August to 9.61% in September.
Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide | Statcounter Global Stats

Windows 7 in Asia as a whole jumped from 5.64% in August to 18.67% in September.
Desktop Windows Version Market Share Asia | Statcounter Global Stats

But it's not down to China, there W7 decreased from 6.83% to 4.9% over the same period.
Desktop Windows Version Market Share China | Statcounter Global Stats

---edit---

It's Singapore! Over 90% are on Windows 7 (apparently)....

View attachment 425147
Desktop Windows Version Market Share Singapore | Statcounter Global Stats

....but appearances can be deceptive. Allegedly some AI startup is using millions of Win7 virtual machines to scrape the world's websites to train their AI.

Fascinating. I guess all bets are off, now that AI is on the loose.

 

[CalebBurns]

Worldwide Windows 7 went from 3.59% in August to 9.61% in September.
Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide | Statcounter Global Stats

Windows 7 in Asia as a whole jumped from 5.64% in August to 18.67% in September.
Desktop Windows Version Market Share Asia | Statcounter Global Stats

But it's not down to China, there W7 decreased from 6.83% to 4.9% over the same period.
Desktop Windows Version Market Share China | Statcounter Global Stats

---edit---

It's Singapore! Over 90% are on Windows 7 (apparently)....

View attachment 425147
Desktop Windows Version Market Share Singapore | Statcounter Global Stats

....but appearances can be deceptive. Allegedly some AI startup is using millions of Win7 virtual machines to scrape the world's websites to train their AI.

I got genuinely excited when I read the first part. People are moving back to Windows 7? That's pretty cool. Then I read the rest of it... That's what I get for getting my hopes up.