How to decide: should you upgrade to Windows 8?

linnemeyerhere said:

I've ordered a cheap upgrade to W8 Pro and will hold on to it for a possible upgrade later but only because it was so cheap. W7 is still rocking my stability world and it's had to imagine how a new look or a few app's would matter much till I have a touch screen system....but that's just me !

I plan to do the same before the upgrade price is over with but probably won't install to this system but to one with a new board (UEFI). That will be my excuse for why I need to rebuild from the board up.

i just want to know that is windows 8 is good for programming

I run both. Win 8 is my main OS, and win 7 is installed in a VM. With three monitors I can run both OS's at the same time. On the Hanspree 25" is win 8 main screen then on my 23" Dell (2048 x 1152) is where I run iTunes, PDF reader, web browser (this monitor is always in portrait mode full time). Finally on the 24" Hanspree is win 7 in a VM (this is usually full time, hence both OS's are running at the same time).

Hi there
W7 if you use complex applications which have lots of sub menus, sub sub menus etc -- Windows 8 Horizontal tiles with no hierarchical structure is a pain for launching these typoes of applications

For simple apps home users might well like Windows 8 -- it's snappier - especially on lower powered hardware, built in ISO virtual mounter is very useful, File history for keeping track of your data updates also good, security is streets better than 7 -- built in (confusingly called Windows defender --it's a "re-branded MSE" built right into the kernel --always a good idea), better hardware detection.

I'm using Windows 7 on my main computer but have a nice ultrabook type of laptop where I run Windows 8.

For people who just want to "Try before buy" - download the ENTERPRISE 90 day (or is it 180 -- can't remember now) trial W8 version and install as a VM. Install of W8 is really EASY and automatic.

@mic123

download the free Visual studio from Ms -- you don't need the complex version from msdn - the freebie is more than enough. -- plenty of programming for W8 both "Classical" and Metro style apps.

I do find the whole Metro (W8 UI) stuff a pain -- I rarely if ever run full screen mode unless I'm watching videos / movies. However it's possible to run W8 almost entirely from the desktop.

Touch screens are better handled in W8 if that's your thing and W8 will have the same interface whether on a W8 smartphone, a tablet or a computer -- so this could also be an advantage for some.


Enc screenshot of W8 start -- you can see it gets a bit complicated if you have loads of applications -- that's where a "Classical menu" system is better.

clicking Desktop (bottom left tile) brings you into the traditional desktop familiar to XP / W7 users.

Cheers
jimbo

Windows 8, agreed with all the other pro's associated with that OS. The only problem that I find with windows 8 is if you have some what of an older system, the driver support for that hardware is very little to none existent. Even though windows 8 has a lot of generic drivers but they just doesn't cut the mustard.

So in my case and like most others with this older hardware, even though windows 8 runs, it doesn't run well or at it's potential and eventually there are problems that arise down the road. So in order to keep and use windows 8 we must upgrade that hardware to maximize the efficiency of windows 8.

While dual booting with it, I did get quite use to 8 and damn near like it.

Had Windows 8 did not like it so went back to seven its a matter of personal taste.

mic2013 said:

i just want to know that is windows 8 is good for programming

The OS in itself is not important, but the IDE you use is what matters, as well as the type of programs you do. Where Win8 becomes important is in testing. As every day more computers will appear with Win8 preinstalled, it's important that you test your programs in it just to make sure they're compatible, so ideally you should have at least a VM with 8 for testing purposes.

I got the Win8 Pro upgrade for Xmas along with a new 120GB SSD. Upgraded from Win7 Pro, been running it for a little more than a week with no problems at all.

The interface took a little getting used to but now I don't think about it even without a touchscreen. I love the performance improvements.

However, I still have Windows 7 installed on the family computers just because of the learning curve with 8. And also a copy of Win7 for my PC in case I ever want to revert back.