HP promotes Windows 7 PC sales; says they are "back by popular demand"

[A Guy]

HP promotes Windows 7 PC sales; says they are "back by popular demand"

Microsoft may be attempting to get people to buy PCs with Windows 8.1 installed, but it appears HP is trying to appeal to buyers who want to stick with the older Windows 7 operating system. HP's home page is currently spotlighting a sale of Windows 7 computers, and uses the term "back by popular demand" as part of its pitch.

The fact that HP's website is now openly selling Windows 7 PCs to regular consumers, well over a year after the launch of Windows 8, may hint that the company thinks offering the older OS on some of its systems might be a better selection than Microsoft's newest software.

Source

A Guy

 

[mjf]

You'd need to know the licensing deal HP had with Microsoft for OEM Windows 7 licenses. Maybe they are clearing their old stock or responding to genuine customer demand for Windows 7.

 

[Iforgot]

But M$ hasn't withdrawn win7 as a sale-able item, have they?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I though this was hilarious when I first saw it since HP fell all over themselves before Win 8 was actually RTM to quickly (and a bit smugly) announce that they wouldn't be writing drivers to allow their Win 8 machines to be "downgraded" to Win 7. I hope other manufacturers start doing the same since I have no use for HP.

 

[indianacarnie]

Alienware is still selling with 7 installed, so is MSI (if I remember right from a couple of days ago) as does Toshiba and Asus. True, most of these are higher end gaming laptops but not exclusively.

 

[HammerHead]

Win 7 And MSI

I recently bought an MSI laptop with win 8 installed. Before I bought I confirmed that it could be downgraded. MSI had all the Win 7 drivers collected and waiting to be dl'd.

 

[ThrashZone]

Got to give the customer what they want,
Bottom line is sells,
Cheers.

 

[HAVOC]

Can't you downgrade any Windows 8 system to 7 if the hardware supports it?

 

[ThrashZone]

Not without a disk,
Cheers.

 

[alphanumeric]

Can't you downgrade any Windows 8 system to 7 if the hardware supports it?

Yes if you have the install media and a valid product code you could roll back just about any PC, assuming you can find all the required drivers etc. Some manufacturers will offer free downgrade rights if you buy that PC with 8 Pro installed. You can get the Windows 7 install media and a product code to use for no extra charge. It's referred to as "downgrade rights". 8 Core does not qualify for downgrade rights.

 

[Layback Bear]

We will never know the agreement between HP and Microsoft.

My thinking is HP is in the business of selling computers not operating systems.
They are pushing Windows 7 because it sells more computers.

 

[mjf]

Re Windows 7 Driver:
If you install Windows 7 doesn't MS still provide a comprehensive automatic driver download?
If this support hasn't ended, when will it end?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

It turns out HP's advertising campaign is a bit misleading in that they have been offering some PCs with Win 7 all along. See here for more details.

 

[HAVOC]

The IT guy at work just ordered a bunch of HP's with Windows 7. So is this just for the corporate environment or consumers also?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

The IT guy at work just ordered a bunch of HP's with Windows 7. So is this just for the corporate environment or consumers also?

Apparently both. Check here.

 

[andrew129260]

Re Windows 7 Driver:
If you install Windows 7 doesn't MS still provide a comprehensive automatic driver download?
If this support hasn't ended, when will it end?

Everything you want to know here:

Windows lifecycle fact sheet - Microsoft Windows Help

Windows 7 is going to be around for a long time. Thank God.

Basic drivers are not as good as dedicated drivers from the manufacturer. Most companies are starting to provide them now for windows 7 since a lot of people are filling up there phones with angry questions on how to even do something on windows 8.

I have a lot of friends in retail and they state that in my state, almost every windows 8 PC they sell gets returned, because they get frustrated trying to use it.

 

[mjf]

Certainly I won't let MS auto install drivers during a routine Windows update without asking me. In particular, I would always take control of graphics from Nvidia or whoever the manufacturer may be.

 

[HAVOC]

Certainly I won't let MS auto install drivers during a routine Windows update without asking me. In particular, I would always take control of graphics from Nvidia or whoever the manufacturer may be.

I don't either. I let Windows install drivers during the OS install and after that I get updated drivers from the manufacturers.