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Which one would you choose?

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Varick, 2014/07/04.

  1. 2014/07/04
    Varick

    Varick Inactive Thread Starter

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    It seems to me that Microsoft has an "every other" release of OS's. What I mean, is that it seems that every other OS is good.

    Windows '97 = Great
    Windows '98/2000 = Bad/riddled with problems.
    Windows XP = Great
    Windows Vista = Bad/riddled with problems.
    Windows 7 = Good/Great.

    I haven't heard enough about Windows 8 from people I know, so I can't say anything about it.

    I currently have Vista (which I can't stand - I've never had so many problems. I've had '97 & XP Pro before)

    Which system would you all choose if you were to upgrade from Vista? 7 or 8?

    Which leads me to another question:

    Should I buy the complete OS or should I use the "Upgrade" option?

    Thanks
     
  2. 2014/07/05
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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  4. 2014/07/05
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Hi Varick, Welcome to WindowsBBS. :) W7 has been the accepted OS since it was introduced but those of us who have made the jump into W8/8.1 have been quite happy with getting used to it as it is more secure than any other Windows OS.
    I, along with others use Start8 which gives us a Desktop operation like W7 and as I don't have a Touch screen monitor, it makes it easier to work your way with W8.1.
    I've been using W8/8.1 since August last year with a Notebook and main comp and a couple of months back, I built a new comp for the wife and installed W8.1 and she loves it. Hope this helps your thoughts. Neil.
     
  5. 2014/07/05
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    No such thing as Windows 97. I assume you meant 95 - which was good, but not great. Many preferred Windows 3.11 for Work Groups and felt W95 was a step backwards.

    2000 should not be compared to W98. W2K was designed to be connected to large corporate networks (and was more akin to XP than 98). W98 was designed for "stand-alone" (not networked) home use.

    W98 was not bad at all - in fact, it was good, and made great (for the day) when Win98SE came out.

    You skipped Windows Me - but so should have Microsoft. ;)

    Windows 7 was indeed great, but it is already nearly 5 years old! Windows 8/8.1 is more secure than W7 (reason alone to go with W8), it offers better performance, and better support for current and future hardware.

    Therefore, this is a no brainer - go with W8. And I agree with Neil - If the complaint with Windows 8/8.1 is primarily the Windows 8 "metro" style Start Page and user interface (UI), then I recommend you check out Start8. Probably one of the best $5 I ever spent.
     
    Bill,
    #4
  6. 2014/07/05
    Varick

    Varick Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank you for the reviews and thoughts so far. It helps a lot and I hope more people post on this thread. I like to hear a myriad of reviews from many people from many different points of view before I pull the trigger on something I'll be using almost everyday for the next 3-5 years.

    V
     
  7. 2014/07/05
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Just after Win 8 was released I would suggest people to stay with - or upgrade to - Win 7

    But that was already nearly 2 years ago.

    I'd say go with Windows 8 / 8.1 and it you (like me) don't like to see that stupid 'tile' interface, install Start 8 & be done with it!
     
    Arie,
    #6
  8. 2014/07/15
    ThomasJK

    ThomasJK Well-Known Member

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    If we consider the early versions of Windows, like 2.xx, I have to disagree with this idea of every other OS being good. I've used Win 2.11 (386 version), 3.0, 3.1 and 3.11 for workgroups, and I would say each of them was better than the previous one, although I fail to see the greatness of Win 3.11 fwg compared to Win 3.1 in stand-alone, home use.
    And as much as I like the nostalcig UI of 3.1 (I'm posting this with Win 3. computer) feel comfortable with it, and don't think its considerably more unstable than Win9x's, I admit that Win 95 was a big step forward what comes to intuitiveness of UI for the average user, easiness of setting up & configuring the system, technical improvements, etc.
    I have also used Win98SE quite a lot, and liked it. I've used ME too, and don't really understand why so many say it was bad. Was it so, that the minimum system requirements for ME were considerably higher than for 98?
    I never used Win 2000, but have used xp from -02, and liked it, more than Vista, which I had used occasionally.

    What comes to modern OS, that Varick is about to choose, I would choose Win 7. I have used Win 7 at work, and I think its OK. And the change from the older OS's like Vista and xp, isn't as radical, as with Win 8.x, which I have used a bit.
    But since the weirdness of Win 8 /8.1's 'tile interface' can be circumvented with that Start8 (I have no experience of it, but many are recommending it) and if a latest OS is preferred, then I'd guess, Win 8.x would be the way to go.
     
  9. 2014/07/16
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    I switched to Me from 98SE and liked it too. But there were too many people who had too many problems with Me and for that reason, I feel MS would have done better (reputation wise) if they had just skipped it.

    I am glad to see you contradicted yourself. I see no reason whatsoever to bottleneck modern hardware (and security) with a legacy operating system.

    Again, Windows 7 is already nearly 5 years old. I am NOT saying everyone should go out and upgrade to Windows 8 if they are currently using Windows 7. But I am saying if buying a new computer, or upgrading the motherboard on an old computer, you should use the latest, most secure operating system. And for Windows, that's 8.1.

    The gravy, on top of better security, is better performance! And since the big complaint (the new W8 Start Page) can easily be circumvented, that is no excuse.
     
    Bill,
    #8

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