HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyers shun Windows 8

Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by dubfan on Monday January 20, 2014 @07:27PM (#7092585)

I've been using Windows 8 on my desktop PC for some time now (primarily used for gaming and entertainment, not development) and for my purposes it's a clear upgrade over 7. Yes, the Metro apps are terrible but you don't ever need to use them. I spend almost all of my time in the desktop, and the few times I need to use the new Start interface, the workflow is exactly the same as Win7 (press Windows key, start typing program name, hit Enter).

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Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by BlackDeath3 on Monday January 20, 2014 @07:40PM (#7092635)

This sounds like the same, unconvincing argument I always hear about Windows 8.

"It's a bit faster, there are some other minor obscure improvements, and if you just ignore all of the crappy new stuff it's not a big deal!"

If boot times are a big issue for you, then I get it. For me, they aren't, so I'm inclined to pass on the update. Perhaps it would work great with a Windows Phone or Surface (I'm tempted to try those at some point, so if anybody would like to share their experiences with theirs...), but it doesn't seem like it was designed for a desktop. So why should I put it on my desktop?

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Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by adamors on Monday January 20, 2014 @07:56PM (#7092701)

> if you just ignore all of the crappy new stuff it's not a big deal

It really isn't a big deal, because you're not being forced to use the Metro apps. You can populate the start menu with regular application shortcuts and you're on your way.

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Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by BlackDeath3 on Monday January 20, 2014 @07:57PM (#7092707)

So why the hell am I upgrading?

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Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by jongalloway2 on Monday January 20, 2014 @08:05PM (#7092732)

I use it on a three monitor desktop. My favorite new features are file explorer and task manager.

Also the skydrive + settings sync is really nice. Whenever I install on a new device, everything's set up on first boot.

Lots of other features that don't make headlines but are genuinely useful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_8

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Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by adamors on Monday January 20, 2014 @08:01PM (#7092723)

Faster, nicer UI, better multi-monitor support, better touch support, improved tools. Basically the same reasons you've upgraded to Windows 7 before that.

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Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by massysett on Monday January 20, 2014 @08:04PM (#7092728)

"I spend almost all of my time in the desktop, and the few times I need to use the new Start interface, the workflow is exactly the same as Win7"

OK, then why is it a "clear upgrade"?

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Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by ubercow13 on Monday January 20, 2014 @08:13PM (#7092770)

Everything feels faster and more responsive IMO. Dare I say the scheduler has been improved somewhat since 7 (that's a guess). Also there are a number of nice tweaks to the task manager and explorer, and some other things.

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Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by CamperBob2 on Monday January 20, 2014 @07:50PM (#7092670)

I spend almost all of my time in the desktop, and the few times I need to use the new Start interface, the workflow is exactly the same as Win7 (press Windows key, start typing program name, hit Enter).

I liked this workflow better when it was called DOS.

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Re:HP brings Windows 7 back 'due to popular demand' as buyer... by adamors on Monday January 20, 2014 @07:59PM (#7092712)

> I liked this workflow better when it was called DOS.

Knock it all you want, but it's obvious that people like working like this. OS X has Spotligh/Alfred, Linux has Gnome DO etc, it's basically on every OS.

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