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[TriDefiance]

I've been really curious if upgrading from a windows 7 platform to the new windows 8.1 would be a suitable upgrade? It's been something on the back of my mind, but since I have no idea on whether or not it's worth it then I would like to hear from you guys on some insight!

[soupcan]

There's literally 0 reasons to upgrade. There is DX11.1/.2, but it's not worth the $120 and games likely aren't going to require it until Win7 ends support. You could justify getting 8.x for a new machine (though Win7 is still ideal for a desktop), but it's definitely not worth upgrading from Win7. If MS doesn't backport the upcoming DX12 to Win7, that's a different story.

[Emilia]

Simply, no.

Windows 8 is the Vista of operating systems.
Windows 7 does exactly what needs to be done when you want it to.

[killermonkey]

I installed Linux Mint...

www.linuxmint.com

[Trent Easton]

God no....it's got more bugs then bashes diaper.

[Enzo.Matrix]

As someone who deals with this professionally.  It's my job...

If you have Windows 7, stick with it.
If you are getting a new system and for some dumb reason are stuck with 8.  Make sure you upgrade to 8.1 ASAP.  Then double check all your drivers.
Also make a local account.  You do not have to EVER create a MS account.

As much as I personally hate 8,  8.1 has made it near acceptable.  They just did a patch on Tuesday that makes it more normal for non-touch screen users.

[Kratos]

I had two customers with windows 8.0

Repairing the operating system wasn't easy. I couldn't get into fucking safe mode, because they disabled F8.

You have to go through 4-5 steps to boot into safemode.

The settings/control panel is non existent. The start menu is atrocious.

I am staying with Windows 7. 

[namajnaG]

There is a good Windows 7 skin for Windows 8 that can get rid of all the annoyances, and I've heard Win8 has better RAM usage than 7, but nonetheless, I am staying with Win7 because I'm used to it and I don't want to waste time configuring this.

[soupcan]

I hate to be nitpicky, but...

I had two customers with windows 8.0

Repairing the operating system wasn't easy. I couldn't get into fucking safe mode, because they disabled F8.

You have to go through 4-5 steps to boot into safemode.

You're making it sound harder than it has to be. The system can be booted into safe mode through the "Modern" control panel, through MSconfig or by failing to boot 3 times. Any power user using Windows has to at least be aware of msconfig.

The settings/control panel is non existent.

The classic control panel is still there, and can still be easily found with win+x, charms > settings (I know the idea of "charms" on the desktop isn't ideal or easily discoverable; that's not what I'm contesting), or search which still basically functions the same way it has since Vista.

The start menu screen is atrocious.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/04/future-windows-8-1-update-will-finally-bring-back-the-start-menu/

I've heard Win8 has better RAM usage than 7

Eh, realistically it's about the same. The improvements to Win8.1 are mostly going to benefit low-end mobile devices that would stick to the Modern UI anyways.

And to be clear, I'm not justifying an upgrade to 8.x.

[Rick Astley]

Just thought id let people know that they are taking Windows 7 off the market to promote the sale of Windows 8 and 8.1 so make sure that you guys get 7 before September

i still need to get windows 7 from XP.

[soupcan]

Just thought id let people know that they are taking Windows 7 off the market to promote the sale of Windows 8 and 8.1 so make sure that you guys get 7 before September

Win7 Professional will continue to be available for some time, while an end-of-sales date is only planned for the other versions.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/lifecycle

Still definitely a good idea to be stocking up on licenses, though.

i still need to get windows 7 from XP.

You should have done that months ago. Now you're just running naked through a minefield by continuing to use an OS older than the average CoD player.

[kraid]

Eww c'mon just because MS stopped the XP support doesn't mean that the OS cannot be used anymore.
As long as you have FW and AV software that still works with XP and recives updates, it shouldn't be nearly as risky as your minefield methapher.

In fact if there are less ppl using this OS it becomes unattractive for hackers as a target plattform while newer Versions like Win7/8 are becomming more attractive.

Honnestly i don't see a reason why someone who's using an old computer with XP should update the OS unless a seriouse hardware update is made too.

On my PC I've been using Win7 for a while now, but only since i updated my hardware and even before that i used dual boot with XP Pro 32bit and Win7 Pro 64bit.

My laptop on the other hand recived a downgrade from Win8 OEM to Win7 Pro 64bit.
Still using the Win8 RTM theme for it, since i prefer the simplicity of the design.

Maybe, if Win9 will be less focused on Mobile touch devices and combine the best things of 7&8, i might considder an upgrade.

[killermonkey]

Eww c'mon just because MS stopped the XP support doesn't mean that the OS cannot be used anymore.
As long as you have FW and AV software that still works with XP and recives updates, it shouldn't be nearly as risky as your minefield methapher.

Let me put it to you simply: XP is like the heartbleed bug except it will never be fixed.

Everytime you connect an XP machine to the internet you will be attacked. Period, end. of. story. Every website you visit KNOWS you are running Windows XP because your browser tells it so. You are broadcasting this fact on everything you do on the net.

Virus scanners do not prevent remote hacks on the kernel. All they can do is scan files for known signatures.

[Excidium]

Guess Ill be the odd one out.   I have 8 fresh on a new machine.  They upgraded me to 8.1 for free. Personally I have no issues with it at all, call me lucky. Yes took a min to get used to the new look but Desktop is practically the same as 7 just a few arrangements.  Performance is smooth.  I had 7 Ultimate and benched my rig, then installed 8.1 and benched. 8.1 was slightly higher in bench marks..but nothing to jump out of your seat about.  I guess Im a lucky user of the OS.  I say dont jump for an upgrade from 7 keep it. If your building a new Machine go for it !

[Rick Astley]

not to worry im going down to get windows 7 soon...

[kraid]

I still wouldn't overhype this. It only helps M$ to boost their Win7/8 Sales.

Sure, sooner or later there might be an exploit, hack, w/e, but as for now i cannot find any evidence that this allready happened.

Also, a newer OS doesn't neccessarly mean that you're 100% safe.
Whenever a security breach has been found, all the systems using the OS are still vulnerable till the update which might come next tuesday fixes the issue.

The only way to make sure that your Computer isn't infected by something (no matter which OS you're using) is to disconnect (unplug) it from the internet and don't use any external media also used on other PCs (such as external HDDs, Flash drives, CD-R, etc.).

Everything else, OS Updates, FW and AV can potentially fail to protect you under certain circumastances.

Ofc. the risk is there and now even bigger then before for XP users and i wouldn't do anything sensible like banking anymore on a XP machine, but still i'd rather use an XP machine then running through a minefield, no matter if naked or not.

[soupcan]

You can continue running XP -- it's just  irresponsible to use for anything important, especially if connected to the internet. "M$," as you like to say, has been supporting that old turd for over a decade. It's time for it to die, even if it needs a pillow over the face. Any other platform will have forced you to upgrade long ago in order to continue receiving updates.

[Kratos]

Every customer I meet tells me how I can downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7 or XP.

People dislike the OS. Windows 8 is another Vista like operating system. Windows 9 will hopefully do better.

[ZombieChowNomNom]

W8 is not as bad as everyone says it is one you get used to the new menu structure... I'd go with W8, since pretty soon you will only be able to play games on W8.  Thats how microsoft does it^^

[StupidMarioBros1Fan[1138]]

W8 is not as bad as everyone says it is one you get used to the new menu structure... I'd go with W8, since pretty soon you will only be able to play games on W8.  Thats how microsoft does it^^

There are a few things that you can't do though, some programs don't have a windows 8 version, I can't find the compatibility folders for the life of me (Project64 1.6 uses those folders a lot, so I only get to use like half of the program on a windows

People dislike the OS. Windows 8 is another Vista like operating system. Windows 9 will hopefully do better.

Apparently the new OS is Windows 10, supposedly the name "Windows 9" can break lazy programming.
http://gizmodo.com/windows-10-may-have-gotten-its-name-because-of-lazy-cod-1641383218

[kraid]

With all the attempts to get away from DirectX (e.g. Mantel, OpenGL) and windows only (SteamOS, Linux support), i doubt that MS will do something like restricting the new DX to win 8 or 9/10.

[Mangley]

Everytime you connect an XP machine to the internet you will be attacked. Period.

That's simply not the true and overly dramatic unless you make your home page an attack site. I'm still running XP on an install from 2011, no problems, I use multiple malware/virus scanners and I've only had one malware detection (false positive) in the past 2 years. I never bought into a 'hype' about windows XP being compromised just because MS dropped support and updates for it. That assumes that MS updates are what keep Windows computers secure in the first place. Obviously not true.

That being said I'm upgrading to Windows 7 VERY soon (I know I keep saying that but I will be! Promise )

MS is trying to entice people into newer versions of windows by locking new DirectX versions to them. That's the only real reason to upgrade but it's a moot point since the entire graphics technology industry is moving away from the DirectX api over to OpenGL because of less overhead and also nobody wants their graphics features locked to Windows 8, 9 etc when the adoption rates are so poor. (Why else do you think MS is offering Windows 9 to Windows 8 customers for free?).

[Jonathon [SSL]]

I mean, XP was nice, but it's time is far over I think.

I used Vista when it was new, I had zero issues and liked it.

I used Windows 7 when it was new, I had zero issues and loved it.

I waited a few years to upgrade to Windows 8.1. Getting over the slightly different program launching system look some getting used to, but overall I think it's a fine (not great) OS that is an improvement over its successor. Just disable all the metro stuff and you basically have a sleek and faster version of Windows 7.

[mbsurfer]

Since support for XP has been dropped, if there is a single virus that can affect an XP machine, that means that virus can affect EVERY XP machine. Then virus and malware software don't have to update for XP systems, since support for XP has been officially dropped. That's why it isn't safe.

[Enzo.Matrix]

Put 10 on my laptop.  I like the changes so far.

The hybrid start was all it really needed.  And also fixing the stupidity of metro apps.

[Kratos]

Windows 10 Tech Preview has a keylogger in the OS.

Windows 8 is the new Vista

Windows 7 is what you should have no matter what.

I like XP, but it doesnt support new hardware and support has ended. Im thinking to setup a offline XP machine for old games that work flawlessly on it.