Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?

Subject: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 06:21 PM

I need to buy a new or refurbished desktop computer. I
have found a number of candidates for decent (read "low") prices,
but a number of the best of them are offered only with (you
should pardon the expression) Windows 8.

I will not have a Windows 8 computer! I don't want to
buy a new steep learning curve, and in addition to that
I've heard too many horror stories about W8.

I can buy Windows 7 at a fairly low cost, and there are good
deals on acceptable-to-me computers with (you should pardon
the expression) Windows 8, but is it possible to "downgrade"
a W-8 machine to Windows 7? And if it is possible, would I
be taking on a big mess of troubles?

Can someone here advise me? Would that John-in-Kansas were
still around.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 06:59 PM

When you purchase...it is important...very important that you purchase an OEM Win7 disk..

You do NOT want a factory installed...system where you are required to burn the backup. Take the extra step...and "take the bullet."

The original disk will cost an additional 100 USD.

YOU may want to consider a "dual boot" and begin playing around with the free sourced Lynix.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Turn off automatic updates...and load updates as YOU view needed.

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 07:36 PM

Dave.. I got a Win7 (professional) a year ago, and I am delighted.. It's a Dell. At a place called MicroCenter it was a very nice deal. WIN7 works quite well and is not a big change from XP... and the professional model allows me to use 32 bit XP programs (X86, as opposed to the 64 bit used by WIN7.

I also will not mess with 8...

Let me know if you want more info & specifics.

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 07:50 PM

Well, Dave, don't think Windows 7 is going to be flawless. I spent two hours on the phone this morning dealing with a Windows 7 disaster. I talked the staff member through the repair, though. It was caused by an automatic update. Maybe Gargoyle was right about suggesting that they be turned off.

I know this isn't the Conventional Wisdom, but I really liked Windows 8, and I like Windows 8.1 even better. It took me a while to set up my desktop the way I wanted, but now I work as efficiently as I did with Win 7 and I have a number of extra features I really like.

And then I added a second monitor, and now I'm in seventh (or eighth) heaven. I set up a Win 7 computer with a second monitor early this week, and it also works well - but not as well as my Win 8.1 setup with two monitors.

The way I figure it, Win 8.1 will have a much longer lifetime than I would have had if I had turned down the free upgrade and kept Win 7 on my computer. I was afraid I was going to have staff training problems when I acquired a number of Windows 8 computers at work, but they all caught on quite quickly - even my boss.

But then there's one Windows Vista computer that I brought home to repair. I couldn't get motivated to fix it, so I bought a new computer for $278 and skipped the hassle. Anybody want a Windows Vista computer?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 04:18 AM

I have both a W7 & a W8 machine & if you just hit the windows key you go straight to the desktop on W8 & then it's not much different from W7.
Windows 10 is lurking in the wings, which sounds like an improved W7
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 04:35 AM

Get a Win 8.1 machine (or a Win 8 and take the free upgrade to 8.1) - I used XP for years, and moved direct to 8.1 when I bought my new laptop in April 2014. No great dramas getting used to 8.1 whatsoever - a few minor changes but, behind the 'Start' screen it's pretty familiar and straightforward. Nothing to fear.

I've got pretty much everything set up to run from the Start screen tiles, I don't mess around using the 'old' Windows Desktop.

BTW, I'm not a youthful computer-geek, I'm a 67 year-old retired accountant and average musician. 👍 😜

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 04:38 AM

I would try to maximise the RAM. That will give some speed advantage. SSD HDD and USB3 before Win 8 is considered. All give real advantages. What is the KILLER advantage with Win 8? Yea quite, just as I thought. Nix.

From what I see of the Micro$oft progression is that simple features like searching for files by name &/or content is (even in Win7) reduced to filename only. OK contents search is a time burden but if it is the only way you will wait. Or not now with Micr$oft. Features you rely on for peace of mind may vanish. Like Windows Mail and Outlook having reduced features in Win 8. The ones that give you a warm comfortable feeling are not there now. In the name of security (mendaciously).

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 04:42 AM

I now have a laptop and a tablet with Windows 8.1 installed. They both work fine and I have no more problems with it than I've had with previous versions of Windows. In fact, I think that Windows 8.1 is a pretty good operating system and easy to learn, especially on a touch-screen device. I do not understand the prejudice against it. I suspect that a lot of this prejudice has been spread by fanatical Apple fans who see W8 as a threat to their favourite OS.

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 06:51 AM

I'm no expert. We had XP and avoided Vista as we had heard horror stories. When we upgraded our techie agreed we would be better to go to 7 until bugs fixed with 8 and said we were right to avoid Vista.
RtS

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: GUEST,gnomad passing through
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 06:55 AM

Lots of advice here, but no answer to OP's original question.How-to article on PC Advisor.

I can't speak for the accuracy of the article, not having had cause to check it out, but the source is at least a reputable one.

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: GUEST,DaveRo
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 07:07 AM

"I can't speak for the accuracy of the article..."

Whatever its accuracy, it's 16 months old. Windows 8.1 came out this year. Most reviewers reckon it addressed most of the problems in Windows 8.

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: artbrooks
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 10:11 AM

Like others, I have Win 8.1 and have no real problems with it. Dell (and I'm sure others) will still sell you a brand new PC with Win 7 installed. On the other hand, Windows 10 (they are apparently skipping 9) is supposedly due out sometime in 2015.

Dell store

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 02:39 PM

nobody seems to know what the killer advantage is with Win8.
Touch screen is only useful if you have a touch screen.
It has affinity to Windows phones but if you don't have a Windows phone there is no advantage. And affinity isn't "sameness".
I find useful features not available in Win7. What has vanished in Win8?
A computer expert told me his woes trying to set up e-mail in the resident e-mail client and I can't recall there was a solution other than use IMAP which removes features the owner had relied on with POP3.

I have used the in-built features to install e-mail and my ".co.uk" (explicitly declared) domain name turned into a ".de" extension. No it is not the fault of the ISP, it is clever software that doesn't work.

My advice has always been - get what you have learned over the last 10 years, only get a faster one. XP to Win8 is two leaps and Win7 is a big enough leap.

How many times have you heard "Well it works on my computer". People have little understanding of other people's needs.

A far more important facet is virus protection. And there are as many opinions on that one as there are posts. Discuss.

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 05:29 PM

I agree basically with Mr. Red. I have never seen the advantage to upgrading every program... and especially to operating systems... until & unless there are clear & specific advantages that affect YOU.

I went from WIN 3.1 to WIN 98 to WIN XP to WIN 7... after reading all the reviews and when needing to replace PCs. I skipped all the interim versions which largely were money making projects for MicroSoft. 'New' systems are a major source of income for them... of course they will offer a new one every few years, whether one is 'needed' or not. Of course they can offer a few tweaks and 'features' with any update-- just ask yourself whether YOUR usage patterns needs to be 'cutting edge'.. and whether you might cut yourself on the new cutting edge.

WIN 8 was rushed out to work on portable devices, and had its problems on decks. 8.1 was rushed out to correct a lot of those problems. Several good people have said that "WIN 8.1 works fine" for them 'after a few tweaks' and with some practice. I don't see too many comments on new advantages.

caveat emptor

(by the way...this post was done on a WIN98 machine which is "no longer supported", but which is still going fine...using an Opera browser which is "no longer recognized" by many sites...)

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Nick
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 05:42 PM

We use 7 and 8 at home and recently have a 10 machine to play with. Also increasingly getting used to server 2012. Once you get some basic geography and signposts they really aren't that different.

I now quite like the thing of just typing what you want on the desktop(eg SQL management) and it finds what you want. Very easy.

Most people run things on computers rather than do lots in explorer. Once you know how to launch something what does it matter?

Disliked windows ME and Vista.

The general thing seems to be like one - miss one - like one

Windows 95 No
Windows 98 Yes
Windows ME Definitely no
Windows Xp Yes
Vista No
Win 7 Yes
which would make 8 a No and 10 a yes...

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 07:29 PM

Okay, for those who have been listening impatiently for
the "thud", I'll drop the other shoe.

I investigated (though not in this order), the Dell site, Staples, Fry's Electronics, New Egg, OutofStock.com, and a couple others. I was eager to take advantage of the Black Friday specials. Of the offerings in my target price range, a decided minority came with W7; no surprise there. The largest number of those eligibles
were from a manufacturer in which I no longer have confidence.

I ended up buying a refurbished HP 8000 SFF from Staples. It comes with W7.

I thank those who took the time to give me advice in this thread.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Tech: Downgrade new computer? 8>7?
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 09:51 PM

Ok Dave... have fun.