It's official: Windows 7 is THE best Windows version ever!

HowToGeek has just ranked the Top 10 Windows versions at HERE. Win7 is TOP rated. Win10 is a distant 5th place.

Me? I installed Win 7 after I reluctantly moved up from WinXP and still use it. By the way, XP is also ranked higher than Wiin10. Chortle Guffaw Snicker.

 

Sure it is, 10 years ago.

 

Interesting article. I remember liking 98SE a lot better than 95.

Thanks for posting, @bellgamin

 

Been a MS skeptic since Windows 98SE and their cheesy updates way back then. Always had that gnawing feeling Micro was going to turn it into a mass spy machine. Well hello Windows 10.

Happy with Windows 8 BUT if I hadn't skipped Windows 7 I would prolly be that camp instead of 8.

 

Honestly, I don't see great or substantial differences or improvements in the Windows versions after Windows 2000. Gui is more or less the same - except 10's Start Menu -, folders too, main features too.... The system become increasingly invasive, intrusive and need more space ( i.e.: winsxs folder ). More.... I have 10 on two machines ( with the same third part applications ): on the Note Book it works, in the pc it's impossible to update ( searched in Google for days, posted here.... )

 

Win 98 was good. Win XP was great. As for 95, had endless problems with it, but it was so different than 3.11 that I stuck with it. I moved to 98 when I got a new computer. As for Win 10, I am underwhelmed. It works okay here and is stable, but I might someday drop back to 8.1 which is just as stable and a lot faster than 10 on this laptop.

 

To each their own, I know better to try and change someone's mind who thinks W7 is the best. Just do whatever works for you, I am more than ok with 10 myself and wouldn't be caught dead running an outdated 7.

 

This is all obviously subject to opinion. I would put Vista or even ME on this list before Windows 8.

 

Vista and ME was horrible for me. Windows 10 is good. I just hate how many processes are running and the spyware garbage. XP was good for it's day. W7 was my favorite. But with the newer AMD boards, they don't support W7 drivers anymore.

 

Awesome. With so much negative feedback I seen over the years it's pretty cool to learn some actually found Vista or ME to their liking over what was the latest when Windows 7 first came out.

 

I too would put Vista above Windows 8.
Can't say about Win 10 because never used it and never will.

 

As most long already know, it was during the XP years that 64 bit came along.

I suppose security had run it's course for 32bit systems so far as many top notch HIPS didn't transition. However many great security tools were also handy to have and many of those did indeed fashion their inventions to be compatible with the 64bit

 

At least all my windows run rock stable, Windows 7 had its latest backup 2019, but last usage was beginning 2016. Windows 8 stopped 2014, Windows 8.1 started here 2015. No Apps, no Firewall, no Defender, Windows 7 Startmenu, equivalent fast - and currently supported until 2023 - what else do I need?
(i dropped Win XP 2013, one year before going EOL, moving to Win7)

Microsoft is following the regular path as many programs owning a "cloud" functionality. Or do you really think that antivirus cloud behavior transmit only samples? Seriously? Google Software/OS, Adobe aso. - any valuable software vendor is tracking you with its "cloud"/"feedback", not only when crashing.

My Windows 10 is a reduced build of my own, I had LTSB/LTSC as an example which is also installed (but running out of service)

OFC they could, but they won't - because of W7 EOL. And it makes sense, even for those with some older software and getting paid ESU (extended support updates). You better have some spare hardware because not all programs are compatible to windows 10. In fact Windows 10 changed compatibility to some software after 1903.

But Windows 10 has an os market share >75% - 3 of 4 Systems running Win10 now.
https://gs.statcounter.com/os-version-market-share/windows/desktop/worldwide

I like continuity, but using Windows is in parts the complete opposite. Same and more for browsers - i have some dev editions installed to check out where its journey is heading to, do i like it or not?
But for no money i would keep a high vulnerable OS which can hacked with ease. I would call it luck for the users.

 

I agree with Windows 7 being the best. After that I would rank Windows 8.1 as second and Windows 10 as third. Then XP, 98... Off course that just my opinion.

 

Windows 8 was probably okay as far as reliability and all. Windows 8.1 Pro was great, stable, reliable, fast, and I've never had it blue screen on me.

Windows 7 Pro, which I had for a time on this laptop before installing the included upgrade to 8.1 pro and then again to 10 pro, was a pain in the rear. Every single day, at least once, it would crash dump. My wife, who has same model laptop (we got both together), is still with 7 Pro and suffers the same problem. Every day, a crash dump. I solved the problem by upgrading to 8.1. She refuses to upgrade even to 8.1 Pro. Some old software she still needs and uses might not work on the newer OS's.

 

Yes, have an old intel setup and a dell laptop that can run W7 and such.

 

Still using W7P64. I believe with the right software, smarts & common sense it is still safe to run. Contrary to M$ scare tactics.

 

I agree. I rarely updated my W7 machine as it was, more worried about updates pushing W10 or tracking..

 

+1

 

+2

 

Windows 10 might be chugging along luring more user's to it but Windows 8.1 is been performing spectacularly for me for years without issue. Similar to @Chuck57 results, my 8.1 (several of them) is only ever bluescreen'd coz of rare hardware issue. Namely the connection junction where my HDD would occasionally slip out of socket. The O/S itself never does.

Windows 7 is been so popular that I now wish I had of switched instead of keeping with XP until Windows 8 came out.

Windows 10 is still way off in the future for my needs. Everything that can be discussed and concerns raised have been aired out so it's all a matter of user's personal choice and how PC savvy they are to fine tuning & securing it tight.

 

Hi Easter yea the 32bit days brings back some memories. remember on XP we used to use Eqsecure with Alycon's rule set. Eqsecure would lock down the OS very tight. And remember Malware Defender that was a good HIPS too. Is there no more HIPS these days like EQS?

 

Absolutely. EQsecure with Alycon's rule set was extremely effective on XP. That HIPS would be in full play today IF ONLY the developers would have recoded it for x64bit compatibility. I wouldn't hesitate to use it OR Malware Defender.

Good to see you @arran

It's really not much of a surprise to me that Windows 7 still gets raves even compared to Windows 10. I have some experience with 10 but oddly never touched 7 but adapted many custom & security softwares to 8.1 designed for 7.

 

Pretty darn close to how I would summarize my experience too, except I never used 3.11

Did you ever use System Safety Monitor for XP? An all time number 1 classic in my books