Windows 8 is about modern UI and apps. If you don´t like them, you don´t like 8. If you bypass modern UI, don´t use modern apps and use Classic Shell, the user experience is not so different from that of Windows 7. Not better, but neither much worse. You are really using a variant of 7.
If I had Win 7 on my main machine I wouldn't upgrade to Win 8, but if I could choose one for a new computer it would definitely be Win 8 with Metro.
Honestly, I don't particularly prefer one over other anymore. Whatever that comes with the computer it shall be.
Windows 7 without a doubt. As a Network Engineer Windows 8 makes it way to hard to get to the menus that power users use on a regular basis.
just right-click on the Start icon at the lower left. there's a whole bunch of Admin shortcuts there. including Control Panel which is convenient because i can use the Search feature in the CP for pretty much every Windows features.
Windows 7 and if no problems with 7 go to the next stable when support for 7 will finish. Or any preinstalled win.
Earlier i would have said windows 7. Now after missing around with a laptop with windows 8. I wold say that I would prefer windows 8.
They both have their pluses and minuses which can be overcome with 3rd party addons, but I will say 8 at this point.
I could swear that it was "Windows 7 x64" when I said about your sig. Although it's highly possible that I read it wrong since I need to get a new glasses. I don't really have much time to go to my doctor. Back on topic, in terms of edition variations, I would still prefer 8 and XP. Too many options will confuse the consumer IMO.
I like windows 7 since it has more compatible softwares and also it crashes less then windows 8. With windows 8 new design I had twice the pc crashed and had to revert back to basic win 8. I could not use any snap-shotting apps safely with it as I do with windows 7. So based on headache free and more apps and compatibility, I go with windows 7.
maybe Windows 8 does not want any 3rd party program to mess with the MBR. which, if it indeed is the case, is good, afaic.
OS crash issues are usually because of third party programs. Even on 7 there could be more crashes. I've managed to crash XP, 7, and 8 plus Symbian S60 3rd Edition if I can consider it as an achievement. So you're saying that the crash was caused by MetroUI? Seriously, for real? Might be the problem. But XP is much better for that.
In my case I've found Win XP to crash often, less in Win 7 and none yet in Win 8. +1 ....couldn't agree more.
Can you all give some key big advantages of Windows 8 over Windows 7? Like what are ones that will make someone say they just got to upgrade ?
Boot times, shut down times, a lot more responsive, smooth interface etc. Those would be the advantages for me. By more responsive i mean that everything feels faster. As an example in Windows 7 it took a second or more even to do basic things like opening folders (Documents, Downloads and many others) but now with Windows 8 everything pops up instantly.
