Windows 7 or 8.1

[IWolfieI]

I'm getting a laptop this or next month and I'm not sure which one to get, I built my current rig and decided not to get it because I was comfortable with 7, but is windows 8.1 any good in comparason? It's be great to here some opinions from those who have switched from 7 to 8.

 

Edit: Also which would be better 770m or 8970m?

[WoodenMarker]

Windows 8.1 is better. Whether you like it or not depends on your preference.

[_ASSASSIN_]

8.1 get start is back done

[Razarza]

8.1 and get startisback

[Whiskers]

8.1.

 

I find that the Start Screen is a superior choice to the start menu in terms of aesthetics, functionality and speed. It's more efficient and pleasing to use. I also find that the performance improvements over Windows 7 are quite noticeable and the SSD optimisations are lovely.

 

[Skeletonfish]

windows 8.1

[Assassin]

8.1 no brainer. Forget 7

[IWolfieI]

So would it be worth upgrading my desktop to 8.1 too?

[Razarza]

So would it be worth upgrading my desktop to 8.1 too?

If you already have Win7 on your desktop I wouldn't upgrade unless you could get a key for $20.

[Whiskers]

If you already have Win7 on your desktop I wouldn't upgrade unless you could get a key for $20.

 

Agreed.

 

The improvements of Windows 8.1 are quite nice, but not necessarily worth the price tag at the moment. But if you happen to be in a position to obtain a key for a reasonable sum of money, go for it!

[Hirad123]

I've only used windows 8 with the metro UI so I personally would go 7 but if start is back really makes it better then I don't see any reason not to go with 8.1.

[creativename]

8.1 no contest. Upgrading from 7 isn't worth it, but if you're buying, then forget 7.

[aidenrelkoff]

8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   8.1   

but no really, win 8 is around 45% faster just using it and its around 125% faster boot, i have a 7200rmp 1Tb WD blue drive and i get to the login screen in around 13 seconds, after logging in it take around 8 second to get to the desktop and load every icon

[DudeWazap]

Get Windows 8.1 it works fine.

[TriBeard]

If you have windows 7 you're probably fine without upgrading. That said, if you can find a cheap license or are building a new system, there's no real reason to not go with 8.1. It's faster and has some nice new features, and doesn't offer any real cons, especially with startisback or start8 or one of the many other start menu replacements. 

[Guest]

I've only used windows 8 with the metro UI so I personally would go 7 but if start is back really makes it better then I don't see any reason not to go with 8.1.

I have windows 8 since launch and never used metro...

[Guest]

Get Windows 8.1 it works fine.

To the prison Shana...

[ImGeorge]

8.1, just make sure you enable boot to desktop.

[DudeWazap]

To the prison Shana...

 But I like it.

[GoodBytes]

Windows 8.1

Here is why I like Windows 8.1 on a mobile device

-> The Start Screen makes jumping to games, and programs really easy with a touchpad and touch screen. Most touchpad have poor precision handling, but easy to move across the screen. The Start Screen, well organized, is the best for this

-> SkyDrive (soon OneDrive) integration. Sync'ing your files between your system is just awesome.

-> Windows 8.x syncs your wireless password and settings, Windows settings, Windows 8 Apps (Modern UI Apps), and preferences between your Windows 8 machine (customizable). When comes re-installing, it's truly awesome when you are ready to go where your settings and wireless passwords and configuration are just sync, and off you go.

-> Super fast boot with 4-6 sec from power button to desktop (with SSD, UEFI and GOP ready graphic card). Windows 8 gets you ready to start your session in s snap

-> Fast and secure with SecureBoot, blocking malware and root kits from taking control of your system by making itself an OS, and then boot Windows, and be able to render your anti-virus and any security software 100% useless.

-> Support for Microsoft Precision touchpad. Microsoft got sick and tired of manufacture using abysmal touchpads, and build an entire infrastructure to manage the touchpad control with the OS for a smoother and better experience, Not all touchpad support Microsoft Precision touchpad. Only the decent and good ones.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-8/touchpad

Be sure that your laptop has a Precision Touchpad compatible touchpad.

-> Improved search

-> XBox Music free streaming service (over 20 million+ songs and growing) Paid subscription give you unlimited music download and streaming without ads playable on all devices with XBox Music (Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, iOS and Android, as for Zune MP3 player, WIndows XP, Vista and 7, and Windows Phone 7, you can use the Zune desktop software.

-> Improved high-DPI scaling great for high density screen. Not great, but it's something until software maker gets with the time and make their software high-DPI friendly

-> Windows Touch and Ink API allowing software to take full advantage with ease multi-touch display, and digitize pen with pressure sensitivity, eraser, and extra pen buttons. (This is more for convertible devices like the Surface Pro 2). So far, Civilization 5 support multi-touch control, and I find it really fun to play a AAA title game with touch. Now if only Blizzard can make StarCraft 2 be touch friendly it would be great. But I guess it's a question of time.

-> Improved multi-display support

-> File History (allows you to go back in time on a file or folder, by doing backups every 10min, 30min, 1h, well you get the idea. No performance drop when setting it even down to 10min)

and more.

[«ЙΩηFïČŧÌΩη»]

No reason not to use 8.1, I use it on my desktop and SurfacePro2.

[JonHewett95]

Windows 8.1 is a very nice OS, and although I have a fairly powerful system, the boot time difference is extremely noticeable. Plus I personally believe the desktop aesthetics are so much smoother than windows 7, and right clicking on the new start bar gives you pretty much everything you need.