To go Win7?.....

[Gray_Area]

I found these interesting comments/thoughts:

Some will update to 8 and find that they have downgraded their multipurpose computers to being large smartphones, minus the phone. Massive displeasure with this will either lead to the re-divergence of Windows for PC and Windows for phone or push the savvy computer-using world to Linux distros.

I'm kind of curious about what will happen with the XP mode in 7 that's really an XP virtual machine.


On my main PC rig, I was going to switch to 7 later this year. But should I think about going 8?

Second, my main arcade rig is net-connected. Because it displays native resolutions, I can't use 7. Or can I via the XP mode? Should I?

[Malenko]

8 is terrible, I despise it. I'm sure once they release an alternate to the "MetroUI" it'll be better.  XP Mode runs in Windows 7, so if your display doesn't work in Windows 7 it wont work in XP mode.

[wp34]

I'm running Windows 8 on a tablet and love it.  That being said I would not go near with a non-touch device.  Stick with Windows 7.

[Howard_Casto]

I haven't moved to it yet... no reason to upgrade until I get new hardware. 

From what I understand it's still very similar at it's core.  The UI is very different so people resist it.... just like the move from 9x to xp, even though xp was better... just like the move from xp to vista...ect....  I think a lot of the windows 8 look can be turned off. 

There really isn't any reason to upgrade atm... but there isn't a reason to downgrade if you bought a pc and it happens to be on there.  Just sit tight... it's a new OS. 

[Malenko]

the Win8 UI isnt better. its FAR less functional on a traditional PC. Im stuck using it at work but I downloaded "Classic Start Menu 3.6.5" to make the computer functional. Dragging the mouse to the bottom left until the start menu pops up, then right clicking without moving your mouse (or else start dissappears) in order to get to a run command doesnt seem innovative to me.

[lilshawn]

windows 8 is a really useless OS unless you have a tablet or touchscreen...even with a touchscreeen, I didn't find it that great.

7 is fine. I'll wait for the next one. no big hurry for me.

[hypernova]

So does 8 have Win+ shortcuts or not?  I thought I read it didn't long ago (maybe before it was final), but this page says otherwise.

Windows 8 shortcuts

Incidentally, I went to 7 on my laptop and my recently built desktop, and love it.

[ark_ader]

Win 8 is great for laptops and tablets. 

But it is the same as Win7 with a few modifications.

I think it is the OS that will merge with Xbox, PC and Mobile in a couple of years time.

[kahlid74]

I run windows 8 on the kitchen computer with a touchscreen so the wife can bring up recipes.

Windows 8 is built for touch input.  Without it, there's no need for Metro.  Using Ninite you can downgrade  back to the windows bar and then you get some of the nice features of Windows 8 like the transfer status bar, etc.

[Malenko]

I didnt use Ninite to get it , its http://www.classicshell.net/ , which is the program I listed earlier.  "Classic Start Menu 3.6.5" , but I forgot to put up a link to it, lol.
Hypernova: The shortcuts work but that doesnt deter from the fact they made windows harder to use. its a GUI not a CLI

[lilshawn]

win8 has it's place just like OSX has it's place and XP has it's place. sometimes an OS's faults in one area can work to an advantage in others when applied correctly.

[hypernova]

I didnt use Ninite to get it , its http://www.classicshell.net/ , which is the program I listed earlier.  "Classic Start Menu 3.6.5" , but I forgot to put up a link to it, lol.
Hypernova: The shortcuts work but that doesnt deter from the fact they made windows harder to use. its a GUI not a CLI

I'd agree with you, as well as lilshawn.  Those kinds of changes are the most annoying, because sometimes they've even changed the shortcut (which most people don't tend to know in the first place).  I don't have any plans on switching to 8 ever, but it will have its uses.  But it shouldn't take forever to figure out how to do a simple command that was quick and easy in the past, and the necessity of downloading a start menu mod in order to get basic functionality is a pain.  I used to always change the start menu prior to 7 back to classic because I hated the new version.  Since 7 doesn't seem to offer that capability, I've learned to adapt to the change.  Still don't particularly like it as much, but it's tolerable now.

[Gray_Area]

I didnt use Ninite to get it , its http://www.classicshell.net/ , which is the program I listed earlier.  "Classic Start Menu 3.6.5" , but I forgot to put up a link to it, lol.
Hypernova: The shortcuts work but that doesnt deter from the fact they made windows harder to use. its a GUI not a CLI

I'd agree with you, as well as lilshawn.  Those kinds of changes are the most annoying, because sometimes they've even changed the shortcut (which most people don't tend to know in the first place).  I don't have any plans on switching to 8 ever, but it will have its uses.  But it shouldn't take forever to figure out how to do a simple command that was quick and easy in the past, and the necessity of downloading a start menu mod in order to get basic functionality is a pain.  I used to always change the start menu prior to 7 back to classic because I hated the new version.  Since 7 doesn't seem to offer that capability, I've learned to adapt to the change.  Still don't particularly like it as much, but it's tolerable now.

I've said it more than once: classic was old fart gui. XP blue was AWE-soMe. Now for a long spell I've been using 'classic folders', because I found I didn't need the features of 'show common tasks', and preferred the real estate without it. I still, however, keep my browser favorites menu up 24/7 (at left - I long ago tried it in other places, but prefer it at left).

[mystic96]

But it is the same as Win7 with a few modifications.

I'm sorry, I meant to make this a jovial response pointing out the inaccuracy of this statement... and it turned into a monster. That said...

Sorry, but no. Just... no. 8 is leaps and bounds better than 7 for a multitude of reasons. And I'm not just talking about things you can see (task manager, file copy dialog, etc.). The inclusion of the Server 2012 hypervisor alone puts this OS in a league of it's own. But let me mention core tweaks including secure booting, a nearly impenetrable kernel, faster booting, better overall performance over 7, power management and savings for laptops/tablets, improved Explorer, native VHD and ISO mounting, and other countless other additions that come from the Server side. I could probably double the size of this post with additions and improvements alone. Now that's not to say there are NO negatives about the OS... but the positives far, far outweigh them. Don't even get me started on corporate security and administrative mechanisms. Bluntly, this is the most incorrect statement about 8 I've ever seen. Windows 8 is not simply an upgrade to 7 - it's a complete re-write. MS spent over 10 billion dollars developing 8 and 2012, and for the first time in over a decade (I believe) they even added a core requirement to all new software releases (that it be completely manageable via Powershell.. but don't get me started on how ridiculously amazing PS is).

Does that mean 8 is the best for everybody? Yes and no. I wrote a few different/additional tangents, but ultimately I understand that people are simply resistant to change and learn at different rates. If I need to learn a new OS, I can load a VM and do my due diligence. Unfortunately, that isn't feasible for everybody, and I get it. But if you have the ability to load 8 and spend the time learning it - then you really owe it to yourself to do so.

No, I don't work for Microsoft nor do I own any stock in them. Maybe someday though

To stay on topic, I tried XP 64 to start (machine is i7 w/ 16gb of ram) but had driver issues with my ArcadeVGA and didn't want to bother Andy with it - so just switched to 7. The only reason I went XP to start was because it requires less overhead and I assumed it would have better compatibility. Maybe this would hold more truth if it was the 32 bit variant, but I haven't been active in the emulation community since around 2007 so who knows.

[lilshawn]

I think 32 bit variants of OS's generally have better hardware/software support due to the fact that the majority of users are running 32. so they focus their effort on developing their software to run on that.

I'm running win7 32 bit on my beast and have wondered if there would be any kind of benefit to switching to 64bit.

I realize it's all in the data chunk processing size. but my system is (at this minute  ) an overclocked 4.4 Ghz 8 core FX8350...but I only run 4 gig of memory, so I haven't seen a reason thus far to switch. Stuff happens fast enough for me not to worry about it. I dunno, I suppose maybe it's time I switched to 64. maybe not.  guess if i upgrade much more I'll have to.

[Howard_Casto]

I think 32 bit variants of OS's generally have better hardware/software support due to the fact that the majority of users are running 32. so they focus their effort on developing their software to run on that.

Hello time traveler from all the way back from the year 2000!  Avoid New York next year and don't worry about the whole Ricky Martin thing....  the girls will get over him soon enough.  Also Mark Brunette must be stopped. 

[tony.silveira]

Long time coming but I just moved to Win7 64bit from XP and couldn't be happier.  The 64 bit architecture was just enough of a speed bump to get games in MAME that were not 100%, up to 100% speed (ridge racer, nfl blitz, etc.).

I was tempted to go XP64 but I've read that Act-Lab light guns don't run on XP64.

[lilshawn]

I think 32 bit variants of OS's generally have better hardware/software support due to the fact that the majority of users are running 32. so they focus their effort on developing their software to run on that.

Hello time traveler from all the way back from the year 2000!  Avoid New York next year and don't worry about the whole Ricky Martin thing....  the girls will get over him soon enough.  Also Mark Brunette must be stopped. 

Hey, Howard, we better back up. We don't have enough road to get up to 88.

[ed12]

i run all of winblows platforms 98/xp32/xp64/7-32/7-64/8-64
these of course are what we would call current platforms,where 98 is hand's down the oldest's..and xp32 beat's them all hand's down in my eye's..
unless u are into eye candy..? then it's win8 the full way

ed