Would it make sense buying laptop now before Win8 is out?

Windows 8 would be very touch oriented, and would require some hardware changes to make full use of its new gained abilities. BIOS will be replaced by UEFI, but I dont know if it requires a new hardware support/change or not. I saw a Synaptics concept touchpad video specially designed for windows 8. So given the new capabilties of Win8, do you think today's notebooks would be 100% compatible with it?

 

First of all UEFI is not a windows 8 feature, it's a completely independent development. Second, I doubt that win 8 will force laptop manufacturers to use touch screens all of a sudden.

So if you want a touch screen, get a tablet, if you don't get a notebook. You can always update your notebook to win 8. MS has promised to keep minimum hardware requirements the same as Win 7.

 

I know that UEFI is separate from windows 8, but Win8 is bringing support for it, so it is likely that now notebook manufacturers would start using it on bigger scale in their notebook products. What I want to know is that does it need a specific hardware, or can my three year old notebook also be made to use UEFI once I upgrade to Win8.

I also know that current Win7 notebooks will be upgradable, but since Win 8 is bringing Metro UI, there is bound to be some added hardware features in the notebooks, like the synaptics pad I linked above, to better interact with the new UI. That is what is making me play the wait game a little longer, in addition to ivy bridge, to see what kind of hardware change comes about with newer version of Win OS.

 

Certainly if you can wait, wait. But you'll be waiting for almost a year.

If your current notebook is feeling a bit sluggish, there are a number of hardware upgrades you can do to speed things up. SSD, new CPU, more RAM if you're rollin' with 2GB.

What notebook do you have?

 

Its a dv6700, 3gb ram, and t7500 prosessor. Its working fine with its current configuration, other than some power issue its facing, so its time it gets replaced. But I would try to go another 5 months, mainly to save big $$$$ to spend on a $1300+ notebook. Other than the reason I don't have that kind of cash saved up to spend on a notebook right now, Ivy Bridge CPU's supposedly run even more cool and more power efficient than current offerings, two things that I have grown to appreciate more than the muscle of the CPU itself. Last news I heard of IB CPU's was that they would be out in March '12. Has there been any speculation about when would HP update its notebooks with IB?

 

That definitely clears few things up about UEFI in my head. However, if Windows supports it since Vista days, why aren't there many laptops who use it instead of BIOS?

 

Don't we always play this "should I wait..." game with new tech?

In my opinion, Windows 7 itself is a great OS. Microsoft certainly has no plans of ending support, much less development, for it anytime soon and most of the hardware out there now running it, is leaps beyond that old HP dv6700. I wouldn't necessarily buy-in to the whole "newer is better" ideology. I personally, would make your decision more about what your current needs are than anything else. But by all means, if you think you can afford to wait - go right ahead. It doesn't matter, IMO, what you buy or when you decide to buy it - three months down the road, the next "latest, greatest" thing will be out to replace it anyway. Especially in the tech world.

 

Windows 8 is still a LONG ways away. Yes, it is compatible with current hardware.

 

You should definitely wait if you can do so. In 2012 you have both a processor refresh AND an OS refresh which you don't get every year! Of course you can upgrade current systems but that will add to the cost and effort.

 

BTW, any guesses when will Win8 reach manufacturer's hands, and when Ivy Bridge is supposed to be out?

 

Not trying to go off-subject here, but something that never made sense to me:

A $150.00USD TechNet Standard subscription will get you just about any retail Microsoft OS version you need. Two licenses of each to be specific. Each of which, can be used exactly as a standard retail license (one desktop and two mobile devices). So I suppose when it comes right down to it, one could always make their new equipment purchase now, and then purchase a new TechNet subscription later to obtain Windows 8 (and Office if you are into that...) at a savings.

 

I didnt know about TechNet. So could I get Win8 Ultimate license along with Office license for $150 if I get TechNet subscription? If yes, then how do I get subscribed to it?

 

Error on my part - it is actually $200.00USD for a standard subscription. $150.00USD each year after for renewal. My apologies.


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