Windows 8 on a NP9150 (P150EM)

For those that have used both Windows 7 and Windows 8 on a Sager NP9150 (Clevo P150EM), what are your thoughts regarding functionality?

I've used all 3 (Developer, Consumer, and Release) Previews and liked and disliked many parts of them. I've seen my friends laptop (that doesn't have touch) and Windows 8 wasn't too bad on it. I was messing around with laptop's and tablets the other day at Best Buy and definitely see where a touch screen makes Windows 8 much much better versus no touch screen. But just curious of some people's experiences with both OS's on this laptop. I might get a tablet in the near future and if so, I'd rather run the same OS on both (meaning installing Windows 8).

 

I use Win 7 and Win 8 regularly and I really don't change the way I use a computer based on the OS installed. This doesn't necessarily apply only to Sagers, all drivers work with Win 8 just fine, and so this is really a question on laptops in general. With Win8.1 coming out soon as well, they're bringing back the start menu so there really isn't going to be much different from Win 7 at all. I say take the plunge, might be a little bit of a learning curve initially (pretty little since you've been fiddling with it already), and before long you won't notice a difference.

 

To my knowledge, return of the Start button is still speculative in 8.1, as is booting to the desktop (though I see more and more info suggesting it's highly likely). In any case, you're looking at a new platform, but once you get around the Metro, the look and feel is very similar; Aero glass omitted notwithstanding.

Drivers and other software for the most part function fine.

 

You can also get Classic Shell now which is a free download and will bring back the Start button and boot to Desktop. I use it and it works great.

 

I would say, drivers for the most part, function BETTER on Windows 8 than Windows 7, especially for AMD.

 

StartIsBack seems to be the best start button replacement out of the few available.

Run that and it's basically 7 minus glass but with the backend improvements.

 

Windows 8 is also lighter on resources used. And honestly, UEFI boot + SSD + Windows 8 makes boot time, and app loading times a breeze.

If, like me, you'd mainly open the start menu on Windows 7 to search for a document or run a command, you'll find Windows 8 pretty much the same deal. If, on the other hand, you relied on Windows's start menu to browse through the list of programs and aplication to select which one to launch, it may require some adjusting.

All in all, I'm quite happy with Windows 8. Just a few gripes regarding the usability of some functions, but all in all, I consider it an improvement over Windows 7. Then again, I've been known to consider Vista (only since the first service pack) to be a considerable improvement over Windows XP...

 

If you're looking for a free alternative for the start menu i'd recommend IObit's Start Menu 8

 

Or get to know the keyboard shortcuts very well

 

Or hope Windows 8.1 overhaul rumors deliver.