Win8 or Win7 on my new laptop?

I'm buying a new laptop next week. I'm probably going to go with the Asus N550JV. My previous laptop was its predecessor, the N56VZ, and I loved it. My big concern is that Asus does not offer Win7 drivers for the N550JV. I haven't tried Win8 yet but I've read a lot about it and I have zero interest in "upgrading" (if you can call it that). From what I've read Win8 is inferior to Win7 in almost every way for business applications. I've heard horror stories about multitasking and backwards compatibility. I know some people claim Win8 is "faster," "more stable," or "more secure," but Win7 has always been incredibly fast and 100% stable and secure for me. I honestly have no interest in investing the time to learn a new OS right now (i.e., how to do a fresh intsall, setup drivers, configure detailed system settings, master the UI, etc.), especially when Win7 has always worked perfectly for me. It especially seems like a waste of time if Win8 is going to be more awkward and less efficient for the things I need to do, as I suspect it will be. If I was buying a Windows tablet then, yes, I'd give Win8 a shot. But I see no advantage whatsoever to running Win8 on a laptop or desktop, and significant disadvantages from what I've read. I'm sure Microsoft will be cramming the next unwanted, unnecessary OS "upgrade" down our throats soon enough and I hope to skip Win8 entirely. So those are my feelings on Win8. I view it pretty much as another Vista and I want nothing to do with it.

Unfortunately, none of the latest model Asus laptops come with Win7 drivers, including the N550JV. I have read anecdotal reports on these forums of some people installing Win7 on the N550JV. It sounds like it can be done but not without problems. I've heard certain Asus function keys and USB 3.0 won't fully work under Win7. As much as I hate everything about Win8, I don't want to worry about even the tiniest hardware glitches on my new laptop. I want everything to work perfectly, as it should, and if that requires Win8, then so be it; I will grudgingly relent. However, I see Xotic PC and Gentech PC both offer the N550JV with Win7 installed. This leads me to believe there must be Win7 drivers for every component and that the N550JV must be fully functional with Win7, or else vendors probably wouldn't offer it as an option. I'm going to call both vendors on Monday to confirm that they have valid Win7 drivers for every component before ordering. I'm a little worried, however, that I'll receive a wishy washy response. If they can't completely guarantee that everything will be 100% functional with Win7, then I'll bite the bullet and try Win8.

Or at least that's my plan. What would you do? Would any Win8 supporters care to try to convince me I should give it a go even if it's possible to install Win7 on my new laptop? Like I said, my main concerns with Win8 are:

(1) I will use this laptop primarily for business computing that requires heavy multitasking with multiple open windows, which I've heard Win8 does not support,

(2) I would like to continue using Office 2007, and I'm not sure if Win8 supports it, and

(3) I would prefer not to spend time conquering the learning curve necessary to become a "power user" with a completely new OS; I'm already there with Win7 and it seems like wasted effort to master Win8.

Another possible concern is how Win8 manages the boot process, although this is a relatively minor concern. I've read SecureBoot makes it a huge pain in the to do a wipe and full install, but I've also read it doesn't prevent you from installing other OS's.

Notwithstanding these concerns, I must admit Win8 seems to be more widely liked than Vista ever was. I have seen a few adamant Win8 defenders. I'm also intrigued by Win8.1, which I hear is due in October. Is Win8.1 a serivce pack or an "upgrade" you have to pay for? Is Win8.1 likely to ameliorate my main concerns about switching to Win 8?

Thanks in advance for your sharing your thoughts.

 

I use Windows 8 and I do prefer Windows 7. I have not found any multitasking issues so far with Windows 8. There are some annoyances with the OS and some highly questionable designs wrt the UI but apart from that Windows 8 seems to be very stable and fast.

Where compatibility issues tend to arise is the NEW desktop. I found several games that would not even install because of the NEW desktop. It's a personal preference. As you say most PC mfg only offer Windows 8 in their builds. The only PC maker that still offers an option is Alienware or you could buy a laptop from Xotic PC. I believe they give you an option for OS.

For me W8 is more annoying than BAD. Windows Vista was BAD, Windows 8 is not in that league. It's just MS decided to force an idea on everyone and you either like it or don't. I'm 50/50 with Windows 8, it's an ok OS.

 

First off is your current one doing so bad that your replacing it? I looked up the specs on a model matching is it like this?

Intel Core(tm) i7-3610QM
8GB DDR3-1600 SDRAM
750GB 7,200RPM Hard Drive
15.6" Full HD Widescreen Display
Blu-ray-enabled DVDRW/CD-RW
3-in-1 Media Card Reader
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
10/100/1000 Network
802.11b/g/n Wireless
Bluetooth 4.0
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Those specs are pretty good themselves. And with windows 7x64 installed that should more then handle your multasking windows. W8 will most likely support Office M$ isn't about to kill their cash cows. Stay with your laptop since it is i7 which I think is pretty impressive itself. It might be a good time to just reboot your system again and see if that doesn't improve your computing needs first. It might be old but its specs should handle most of what you throw at it. And if Asus doesn't offer a downgrade to Window7 I would say keep looking for another that will give you that option to get W7 instead of W8. If they want your money they will find a way to work for you.

 

If you get a business-class laptop (from Dell, HP, or Lenovo, for example), you will be offered Windows 7 as a choice. ASUS does only offer consumer-grade laptops, so you're stuck with Windows 8.

 

To clarify, I'm all set on the Asus N550. The only question is whether I should trust Xotic or Gentech to install Win7 on it as they advertise, or whether I should bite the bullet and go with Win8 because that's what Asus directly supports. I"d love to hear some more perspectives on Win7 vs. Win8.

 

Go to your local computer store and test drive the W8 interface with the input device you'll be using.
I finally did that at Costco and let me tell you - I would be very upset if I'd gotten stuck with that !*$%)*^%?<>:"{
Everything I've thought was confirmed.

 

If you are using a vendor then usually they do a good job with window 7. They may either also provide either a driver disk or web driver support. Either is fine and death this our as well›...........

 

For business applications I would use Win7. Windows 8 needs to mature a bit before I'd trust it for business application. It also has IE10 baked in and being a Computer Technician I have seen many different situations where IE10 breaks web-based things.

On a consumer level, I'm test driving Win8 with 'Classic Shell' which can boot direct to the desktop (bypass the 'Metro' screen (the new 'Start' screen as they call it)) and can add the Win7/WinXP Start button back onto the desktop. Win8 does seem to run faster than Win7 and it has 'upgraded' certain things (like Task Manager) that techie people like myself like.

 

Win 8.1 will be out in a month and a half. It will be a free upgrade. They put the start button back in, and users can boot directly to the desktop. It also has directx 11.2 for gaming. There are other tweaks to it. I plan to get a Haswell laptop and Win 8.1 has some battery life improvements for the Haswell chip.

Also, from what I read it only takes about half an hour to start getting used to Win 8, and Win 8.1 is closer to Win 7 than Win 8 was.

If you decide to upgrade later there will be a fee.

 

A start button is not the same as the start menu or other functions provided from that point. Win 8.1 is no closer to Win 7 than Win 8.0. This is where the problem is, M$ said it was listening to its customers but turned a deaf ear to complaint of the new UI being needed to be removed from the desktop of the old desktop standby configuration. Al they did was an attempt to enhance the modern UI, not at all what we were looking for but for those with, and use, a touch interface possibly a welcome free enhancement.

Yes there is a fee, the cost of the OS again. IMHO the cost is justified to keep the agrivation value of Win 8 away. Asthetically for the desktop app borders they went back even before XP to me. Without Aero Glass if is just fugly and gets those hairs on the back of my neck tingling. Also personally I like gadgets and use only trusted ones, this has been a known issue since day 1 with these but M$ tried pulling a scare tactic and then just removed them.

I have no issue with those who want Win 8/8.1. If ti works for you then that is what you should get. For those questioning the value of which to get there are valid reason for chosing either but there are definate resons for wanting one or the other as the UI experience is definately different. This, again to me, is the primary thing with a computer, ease of use. Now Ease of use and even agrivation value can be trumped by enhancements, I think what M$ was going for, but the problem is Win8 is just not that much better to get away with this!

 

I can deal with the non aero UI but Windows 8 just has so many issues it's like a person with split personalities. It tries to be too many things and just fails miserably at them.

Windows 8 caused me to use keyboard shortcuts, welcome to DOS WordPerfect 2013.

There are more steps needed to achieve what you need or are looking for. My favorite UI is still the Win95/XP branch tree Start Menu design. It just had a simplistic flow that kept the mouse moving without added clicks until you found what your were looking for.

The overall concept of a touch based OS on a keyboard/mouse PC configuration is just poorly conceived and implemented. The Start Page is an utter mess when you have to go hunting for something and it's even worse if you have to look for it in All Apps. Then you are greeted with a Wall of Tiles. And just wait until you keep adding stuff and that Wall of Tiles become scrollable pages of Tiles and you quickly get the impression it's a giant cluster _ _ _ _.

But that's OK because MS allows you to revert back to the keyboard to type in what you are looking for. So it's back to the keyboard FTW.

There are some things I like about W8 but they are by FAR outweighed by the negatives and I only touch on a few. So if I had a laptop and I had a choice I would choose W7. It's by far the better choice.

 

But in terms of booting time, stabililty and integrity wich is the better choice ?

In my case the user interface comes in second place.

 

Boot times, Windows 8 is quicker if it's paired with UEFI. Stability is a wash as both W7 and W8 are VERY stable. What do you mean by integrity?

 

I personally prefer windows 8. Better file manager, better startup speed, and feels a bit less sluggish. The Aero look is starting to look dated anyways. Metro is just a minor inconvenience to me, but i grew to it.

I find neither W8 or W7 to be more stable. Both are just as stable to me.

 

Really .... file manager and all those small updates doesn't add up to a whole not to upgrade or use W8? Don't you think... Aero has it's functions and does it well in Windows 7 IMO. And better startup is a mute point that one will never really see the difference on the same platform using either W7 or W8 difference is minimal you don't get any real benefit from it. So let's stop talking about speed when that isn't the real reason we use the O/S it's stability plus compatibility to run your 3rd party software that one uses is what determines what O/S you will need is more a factor. Not everyone uses M$ exclusive software you know and M$ doesn't make all the software for endusers to have or use.

 

Win8 boot times are quick even with BIOS, mostly due to the semi-hibernation it does. Which brings different quirks.

To answer the OP, I'm on the "get it over with and use Win8" side. I've been using Win8 on all of my machines since it came out and I've had very good results. The interface is great for people who run a fairly consistent set of things regularly. Throw those tiles on the Start screen, off ya go. I'm one of these people. I play a handful of games, use a handful of apps, and I don't stray far often. The number of times I've actually brought up the "All Apps" screen (which I'll admit nobody really wants to EVER have to see) is minuscule, and if I need the same app like, more than three times, I make it a tile, problem solved.

If nothing else there's the free upgrade to 8.1.

 

I'm an attorney and I'm frequently working on 10-20 open Word, PDF, and Excel documents at a time. The task bar is absolutely critical for my needs. Without a way to identify all open docs at a quick glance and instantly choose between them I wouldn't be able to do my job. From what I've seen Win8 multitasking is a complete disaster for anyone who needs to jump between multiple open documents. Am I wrong?

 

The taskbar works just like in windows 7 as far as I know. what is missing for most is the start menu.

 

What is the big deal? If you want the startmenu, then put it back in. How to get the Start menu back in Windows 8 | Windows 8 - CNET Reviews

It is a highly customizable computer. So customize it. And Windows 8.1 is closer to Windows 7 than Windows 8 was. In fact you can boot straight to the desktop. Plus for gamers, Windows 8.1 will be the only way to get Directx 11.2.

Personalky I never liked Aero. Why do I need my window title to be transparent? It just reduced contrast and made this harder to pick out or read.

I can't think of any OS that I didn't need to tweak or adjust so it fit me better.

 

My PC came with W8. No point dowgrading, not worth 150$.

And if you are gonna go all anti-MS on me, Mac and Linux forums are that way -->

 

Might I add that Win 8.1 is a non-destructive upgrade if installed via the app store? :thumbsup:

 

Does this mean it is destructive if installed elsewise? How many ways will there to download it?

 

Agreed, if it came with Win8 don't pay to downgrade unless you jus have too. This though is where M$ could get hurt. The least painful is if the OEM's just offer win7 machines and consumers opt for them. At least then they are still in the Win OS family. At a later point though other OS enabled machines may start getting (more) popular in sales and subsequently market saturation.

No one here is being all Anti-M$ on anyone. If it comes to that point I will leave the M$ camp. Truth be told I am preparing for that possibility. One day I can foresee this happening but for now trusty old Windows 7 is carrying me and I am playing with other options too, as they say just to be safe and ready...............

I should add, although it has been said may times before by many others than just me, before Windows 8 I could never have seen a reason to abandon the M$ camp. I was happy and complacent up to Windows 7 and more than happy to pay for each upgrade of the OS as needed. How quickly things can change............

 

App store trying to act like Apple doesn't server M$ at all more like make them look dumb having to follow Apple app store, itunes. They need to remember Windows users are not Apple users....two very different O/S for different users and needs.....Why should I need a app store to even install W8 I got W7 on dvd and can install anywhere/anytime no internet needed.....

 

Yes I believe so, but this should be a no brainer since Win 8 already has app store, and it's as simple as click n download. Ironically, I expect it to be very similar to the apple OS upgrade procedures.

 

For me the question is the same.

I aim to have a system as affordable as possible and the graphical interface "beauty" comes in second place for my needs.

 

That's what a PC does beautiful at and Apple cost prohibited kills the affordable computing needs.

 

You must be mixing two different platforms into one is a bad analogy. iPad and PC are two different animals in technology. And til everyone and I mean everyone has access to broadband at cheap prices that apps store isn't going to work and when internet is down and it does happen where is your app store now? M$ needs to stop with the apps store and focus on what made their product the universal brand all including Apple try to beat rather then trying to be something they are not.

 

Windows 7 will receive extended support through January of 2020
Windows lifecycle fact sheet - Microsoft Windows Help

Microsoft has until then to present to me a OS designed for a desktop/laptop that isn't ized by a UI designed for touchscreen tablets. Given Microsoft's history, I imagine windows 9 will be the next OS i use from them.

 

Xp was for sale for about 3 years after Vista. Even Vista was for sale 2 years after Windows 7 came into play. Then goes the question, how long will Windows 8 be available for sale now that Windows 8 is out. Once this happens then M$ will be saying this is the OS for desktops too, not just touch enabled devices! So at that point (if it happens before Windows 9) they will loose that excuse altogether........................