Windows 7 or 8?

[caro]

I need a new laptop and as a mac is out of the question am looking at my options.

 

I love my iPhone so wondering whether to go for windows 8.

 

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

 

I don't do much more than use the Internet, emails, the odd letter etc.

[san_d]

Neither, I'd go for a Chromebook that uses Chrome OS. It's good enough for what you want. There's a model for just under £200 and another for £229 on the Play store.

 

I love my iPhone so wondering whether to go for windows 8.

???? IPhone is Apple and Windows 8 is Microsoft.

[caro]

I just meant I'm used to touchscreen on my iPhone so maybe ok with Windows 8.

 

I think a chromebook screen might be a bit small for me.

 

Got sorted today and there really wasn't much choice but to have Windows 8 so just trying to get my head round it all.

[renegadeimp]

Get both and dual boot the laptop. Win 8 is pretty solid for tablets and any touch screen, but lacks win 7's power desktop wise. It does have some performance enhancements for 3D apps, but overall i would either go with win 7 or dual boot.

 

I've had win 8 since very early developer beta, and to be honest, i rarely use it due to a lot of bugs. But knowing MS

[caro]

I've bitten the bullet and got 8 now. Hopefully any bugs will get sorted with updates in due course.

[renegadeimp]

They always solve major bugs in service pack 1. Thats what you can actually rely on MS to do. Take windows 7. Its now the most stable OS theyve ever made for consumers so far, but it took a major service pack to iron out the terrible performance issues.

[san_d]

Get both and dual boot the laptop.

 

I don't think you can do that, unless you hack the BIOS. New PCs with Win 8 use UEFI (google it) that restrict booting only to OS's digitally signed by Micro$oft. I am not sure Win 7 is digitally signed.

[renegadeimp]

I have both as a dual boot system on one of my project computers. I use them to get different system benchmarks.

 

The easiest way to dual boot is install win 7, then go to disk manager and shrink the volume where you want win 8 to be installed. Format the extra space and it creates a new partition. Rename it to something, boot up win 8 dvd and install to new partition. Once it installs and reboots a few times, youll get a new win 8 boot screen that lets you choose what OS's you have on your system.

 

Regarding UEFI, the PC i am typing this on has it on the mainboard. This computer has ubuntu, win 7, win 8 and win 2000 on it.

[san_d]

@Renegade, so how did you disable the UEFI?

[renegadeimp]

Don't need to if win 7 is installed first. If you install win 8 first, then try win 7, you'll run into tons of probs. You could also screw around with legacy boot options which are on a LOT of the latest laptops.

 

If you REALLY wan to get around the firmware, just get a UEFI boot loader and throw it on a USB drive an set your system to boot from that.

[raydetinu]

My two penny worth; win 8 for touch screen use, thats what it was developed for; I love win 7 for conventional laptop use; after the vista fiasco!

[renegadeimp]

Fully agree with ray. I'm waiting for SP1 to come out for Win8. Win8 just has too many issues to be of use as a desktop OS.

[caro]

For numptys like me who need to buy off the shelf the question is now irrelevant as the major retailers have little but 8 available.

 

All I can say is it's just so nice to have a laptop that works properly and has no issues with displaying everything I want to see in full.

 

Happy days.

[raydetinu]

Cool, glad its all sorted!

[caro]

Me too Ray. My old laptop died in November!

[renegadeimp]

One thing i hate is retailers forcing you to buy an OS of their choosing. Congrats on the new laptop though

[caro]

Thanks although to be fair I'm more comfortable going with the mainstream as I think I've got a better chance of good support if something goes wrong.

[locutus]

Little Windows 8 tip : If you want to find a program or app, just type it at the start screen and the charm search bar pops up and finds the relevent programs or apps or settings.

[caro]

Thanks.

[caro]

A problem.

 

I have an ancient Lexmark (I know but it's all I could afford) X1270 all in one printer. Haven't got the CD so went on the Lexmark site for drivers and there are none for Windows 8. Have I got to get a new printer now too or is there a way round this?

[renegadeimp]

Win 7 drivers -should- work. Perhaps right click the installer and try compatability mode.

 

Also : http://support.lexmark.com/index?productCode=LEXMARK_X1270&page=product&locale=en&userlocale=EN_US#1

[locutus]

If it is USB just plug it in and see if it shows (a lot of them install without informing the user, so the only way to find out if it's set up is to try to print something or go into the printers in control panel) if it is wireless there is a good chance your Windows 8 PC finds it on the network and sets it all up.

[caro]

Nothing happened when I plugged in the USB and wireless played pirate radio when this printer was made.

[dx100uk]

you'll need the last on the list here

 

http://www.siliconguide.com/drivers/device/113/

 

dx

[caro]

Thanks dx. Sorted!