Windows 8 vs. Windows 7

Microsoft is releasing a new operating system, Windows 8, October 26th. There have been many changes, and many backend improvements, as well as a huge buzz on the Internet. But how well does the new operating system hold up?

Windows 7

Windows 7 was a huge hit for Microsoft, turning sales around after the troubling Windows Vista. Windows 7 has some features that Windows 8 does not. So users should think twice before upgrading if any of the below are important to their Windows experience.

Windows 7 offers a Start button, a Start menu, the Aero Glass theme, Flip 3D windows switching, DVD playback, desktop widgets, update notifications, and the Recent Documents menu. While many of these offers are simply in different forms in Windows 7, many users are quite attached to the form they know and love.

By far, the most controversial of all the changes is the disappearance of the Start button and the Start menu. So central in Windows operating systems since Windows 95, many users of Windows 7 love the Start button and menu. In any view of Windows 7, users can click on the Start button and utilize the Start menu to find desktop apps and files easily.

So how does the new system work?

Windows 8

The controversial Start button and menu change is something that excites some users. The Metro interface, the new Start menu, displays a series of colorful tiles offering live information for user-customized applications. For example, from this home screen, users can see how many emails are in their inbox without having to open their email application.

Microsoft claims that Windows 8 is much faster than Windows 7–a huge selling point for many customers. Windows 8 is claimed to start up 40 percent faster than Windows 7 on the same hardware, and have ten to twenty percent better memory.

Also, Windows 8 is intended to be always turned on, so it is always connected and quickly accessible. The power draw on a Windows 8 operating system is so low while in standby that keeping the system on is easy to do. By keeping the system constantly powered on, users are always able to check their applications easily and quickly.

Which is Better?

The Windows 8 vs. Windows 7 debate is not something that can be definitely solved. This is a highly personal decision, best made by individual users. If Windows hosting is involved in a decision, many believe Windows 8 simply performs better and faster, important for dynamic multitasking, and graphic-based work. However, if the look and feel of Windows 7 attracts a user, sometimes it is best to stick with what a user knows best.