Warning: Windows 7 no longer being supplied to retailers

[Edwin]

Although Microsoft actually discontinued supplying new copies of Windows 7 into the retail channel very quietly at the end of October, it looks like the news has only just hit major blog sites such as Tom's Hardware http://www.tomshardware.com/news/microsoft-windows-7-retailers-sales-deadline,25326.html

As such, I'd expect remaining stocks to start getting snapped up pretty quick, considering that something like 35% of all PCs out there still run Windows XP. Once the supply of Win 7 has dried up, it will be Win 8 or nothing i.e. no choice at all.

Anyway, just wanted to let people know in case you still need to snag a copy.

 

[Admin]

Get it while you can, Windows 8 for a business machine is a nightmare! You don't need all the social media tiles and crap when all you want to do is check your emails and use Excel!

Took me a week to find anything and Skype only makes a sound if you are sitting in it, not much use!

Admin

 

[The Ferryman]

There is a free upgrade to W8.1
Try Desktop mode, it should do everything you want it to.
Regards
Bruce

 

[Skinner]

Win 7 Ultimate (64) has been about the most stable windows windows since 2000 Server, really not planning on moving to 8 anytime soon. Especially since I still have machines on 2000 Server ed.

 

[ClassicalGuitar]

Thanks for the reminder Edwin.

 

[monaghan]

My Windows machine died so I'm running Ubuntu now! Far fewer problems, Linux on the desktop is far more mature than when I last looked at it.

Single DVD will boot and install all you need in less time than Windows 7 takes to install.

Using the supplied Libre Office, Thunderbird and Firefox / Chrome and you can do virtually everything the average non-gaming user will need. If you MUST have MS Office, you can run Office 365 in Firefox and connect Thunderbird to the Office 365 IMAP server (I do this for my school governor email account).

You may well find "Pro" versions of Win 7 around, may corporate environments will need Win 7 for a number of years, so there are often OEM's who will supply the machines with a Win 7 & 8 license & media so you can use the downgraded Win 7 license and add Win 8 later if required. Win 8 was part of my reasoning to move to Linux on the desktop. As Edwin points out though, it will become increasingly difficult to get hold of Win 7 outside the corporate environment.

 

[Edwin]

Win 7 Ultimate (64) has been about the most stable windows windows since 2000 Server, really not planning on moving to 8 anytime soon. Especially since I still have machines on 2000 Server ed.

Yes, Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit is rock solid. It still seems amazing to type that about any Windows edition, but the world is a strange place!

Even on my now nearly 4 year old machine, with 4GB of the 12GB RAM set aside for a RAMDISK for temp files, virtual paging turned off, and an SSD dedicated to the OS drive, everything responds effectively instantly whenever I open or close programs or work on files. Mind you, my needs are fairly simple: Word, Excel, Pmail, Paint.net, various text editors, web browsers, FTP software, plus a selection of utilities. As a "business" machine I don't think you could wish for anything faster.

Literally the only delay is on boot, which takes about 2 minutes (mainly because I've delayed the start of various background programs until the RAMDISK is re-created) but after that it's "click and it's there" fast.

 

[SF]

Ive just bought a copy for another machine of mine home premium can with dvd and key and a hard drive? something ebay makes sellers do now?

anyway works a charm was going to get a few more copies as i realy dont want to move to 8

 

[Skinner]

8 doesn't have the 1 feature I prize.

Stability!

 

[Skinner]

How long would enough be ?

I had W8 on another machine for about 10 weeks maybe a little more.

I will admit I haven't owned an 8.1 install but have used it in passing on others machines.

You will probably say "oh but windows 8.1 comes with a butler and concierge and is muchly improved", yup heard that before, maybe in another year when they had time to fix bugs I'll look, but for now, I'll stick.

 

[jasman]

I wonder if the Windows versions for the masses are deliberately unstable so you keep upgrading every few years. If they came up with a stable version many people, who just use basic office applications, an email program and a web browser would have little reason to upgrade. After all, you could still upgrade your hardware. I think this is also the real reason why you get daily updates, not so much that you need them but that they've got you on a drip and it also stamps out some of the piracy.

A friend of mine had a Windows system (I think it was 98 or XP) in which after installing the few programs he needed, he never installed anything else thereafter, and just used what was on it. After a few years it got so slow as to be unusable. Could have been a hard disk problem I guess but makes you wonder whether the crafty sods at MS explore ways of giving your system a "shelf life".

It's funny how since the 1990s there have been much more stable versions of Windows existing side by side for business while the home version never gets fixed properly. OK, you might argue it's because more drivers are needed for games etc making the OS more complex and susceptible to bugs but still I do suspect there could be a massive economic advantage to keeping people never quite satisfied to propel them to upgrade every few years - though not so dissatisfied that they switch to another OS! Of course with the daily updates, MS could "fix" any problems very quickly if it looked like a mass exodus to another OS was beginning.

 

[monaghan]

There's going to be a lot of "fun" when XP goes out of support in April and people have to make the move from XP to 8.1.

I think the UI change is the big issue for most, I can see the Win 8 UI working well in a touch environment, but in my opinion, it just doesn't work efficiently with a mouse or having multiple apps running that's why it never made it from a VM to a real machine here.

The XP problem is that the original spec was 64Mb memory and it ran fine originally with that huge amount of memory, however, over time everything consumed more and more memory meaning even a generous 256Mb machine is swapping even before it's finished loading the OS and AV protection.

 

[spiderspider]

I can see the Win 8 UI working well in a touch environment, but in my opinion, it just doesn't work efficiently with a mouse or having multiple apps running that's why it never made it from a VM to a real machine here.

I brought an all singing and dancing Sony desktop, that has a touch screen, and windows 8.1 installed on it.

Never use the touchscreen (to many dirty fingerprints on a big monitor), but works fine for me with a mouse and keyboard.

Maybe once a day use the 'main screen' area, to check the sports news. Otherwise its desktop. Yes it was an adjustment to have to deal with, but with most programmes as icons, rather than in the start menu. But I work with 3 computers, and have 3 screens. 8.1 in the middle, and win 7 each side. Personal preference is now edging towards the 8, rather than 7.

Touch wood, haven't had any issues so far with it.

 

[monaghan]

Maybe once a day use the 'main screen' area, to check the sports news. Otherwise its desktop. Yes it was an adjustment to have to deal with, but with most programmes as icons, rather than in the start menu. But I work with 3 computers, and have 3 screens. 8.1 in the middle, and win 7 each side. Personal preference is now edging towards the 8, rather than 7.

The problem of having icons on the desktop rather than a menu is that you either have to go hunting for the icons or leave free space so you can use them like a menu.

I have loads of windows open all day long as I need email, development environment and browsers to view the results during development and currently fill 2 22" monitors and fire up the Mac or other PC on another couple of monitors as required.

I suggest people seriously consider going to a Linux based desktop, you really can do virtually everything most people do on a Windows desktop these days, it is no longer the geeky environment that it used to be.

 

[The Ferryman]

I have them pinned to the taskbar.
I am accessing my PC from my ipad from Orkney at the moment and can see thirteen icons available, is that not enough?
You could autostart always used things like Outlook.
Regards
Bruce

 

[jasman]

If find it ridiculous that MS don't give people the choice of having things like a start menu and other items that they are used to and want to retain in an OS. They should make the OS as helpful as possible and maximise choice for their customers. They could very easily have ported these over from previous Windows versions but it seems that they think they know better than you, or don't see why you should get a choice even though you're paying the money.

Another thing that pisses me off is the way they force your computer to shut down after certain daily updates so if you're away from your desk you lose all your open windows (not sure if this practice is continued in Win8 ). What right have they got to shut my computer down? Why not just pop up an alert box saying "We strongly recommend you shut down your computer now so updates can take effect". It's extremely arrogant.

I've had enough of MS and Windows getting more and more dumbed down. I'll be moving over to Linux soon.

 

[tifosi]

Only thing that's really bugged me with 8.1 is the lack of a default 'desktop' icon in the taskbar in desktop mode - that clears the screen and shows the desktop. It's there as a right click on the start icon. I've seen a link where I can essentially cretae one, but it should be there imo.

Other thing is - as mentioned - in desktop mode having no programs list. I'd like to see a hover over for the start icon that shows these but still allows the transfer to ui mode if you stay on the start icon and click.

 

[AssetDomains]

Only thing that's really bugged me with 8.1 is the lack of a default 'desktop' icon in the taskbar in desktop mode - that clears the screen and shows the desktop. It's there as a right click on the start icon. I've seen a link where I can essentially cretae one, but it should be there imo.

Other thing is - as mentioned - in desktop mode having no programs list. I'd like to see a hover over for the start icon that shows these but still allows the transfer to ui mode if you stay on the start icon and click.

if you go to this menu there's an option similar to what your looking for when I click bottom right I get back to the desktop now

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2043243/how-to-boot-to-desktop-mode-in-windows-8-1.html

 

[monaghan]

I can see both sides of the argument, it would have helped if the new UI could be switched in and out or even overlaid to allow people to get accustomed to the new interface, but I guess MS had their reasons.

Bottom line is that most will just adopt the new UI and get on with the changes whether they like it or not. A few geeks will look for UI tools to add in the bits they miss, corporates generally have license agreements that will allow them to continue on their desired version until support is retired. The may have fewer home upgraders, but most average users tend to leave their PC for many years and need to upgrade hardware as it has got old and tired so will just use what comes on the new one when it comes out of the box.

 

[tifosi]

if you go to this menu there's an option similar to what your looking for when I click bottom right I get back to the desktop now

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2043243/how-to-boot-to-desktop-mode-in-windows-8-1.html

OK, scratch one complaint! There by default in 8.1, move the cursor to right-bottom and click when in desktop mode and the any open panels are cleared to show the default desktop.

Just the start hover now please MS!