Buy a new 'puter or wait for Windows 8?

[Paws]

I could use a bigger harddrive and more RAM, but since I'm still on Windows XP, it makes more sense to buy a new computer.

I read that Windows 8 is scheduled for October. Now I don't know if I should wait until then (with the risk of it being crap like Vista) or buy a Windows 7 machine.

What would you Jubbers do?

[skd5674]

If you aren't sure, but want to wait, you could always wait for a release date for windows 8. Its been my experience with both vista and 7 that, when the release date gets closer, a lot of companies will lower the price of their (in this case) windows 7 computers, and most will offer some kind of free upgrade (or microsoft will offer the upgrade) or a hugely discounted 8. Then, if you don't like it, you could always downgrade back to 7, and if you do, well, you got a cheaper computer better suited for your needs.

[palbert]

So far as I can tell Bill G. has not fucked up W7. I use it in conjunction with Firefox - which you might consider interim. I have 3 computers and am upgrading the other 2 to W7, a known quantity.. I do not trust MSoft.

[Corny]

Waiting almost never really pays off. If you need a new machine, get a new machine .. unless Christmas is just about to happen. W7 is pretty solid and from what I have seen so far of W8 .. it will take some time until this gets used.

[jjonn3]

I never want to put on any MS product until it has been out for a bit - preferably until service pack 1 is released...

Windows 7 is working great for me - I am not going to jump to Windows 8 until I am sure it works and is stable.

[maxpowr9]

IMO, Windows 8 looks like complete shit. Worst part is that Microsoft is making you pay for the bluray and DVD licenses instead of eating the costs. Get Windows 7 if you can.

[Paws]

For those of you with Windows 7 it might be easy to pass on 8. For me who is still on XP, I wouldn't want to switch to 7, then find out that 8 is so much better and be left again with a deprecated operating system... and I wouldn't want to switch to 8 and find out that it sucks. Kind of a dilemma.

I don't need Blu-Ray or DVD support. Most of my movies are on my harddrive and VLC should handle the occasional DVD.

[andysayshi]

I'm with Corny: if you need it now, buy it now. Microsoft OS releases are typically problematic for at least 6 months after release, especially on the hardware/driver side, so add on the wait time beforehand and you're probably looking at a year before W8 is out there and behaving nicely. That's a whole year you could be enjoying a faster, bigger machine running W7.

Once W8 is running smoothly, there's nothing stopping you buying it and installing it on your new W7 system.

[vulgar_newcomer]

W7 is a good os. I liked XP too but W7 is superior and very stable. By the time it becomes dated your planned new pc purchase will be even more dated
W7 will serve you well.

[bremiclem]

If you wait until June 2nd, you can buy a Windows 7 PC and get the upgrade to 8 for $15.

Source

[palbert]

http://www.justusboys.com/forum/tech...ml#post7926056

[Paws]

I AM STILL CONFUSED AND SCARED.

And pissed off. I'm sure that all the brands just wait for Windows 8, then they'll throw new, cheaper systems with USB 3 and similar stuff on the market. So if I buy a new computer now, the hardware too will probably be deprecated.

[Corny]

your hardware will always be deprecated within 6 months.

[quasar]

I AM STILL CONFUSED AND SCARED.

And pissed off. I'm sure that all the brands just wait for Windows 8, then they'll throw new, cheaper systems with USB 3 and similar stuff on the market. So if I buy a new computer now, the hardware too will probably be deprecated.

As Corny has already said, your hardware will depreciate within a week or two of getting your new PC home - newer, bigger, faster processors, sound cards, graphic cards etc are continuously being launched - so you will never have the 'best available' set-up.

As for your dilema regarding your operating system, I'm also looking at getting a new laptop in the next month or so, but there's no way on earth that I'll get one with Windows 8. Again, as others have said, new operating systems (although they've gone through BETA testing) are notorious for being problematic once the 'real' testing by the mass population starts. My plan is to get Windows 7, and then maybe upgrade to Windows 8 once it's been 'out there' for a few months. That said, I HATE Windows 7, so I'll probably want to upgrade to 8 sooner rather than later - or revert back to Vista!!!!

[EJMichaels]

If you wait until June 2nd, you can buy a Windows 7 PC and get the upgrade to 8 for $15.

Source

I think that's good until January - maybe not enough time to know how 8 is performing, but also not much to risk.

I installed 7 yesterday (otherwise known as a day spent in computer Hell), so you can see I don't jump on new OS quickly.

[vulgar_newcomer]

Surprised Quasar doesn't like windows 7. For my situation it has been flawless. One year after ditching xp I have never ever had one blue screen or any problem it runs like a tank. I can't say that about any other ms platform I have used since 1995. I don't do anything different, however the options with free malware and virus are vastly superior to the XP yrs, and that was a good os too.

[quasar]

^ My current laptop has Vista, but my mum's new one has Windows 7. Whenever she gets stuck on something, I'm always to the rescue and I just can't stand having to find my way around it. To be honest, I think the main problem is that since XP, the use of computers in the home has really exploded, and every release since then seems geared up to make it easier for 'Joe Bloggs' to do things - problem being that I DONT' WANT Microsoft to help me organise my PC the way that THEY think it should be. I'm the same with Facebook... in fact the moment that ANY company tells me that the improvements are to 'enhance my customer experience' I really want to shove their teeth down the back of their throat! As far as stability goes, I can honestly say that I've never had the blue screen on my current laptop (now nearly 4 years old). It's just a combination of 'features' and the overall layout that I have issues with re Windows 7.... so I'll probably love Windows 8!!!

[Lefty]

David old chum,

I got a Samsung Tab2 less than a month ago. Then added
Dell All in One 27 (had BestBuy order it} with all the garbage.
It is due this week. FINALLY {yes. I'm a lousy waiter, queues
or bully all}l
Both are W7. My current upstairs den PC is XP and Down
in the office is Vista.

When W8 is Up and Real, I will pay a 10-15 dollar upg to 8
on both new acquisitions. XP WAS good, Vista Sucks.

I'd tell the guy to go for it...now. Whats 10 or so bucks
in a few months compared to making do now?

BTW Dave Techie, if Reed or others are non-techie like me...
even this new shit simplified for the common man and the
public is pretty confusing. lol ?

Anybody know why my little tablet is so damn smart w/o
cables and wires hooked up?

[Lefty]

I installed 7 yesterday (otherwise known as a day spent in computer Hell),
so you can see I don't jump on new OS quickly.

Paddles is a busy Lady, She can't be bothered with silly SOFT ware Hardly ever.

Micro soft finds her a 'hard' sell. If her bought, you don't be needing any further

record-men-day-shuns!!!

Just do it...

[T-Rexx]

I would wait for Windows 9.

[cityboy-stl]

I would wait for Windows 9.

LOL. I agree.

[Lefty]

I would probably wait for Cristmas....butt 'cept,

my names not Virginia and I don't believe in Santa

Claus anymore. The tooth fairy said he wasn't real.

[Paws]

Now that the new operating system is out: go for 8 or 7?

I tested the tiles desktop of Windows 8 for about 30 seconds in a shop and was completely confused.

[Lefty]

All joking aside,

DQ and EJ will tell you ...

I am not a P/C guru. BUTT

7 is great..a few days and you

zip right along (for me that is

coming from Shit Vista and

being old + stupid that speaks

volumes of its own!).

The $15.00 upg to W8 is

valid but my guru says it is

more for hand helds and similar

devices to compete with the Devil.

(he is a trainer of IBM systems and
programs, literally traveling the world
doing his job)

[maxpowr9]

I've tried the Windows tablet at the Microsoft store in Boston and I loved it but I would never buy it since I already have an ipad (and a laptop, and a desktop and a smartphone). My main gripe for not upgrading to Windows 8 is the driver issues. Once that eventually gets sorted out, I may upgrade to it but it wouldn't be any time soon.

[Adrock-JD]

After years of updates and tweaks, deleting IE and running Chrome and Firefox, Vista is operating smoothly. I'm not about to start over unless this Gateway computer dies. Someday it will.

Then, I'll just take whatever OS du jour happens to be the latest at the time on a new pc. I'll pay for extra ram, hdd and processor because you always end-up needing to add it eventually.

I dread it.

[gewhite3]

I put Windows 8 to 2 older computers, one is a laptop that is around 6 years old. It runs better than Windows 7 and the switching between the tiled Start screen and desktop is not a big deal. If you go to Microsoft's website and order the download from there, you can get Windows 8 Pro for $39.99 until January 31, 2013.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w..._Meet_FPP_Null

[72-Jay]

I'll be sticking with my current stuff...
Win XP on the laptop, and Win 98 on the main desktop
Personally don't ever plan to put Win 8 on anything even when it comes time to build another new computer...

[Paws]

Win XP on the laptop, and Win 98 on the main desktop

So you are the guy that sends out viruses to everyone.

[72-Jay]

So you are the guy that sends out viruses to everyone.

hell no! LOL
Have virus protection + spyware protection + firewall

Don't use internet explorer + Don't use outlook
^not using those 2 alone cut the chances WAY down

Don't use "file sharing" apps

Firefox has both ABP and NoScript addons (NoScript by itself cuts the chances of web viruses to almost nothing)

[72-Jay]

And eww... win 98... no matter how much Virus protection one has on that it's still vulnerable. Didn't Microsoft stop doing security patches for it?

Sorry Jay, I HATE WIN 98. It was one crash after another. I remember having to reinstall windows every few months... ugh.

I have no idea on the Microsoft stuff as "Microsoft" (and many others) is a banned word on my network..and thus any attempts to access its servers are blocked.

Any OS is vulnerable. If you do as much as you can to lock things down, and don't visit risky sites (or use risky apps - like filefshare/torrents/etc) / download unknown programs / etc . The chances of problems are greatly reduced.
I am way more cautious than the 'average user' when it comes to stuff like that...last thing i want to do is deal with a virus (major pain in the ass..I've cleaned up other's people computers who've had them)

I can understand why you hate win 98 if it was always crashing .. my experience has been the opposite, that has never been a problem
When this PC eventually dies & I need to build a new one, I'll be going win XP...or maybe Linux.

[72-Jay]

True win 98 is not supported anymore, I believe the same is true for XP now too ?? (or will be soon.)
I have never gotten any sorta 'updates' from MS (as all their spyware crap is blocked by my network)
Virus/Spyware do auto update (but those aren't MS apps)
I ofcourse never use internet explorer.

I've never seen a good report on Win ME .lol. (I have a computer with that - got it free years ago - pretty much don't use the thing though)
Personally I hate Win 7 because MS messed up the networking part...never could get it to communicate with my other PC's
I have zero interest in Win 8 (especially when its running that horrid tile mess mode/interface LOL)

I do want to try Linux again who knows maybe that'll become my OS of choice for some future date (there will come a time when my current/old stuff will die & I'll have to get new LOL)

[JB3]

The Metro interface is only good on the new laptops designed with it in mind. I tried out a few of the touchscreen ones at Best Buy, and it was way more intuitive than you would think. On older laptops, it could be a bit unwieldy since the hardware wasn't designed for it. (the newer ones have bigger trackpads to take into account the new gestures)

The best utilization of it though is on actual tablets. RT, even though it isn't full Windows 8, is still pretty awesome. I don't have a Windows store nearby so I can't try out the Surface, but I did play with an Asus Vivo RT and RT was really smooth and pleasant to use. The only problem now is that there aren't enough Windows 8 apps to make RT tablets worthwhile yet.

[72-Jay]

@GiancarloC:
Many people dont trust MS and what windows might be transmitting back to them when its communicating during those data transfers... hence 'Spyware' could be used to describe it... I'm don't trust 'em either so any url containing words like windows/microsoft/msn/live (and others, some unrelated to ms) is completely blocked.

I never had any issue with networking with Win 7.

Win 7 will network to others with the same thing no issue .... but ever tried making Win 7 network to Win XP(might work/might not) -or- Win 98(simply won't work - f**ing microsoft .. same for Win3.11)

I think on the interfaces thats mainly a difference of opinion - maybe because of age (don't know this for sure...but I think I'm a fair amount older than you?) Personally My favorite windows was 3.11(for workgroups), then 98, then XP (and I was perfectly ok with DOS in its day ... I know thats all stuff from the dark ages now. but what can I say, I'm old LOL). Win 8 looks kinda like something you'd see on a cellphone LOL (a device I don't own nor wish to own)

Back in the summer I started building a new PC (for offline use only) since the old win98 one I had is that 'old' and 'slow' (and its hardrive is full) LOL I think the store guy was alittle surprised when I did not want to buy Win 7 for it & was gonna go with XP (which I already had)

@JB3: Thats the place I see Win 8's Metro/Tile mess being suited for: small touchscreen devices, whether its a tablet or laptop or phone

[72-Jay]

I am paranoid and will admit that LOL .. I don't & will never trust MS

I'll sometime have to play with one of the Win 8 demo computers at a store, see if I can get out of the Metro/Tile thing, only to look at the normal desktop interface.
As mentioned I'd try Linux _if_ i was doing a new computer for internet use - its gonna be incompatible (network wize) with my existing stuff anyway (I'm certainly not paying MS for something that will be nothing more than a frustration LOL)

You should search eBay just to see what that old Tandy is worth

[72-Jay]

If you had all Win 8 (or maybe a combo of 7/8 there might be no frustration)
The frustration would be making it network to my old stuff (that I still use and will continue to do so til its dead LOL). I can guarantee it won't work because MS purposely "forgot" to include the proper networking protocols with anything Vista & above (you can force an install on 7 but still doesn't work)