Microsoft has recently announced that Windows 9 will soon be on the horizon, and that means older operating systems will no longer be supported by the company. However, plenty of people are seeking computer support to determine if they should be using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. That’s because there are enough differences between the two that people still may choose the older version.
If you are buying a new computer or just upgrading your current machine, you will need more information to determine which of the operating systems you should pick. Interestingly, surveys show that more users pick Windows 7 over Windows 8.1, so should you be one of these people? You don’t need computer help to decide. Here is a breakdown of the two.
Boot up Time
Do you remember the days when booting up your computer was so agonizingly slow that you could barely stand to sit still and wait? Those days are certainly long gone, but boot time continues to get shorter. Case in point, Windows 8 and 8.1 machines can generally boot up in 10-15 seconds. That is blazingly fast and is faster than Windows 7. So, if you are an impatient person, this is something to keep in mind.
Performance
One of the other things that often has people running to computer repair is machine performance. If it slows down or starts out slow, this can be very frustrating. Windows 8.1 consumes very few resources and it works very quickly. This is another area where it becomes clear that Microsoft put a great deal of thought and research into their next operating system after Windows 7.
The Interface
Now let’s look at one of the things that does lead people to choose Windows 7. The interface for Windows 8 and 8.1 is very different from anything that has been seen before. It was truly a radical new design and it is one that still gives users some problems.
Some of the differences include a desktop that is completely separate from apps and an apps folder on a totally different screen. Because of these changes, many people favor Windows 7, and for that reason, it gets the win in this category. However, if you don’t mind change and learning new things, then you may not mind Windows 8.1.
Security
Of course, security is one of the biggest issues when purchasing a new computer. Windows 8.1 does offer greater security options over Windows 7 because it includes a BitLocker Drive encryption as well as Microsoft Security Essentials preinstalled with the operating system. Additionally, Windows 8.1 includes secure booting through UEFI systems, which helps protect against certain types of malware.
So, what does this boil down to for your own needs? All-in-all, Windows 8.1 has made vast improvements over its predecessors. However, many people are not able to get over the changes to the user interface, and when they try to use the different system, they find themselves calling computer support. The decision, then, for you really depends on whether or not you are willing to learn a new system or you like the old standards.
If you run into any problems with your computer, remember that you can contact computer-help.com at any time.
