New laptop..Windows 7 or 10?

[ASHTON]

I,m about to fork out on a new laptop..Should i get windows 10 or stick with windows 7

[Lofos-5]

No brainer - 10!
(Even as Mac user I like W10 and am not too impressed with W7 at work).

A.

[trevnhil]

I am very surprised you can get a New laptop with windows 7 on it... I would be tempted to go for 7

TREV..

[ASHTON]

Thanks,,,,The score so far,its windows (10) 2. windows (7) 1.

[KG]

Windows 10 is to become a required update for Windows 7 rather than an optional one and either way the installation files will be downloaded to your PC (which could account for the perceived slowdown - Microsoft has not 'crippled' Windows 7 to encourage the change). If the case of the required update you will not get the nag in the system tray and it will install automatically when the change is made. There are a few changes to the presentation of Windows between version 7 and version 10, but the are otherwise quite similar. The most noticable changes are the presentation of the Start menu, the optional use of the Cantana personal assistant and a new web browser 'The Edge', which again you don't have to use. Aside from thois changes which you need to get your head around, most of what is left is an improvement. All your Windows 7 software should run on it. Some versions of Microsoft Office are not transferable and for those that are, make sure you have the product key. You can get that from the existing PC with Belarc Advisor

I have two PCs updated from Windows 7 and one from 8.1 to Windows 10 and in each case the update was painless and has not inhibited productivity. The only thing I would suggest is that you turn off all the options that allow Windows to 'call home' and to pass settings between PCs logged into the same account. Though I can see the logic in providing such settings, I prefer to maintain as much of my privacy as I can from busybody software companies who wish to exploit that information.

If you are buying a new laptop the best treat you can give it is to specify an SSD drive, which will add to the cost, but ensure that your PC starts much more quickly.

[The Shuttle]

Windows 10 is an updated Windows 7 and is very stable and you can configure if just like Windows 7 even get a gadget bar for the desktop if you like that.


Mick

[juliesewell]

We just bought one whilst back in UK for a couple of weeks. Pre-installed with Windows 10 and found it no problem to use.

We do both have Windows operated smartphones though and found these much simpler to manage and operate than our previous Android phones so perhaps that helped a bit with the switchover.

Not had chance to get the new laptop up and running yet in Cyprus due to getting back late on Saturday night and "stuff" to do on the Sunday then back to work Monday - but we had it working whilst in UK.

Fast as "flip" too

We decided it was better to go for one with Windows 10 already installed and start from fresh rather than Windows 7 and then trying to get it upgraded later. From what I've read, many folks who've upgraded to Windows 10 have experienced some loss of functionality from their software programmes after upgrading.

[lincoln]

My speeds are FAST and I am on Windows "7" No problems at all. I would be most surprised if you can actually get a NEW lap Top with 7 on it. I do believe they all come with 10 on now. If and when that sad day comes when I can no longer use "7" (still getting all the updates) then we shall just have to see what happens.

[Devil]

If the "Fisher-Price" aspect of 10 puts you off, then Google "Classic Shell". You can then easily load it and you have a choice of your start-up screen, including one that looks like the traditional Win7, which you can even configure to your like. I have it on all my computers except the "weather" one (Win7 because it is a micro-computer that won't accept 10).

For me, the big advantage of Win 10 is the virtual desktop, called Task View. You have an icon (usually 2 along from the Start icon) looking like a rectangle over a long horizontal one. This allows you to have as many desktops open as you need, each with one or two proggies, as you wish. This means you can have even tens of windows open with no screen clutter, each just a click away.

[Jim]

Morning.

I have 10 on three PC's you would not object to using them as I don't, we had this all before when other versions of Windows came out, the same moans the same whinges, there is nothing wrong with 10, move on with the times, for sure installing Win7 is a retrograde step I feel, move with the times in the end you probably will have to use 10 or the next version.

[cactus]

If you're an idle so-and-so like me who likes to play Solitaire all day you'll have problems with Windows 10. The games are not readily available and the versions available to download are pretty much unplayable.

[pg17]

I bought a new Lenovo with Windows 10 Pro six weeks ago and have had no issues with 10 or the applications - the Windows 10 scanner and printer drivers are better than the W7 equivalents.

I plan to upgrade my older laptop from W7 to W10 well before July 29 which is the cutoff date of the free Microsoft upgrade.

[cdmckeown]

From personal experience I have upgraded all of the family's devices to Win10 from Win7, 8 and 8.1.

Reality is a very stable and actually quicker operating system than Win 7 for the older machines especially.
Application compatibility is very good and the fact that you can use your older Win95 apps properly at last, through to the new applications from the app store is a big plus in my opinion. You can even get a plethora of Android and Crapple emulator software programs if you feel the need to go to the dark side .

Yes it is different to what you would experience with Windows 7 but right click over the windows logo in the bottom left corner and all the old features are available. If you for for Lenovo devices, they even have an app that can make the Windows 7 pseudo desktop really look like the older operating system's menu.

One word of caution, go for the latest device you can afford as there are several new hardware features being introduced into Windows base devices that will really be of benefit. I have, for example, a Toshiba Z20t hybrid Tablet Laptop that gives me a genuine 16 hour battery life between charging, yet has a performance in excess of my i5 Processsor based PC despite only having half of the RAM. Some clever tricks for sure.

Remember, as with cars and stereos, you get what you pay for...

Hope this helps.
Colin