Which is better Windows 7 or Windows 8.1? Many colleagues, after buying a new computer or laptop, come to me and ask me to remove the eight and install the seven. Previously, I agreed to do this, but then I decided to install it on myself. Windows computer 8.1, and see why it is so bad that people immediately want to remove it. As I thought, it’s all just a matter of habit. And in general, I even liked eight more than seven.

There are, of course, nuances that sometimes make you scratch your head. For example, in Windows 8.1 it is inconvenient to search the necessary program. But you can just link “Programs” to the panel quick launch(in the same place where the Start button is located), and everything immediately falls into place, or rather, almost the same as in previous versions of Windows.

You can also go to the Control Panel on the Desktop and spend a long time searching for all its settings.

I’ll say right away that after a month of working with Windows 8.1, I no longer wanted to return to seven, but this was only due to habit. In fact, the eight is more tailored for mobile devices with touch screens, and not everyone will like its interface.

Sometimes you forget, click on the Start button, and fly out to a menu where you don’t understand a damn thing. And why do you need such a menu on a desktop computer? Other than irritation, I don’t see any convenience in it.

Benefits of Windows 8/8.1

There are, of course, advantages to the eight. This fast loading and a fairly convenient interface of all windows, similar to the windows of office applications 2007 and 2010. Not bad Windows Defender(Defender), which provides basic virus protection. But in any case, you can’t do without an antivirus program.

Also in the eight there is a store where you can buy or even install a lot for free useful programs. Directly from the system you can find out the weather, the ruble exchange rate, and play. But all this only when connected to the Internet. You can create your own collections and collect culinary recipes.

There is also a cloud service(OneDrive), on which you can store up to 7 GB of data, which allows you to do without a flash drive. I threw the files into a kind of cloud at home, and at work I took from it what I needed.

The main advantage of the eight is stability, and a much lower load on the processor compared to the seven.

Those who have not worked with Windows 7 will very quickly get used to the eight, but for those who are accustomed to the seven, there is no point in switching to Windows 8.1, especially since soon it will be possible to try the ten.

If you want to try installing one of these systems (or both at once) on your computer or laptop, then you must first ask on the official website of the manufacturer of your equipment whether your computer supports this particular system, and whether there are drivers for these systems for your equipment.

Which systems are best to install Windows 8/8.1 on?

There is no point in installing these systems on old computers without drivers. The system itself may install, but it won’t work without drivers. Finding drivers for a desktop computer is much easier than for a laptop, tablet or netbook.

Typically, drivers are available for either Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1. On a desktop computer, it is better to install both systems and try which one you like best. I did so. I have all three systems on my computer: Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8.1.

This is purely my opinion. It's up to you to decide which is better, Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. And to do this, you must first try to work with them, and then draw conclusions.

I would like to hear your opinion regarding these systems. Share your observations and problems with us.

The Windows XP operating system has served its users for more than ten years. And even after the release of the more advanced “seven”, many of them were in no hurry to switch to the new OS. After the official warning from Microsoft about the end of support for XP, the need to switch to new system became obvious. However, despite the fact that Windows 7 went on sale in 2009, it was only in 2011 that it overtook XP in terms of its use.

In 2012 Microsoft company released a new OS Windows 8, an interface called Metro, which was aimed primarily at users of devices with touch screens.

Currently, Microsoft continues to release updates for two operating systems - “seven” and “eight”, so users can install any of these operating systems on their PC and receive support.

Advantages of Windows 7: familiar interface and visual effects

The main advantage of the “seven”, which distinguishes it favorably from Windows 8, is that the interface of this system is practically no different from the XP familiar to many. After installing it, users will not have to spend a lot of time getting used to the new interface and settings layout.

All work with programs is carried out in Windows 7 using the familiar “Start” button, which remains almost unchanged compared to the menu in Windows XP: only options have been added that allow you to search for applications much more quickly.

The transparency of the windows is another reason that turned out to be important for aesthetes who are accustomed to the visual appeal and effectiveness of the “seven”. Despite its fancy new Metro interface, Windows 8, which has lost the transparency of windows as well as their rounded corners, looks a little old-fashioned.

Many users who installed Windows 7 quickly got used to the widgets installed on the desktop, which make it possible to quickly get necessary information, be it weather information in your city or processor load. In Windows 8, you can connect widgets only using third party programs, which usually significantly load the RAM.

The Windows 7 advantage: time-tested reliability

Windows 7 appeared on the market three years earlier than the G8 and during this time it was studied by both ordinary users and specialists, thanks to which all the errors and bugs existing at the time of the system’s release were eliminated with appropriate patches. It’s not for nothing that Windows 7 is called a real “workhorse”, which is perfect for office work, as well as for games or specific tasks that require specialized software. At the same time, not all modern programs officially support Windows 8, so when installing many drivers, programs and games on it, you may encounter various problems.

Windows 8 Benefits: Better Metro Interface

"Eight" will be an excellent choice for users who want to try something new and are already noticeably tired of the boring design of Windows XP and "Seven". The new Metro interface, although controversial, is very easy to use once you take some time to get used to it.

Most of the settings, to access which in the “seven”, it was necessary to make several transitions, are now located directly in the main window: just move the mouse cursor to the lower right corner, and links to the tool sections Settings, Device, General access and Search. Using various utilities and settings has become much easier, since they are all just one click away.

The new Task Manager allows you not only to disable frozen processes, but also to perform many tasks that previously required the installation of additional software: view applications loaded with the system, as well as analyze the operation of the system and the load on computer components.

The Windows 8 Advantage: Innovations for a better experience

In addition to the visual changes described above, Windows 8 also includes more significant innovations that have increased the security and usability of the system. First of all, it should be noted the improved work with the Internet. Now you can download a user profile and log in using Live ID, which will allow you to access not only OS functions, but also SkyDrive file hosting. All applications for the system can be purchased from the Windows Store, which can be done directly from your computer.

Additional methods of user authentication - PIN code, picture password, as well as support for biometric devices eliminate the need to remember or write down a login password.

Support for USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0, DirectX 11.1 and NET.Framework 4.5 is required to work with a number of devices and run latest versions a number of programs.

Windows 7 or Windows 8 – what should a gamer choose?

Numerous tests conducted by third-party researchers have shown that when running most modern gaming applications on the “seven” and “eight”, the difference in performance is so insignificant that it will not be noticeable to the user. And the fact that the vast majority of games from 2013 and 2014 officially support Windows 8 confirms that gamers who have switched to G8 will not experience any problems installing and playing them.

Test results for three popular new games can be seen below.

For all three games, the difference in FPS parameters is minimal, and their installation did not cause problems on any of the operating systems.

However, the vast majority of gamers treat the “eight” with clear distrust: according to Steam statistics, only 0.44% of them installed the 32-bit version of Windows 8. Slightly more of them are those who opted for the 64-bit “ eight” - about 4%. Apparently this is due to the fact that the transition to new Windows 8 for the purpose of improving performance does not make any sense, and the ability to run some older games may be in question.

Which is better for work - Windows 7 or Windows 8

Those for whom the speed of loading and shutting down the system is important (for example, for owners of laptops who use them on a trip) should definitely opt for Windows 8: the “eight” turns on almost more than 10 seconds faster.

As for the startup time of applications, it is almost the same on different operating systems and is much more dependent on the HDD or SSD media used.

The Windows 8 interface, despite all its innovations that improve the comfort of work, is most suitable for devices with a touch screen: this is proven by large buttons and inscriptions that are difficult to miss. Users accustomed to the traditional XP and G7 interfaces may be a little disappointed by the Metro UI.

Many experts directly state that the controls that are convenient on a touch monitor are clearly uncomfortable. For example, not every user will like to move the mouse cursor from one end of the monitor to the other, while on a small touch screen this movement, on the contrary, is very convenient.

Some utilities allow you to return Windows 8 old interface, however, using and configuring them makes no sense if you can just use Windows 7.

It is also important that Windows 8 is a completely new operating system, the requirements of which were not taken into account by a significant part of software, driver and game developers until 2012. Therefore, if for work or entertainment you require specific programs and support for rare equipment, it is better to opt for one that is already on the market for a long time"seven".

Detailed comparison Windows 7 And Windows 8. The main innovations in Windows 8 are described, as well as a detailed comparison of its performance with Windows 7 in various applications and games.

General information about Windows

It became available some time ago Final version new operating system from Microsoft - Windows 8. It has already been discussed on this resource; detailed guides according to its installation: , and , but here is the most main question remained without due attention: Is it worth installing Windows 8 at all?

This article, I hope, will help you decide whether it is worth installing Windows 8, what benefits you will get after installing it, and also what difficulties you will have to face. This material is a logical continuation of the previously published Windows comparisons XP, Vista and Windows 7: .

What's new in Windows 8

First, let's look at what innovations Windows 8 offers, what's new in it? The most obvious innovation is the updated interface. It is known as Metro or Windows interface 8 (Windows 8 UI). Its main feature is start screen:


It contains application shortcuts, as well as so-called live tiles (live tiles). By and large, their main difference from labels is that the information on them changes, they themselves can change size. This is a kind of analogue of widgets from Windows Vista and Windows 7.

This start screen replaces start menu, from which Microsoft got rid of it in Windows 8. This is perhaps the most controversial innovation in the new operating system. Fortunately, it can be returned using third-party utilities. How to do this is described at the end of the article: .

Another innovation in Windows 8 is the so-called active angles. Mouse over to the right edge Desktop A small menu appears:

Looks a little unusual. If you move the mouse cursor close to the left edge, you can switch between applications. By the way, the applications themselves can work in two modes: in a desktop mode with a classic interface, and in a mode with a Metro interface, which is focused on working with touch screens.

Among other changes in appearance It is necessary to note the rejection of translucency and rounded corners in various interface elements. The operating system interface has become cleaner, so to speak, and began to work a little smoother. In many places it was changed and improved; the so-called Ribbon interface of control panels began to be used more often. This interface first appeared in Microsoft Office 2007, and then began to be used a little in other applications. In Windows 8, the same Explorer is equipped with a similar interface with the ability to hide it.

In addition to the interface in Windows 8 there was deep integration with Microsoft SkyDrive. This is a service for storing files in the cloud. To Work with Microsoft SkyDrive quite simple: there is a folder in the system SkyDrive, the contents of which are stored on Microsoft servers. If a file is moved to it, it is automatically sent by the system to cloud storage, which is assigned to the account Windows Live ID. This allows you to synchronize images, music, movies, documents and other files between different devices, and also allows you to share them with others.

U Microsoft SkyDrive, like any similar service, there are two main disadvantages:

  1. for its operation you need a fast and, if possible, unlimited Internet connection;
  2. Storage capacity is limited to several gigabytes. It can be increased for a fee.

In addition to various Microsoft files Windows 8 allows you to synchronize system settings. This requires an account. Windows Live ID. Almost all settings except passwords are synchronized. If desired, their list can be configured in the system.

Account Windows Live ID also required to download and purchase applications in the built-in Windows 8 store Windows Store. This application store not only allows you to install applications, but also monitors their updates. Convenient, in a word.

In Windows 8, in addition to those mentioned above, there is a whole bunch of innovations: new Internet Explorer, redesigned Task Manager, redesigned copy dialog, redesigned system recovery mechanism, ARM version and many others. We will not dwell on them in detail within the framework of this article.

Since the operating system is mainly used to run games and programs, it is very important at what speed they will work there. Therefore, let's move on to the most interesting part of this article - comparing the performance of Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Performance comparison between Windows 7 and Windows 8

To compare the speed of these operating systems, we used both synthetic performance testing applications and test packages based on real applications. The advantage of the former is greater accuracy and repeatability of the results, the advantage of the latter is greater compliance with real-life tasks. In addition to performance tests, the startup speed of the system and applications was measured.

Test conditions

To ensure accuracy, all measurements were taken on the same laptop and with the same versions of drivers, applications and settings. Comparison was carried out on a laptop Asus N61Vn with quad core processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000, 4 GB DDR3 RAM and with video card nVidia GeForce GT240M. 64-bit Russian versions were used Windows 7 SP1 Professional And Windows 8 Pro RTM with all updates available at the time of testing. The drivers for both systems were the same. Antivirus and other applications that can affect the measurement results were not installed, all settings were by default.

Comparison of Windows 7 and Windows 8 in games

To measure and compare performance in games and other applications that intensively use the graphics card, it is most convenient to use test packages from the family 3DMark. As practice shows, they give a fairly accurate idea of ​​system performance in certain games.

3DMark2001 SE


Both systems showed approximately the same results with Windows 7 having a minimal advantage.

3DMark03


The tests were repeated three times. On Windows 7 the final result is slightly higher. As with 3DMark2001 SE, the difference is minimal.

3DMark06


In general the situation is similar to 3DMark03, but the gap is slightly larger (about 5%). The tests were also repeated three times. Let's look at the results for the subtests separately:




It is noteworthy that Windows 8 scored higher in the CPU test than Windows 7. In other tests, Windows 8 was slightly faster.

3DMark Vantage







3DMark Vantage is a more advanced and comprehensive gaming performance test. The situation there is generally similar to the results in other benchmarks in this series. To complete the picture, let's look at the benchmark results Heaven Benchmark 3.0.

Heaven Benchmark


In this test, Windows 8 showed little better performance. The gap is minimal.

Conclusions on tests of Windows 7 and 8 in games

Let's sum it up subtotals on testing in gaming applications. As the measurement results showed, the gaming Windows performance 7 and Windows 8 are approximately on the same level. If you are choosing which system to install on gaming computer or laptop, there is not much difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Comparison of Windows 7 and Windows 8 when working with regular programs

To measure operating speed application programs convenient to use test applications from the family PCMark. We'll start with PCMark05:

PCMark05





The results are on the same level. In case of PCMark05 Graphics Windows 8 scored suspiciously low. To study this issue in more detail, an earlier Windows assembly 8 and similar results were obtained there. Most likely this is due to an error in PCMark05.

Futuremark Peacekeeper

This test measures browser performance. In this case, a browser was used Opera versions 11.64 . Here are the results:


Windows 7 turned out to be a little faster, but the difference is not so great that we can talk about any significant advantage. Let's consider another similar test.

SunSpider


Windows 7 again performed slightly better, completing the test faster.

7-Zip

7-Zip is a fairly popular free archiver. More details about it are described here:. This archiver also has a built-in test. Here are his results:


Windows 7 showed approximately the same result as Windows 8.

Cinebench



Test application Cinebench allows you to evaluate performance in 3D modeling programs and other similar applications. As measurements have shown, both systems demonstrate similar results.

Windows boot speed


This is perhaps the only test where Windows 8 demonstrates significantly better results. Windows 8 actually boots much faster than its predecessor. Studies have shown that Windows 8 shutdown times are also shorter.

Application launch times remained subjectively at the same level. This is due to the fact that it is primarily affected by speed hard drive, and not the operating system as such.

Conclusions from Windows 7 and 8 tests in application programs

The situation is generally similar to that in games. The performance of both systems is approximately at the same level, except for the abnormally low result in graphics tests in PCMark05. I was frankly pleased with the reduction in boot and shutdown times of the new operating system. That's a plus.

It's time to sum up the final results and try to clarify the question of what is better to install on a laptop or computer.

The final results of the comparison between Windows 7 and Windows 8

The results of the comparison in the form of individual theses:

  1. Windows 8 demonstrates approximately the same performance as Windows 7. Installing Windows 8 in order to significantly improve system performance in games or applications does not make sense;
  2. Windows 8 turns on and off much faster. If this is important to you, then it will suit you better than Windows 7;
  3. Windows 8 is best suited for use on touchscreen devices. If your laptop, monoblock or computer has it, then Windows installation 8 will significantly improve ease of use;
  4. With devices without a touch screen, things are not so simple. The fact is that Windows 8 was initially optimized for touch screen control. These optimizations are visible in many interface elements. The problem is that using a mouse and keyboard is not as convenient to use as we would like. Not everyone will like moving the mouse from one edge of the monitor to the other, getting used to pop-up menus, and new control methods. It’s not even a matter of habits that have developed over years of use. previous versions Windows. It's just inconvenient. Yes, you can get used to all this, turn on the Start menu using third-party utilities, configure it to immediately turn on the Desktop instead of the start screen, apply other settings, or you can simply install Windows 7 according to the guide:

This article describes a detailed comparison of the two operating systems Windows 7 and 8 versions. You will also learn all the innovations of the Windows 8 system; a comparison of performance with the seventh version of the operating system when using various games and applications is described in great detail.

Let's consider General characteristics Windows operating system.

Just recently, the final version of Windows 8 from Microsoft became available. The most important question still remained: is it worth installing this system, but due attention was not paid to this issue.

Thanks to this article, each person will be able to choose one or another OS, find out whether it is worth installing the Windows 8 operating system on their computer, and also learn about the benefits that they can get after installing it, and what difficulties may arise.

What's new in version 8 of Windows?

First, you definitely need to consider all the innovations that 8 can offer Windows version. The most important innovation is the interface. This interface is known as Metro, and is also called the Windows 8 interface. Its most important feature is the start screen.

It contains all the most necessary application shortcuts, as well as live tiles, which differ from shortcuts mainly in that the information on them changes, and they themselves can change their size. These tiles are a kind of analogue of widgets from Windows 7, as well as from Windows Vista.

This start screen is analogous to the Start menu; it replaces it in Windows 8. This innovation is quite controversial in the presented operating system. The Start menu in the new version can be returned thanks to third-party utilities.

Another innovation of the operating system is active corners. If you hover your mouse over the right edge of the Desktop, a small menu will appear. This looks quite unusual. In the left corner, the user can switch between applications.

All applications have two operating modes:

  • work in desktop computer with a classic interface;
  • work in a mode oriented to the Metro interface, which is oriented towards working with touch screens.

There have also been some changes in appearance: they have abandoned translucency, as well as rounded corners in some interface elements. The interface has become much cleaner and its operation has become smoother. It was improved and changed, and the interface of control panels began to be used more and more often. This interface was first used in Microsoft Office 2007, and later it began to be used in some other applications. In Windows 8, this interface can be hidden while working with Explorer.

But this service, like many other similar ones, has two main disadvantages:

  • For high-quality operation of this service, you need a constant, fast, preferably unlimited connection to the Internet;
  • The storage capacity is only a few gigabytes, and it can only be increased for a fee.

Thanks to Windows 8, you can not only synchronize files, but also various settings systems. To do this, you will simply need to use your account Windows entry Live ID. Almost all settings are synchronized, except passwords. This list can be configured in the system.

Also, thanks to this account, you can buy and download various applications; Windows 8 already has a built-in store. In the store, you can not only install various applications, but also monitor application updates in a timely manner. It is very comfortable.

There are several other innovations in the operating system: a new Task Manager, Internet Explorer, a system recovery mechanism, a slightly different copy dialog, and more.

Most often, such an operating system is used to work with programs and games. The speed of their work is very important. Let's compare operating systems: Windows 7 and Windows 8.

To compare these two operating systems, test packages based on real applications were used, as well as various synthetic applications for performance testing. The advantages of all these checks are: repeatability of results, greater accuracy, and compliance with real-life tasks. The speed of launching applications and the system itself was also measured.

To ensure the accuracy of all measurements, all comparisons were made on the same laptop, and all driver versions and settings were the same. Antivirus and some drivers that could affect the research results were not installed.

Various benchmark suites from the 3DMark family were used to measure performance in various applications, as well as games that could use a computer's graphics card. Thanks to such test packages, you can get a fairly reliable idea of ​​the performance of the system itself in various games.

Test indication

3DMark2001 SE test - Both operating systems showed almost identical results, but Windows 7 beat Windows 8 by a narrow margin.

3DMark03 test - each test was run three times. The Windows 7 operating system showed a higher result, although, as in the previous case, the difference is minimal.

Test 3DMark06 - the situation is almost the same as in the previous case, but the gap has become a little larger - already about five percent. Each test, as before, was carried out three times. It is necessary to consider each result separately.

Only in the CPU test was Windows 8 able to show a higher result than Windows 7, and in all other cases Windows 7 was much faster.

The 3DMark Vantage test is the most comprehensive and advanced gaming performance test available. The situation is approximately the same as in previous tests. To get the full picture, you need to consider the results of the Heaven Benchmark 3.0.

Windows 8 showed better performance in the test, although the gap is still minimal.

What conclusions can be drawn from Windows 8 and 7 gaming tests?

Let's summarize the intermediate results when testing systems in gaming applications. Based on the measurement results, it was revealed that the gaming performance of both operating systems is almost the same. If you are deciding which system is best to install on your gaming computer, then there is practically no difference between the Windows 8 and 7 operating systems.

Comparative tests of operating systems when working with common programs

To measure the speed of application programs, test applications from the PCMark family were used.

PCMark05 test - the test showed the same results. At first, Windows 8 showed very low scores. Later, an earlier build of the Windows 8 operating system was installed, as a result, when compared with the Windows 7 operating system, almost the same indicators as Windows 7 were obtained.

Futuremark Peacekeeper test - thanks to this test you can measure the performance of the browser. When performing this test, we used Opera browser, version 11.64.

The Windows operating system version 7 showed higher performance, but the difference is not significant. Therefore, we cannot talk about a significant advantage. There is another test you can consider.

SunSpider test - the Windows 7 operating system won this test, as it completed the test much faster.

A very famous free archiver is 7-Zip. This archiver has one built-in test. What are the results of its implementation?

Operating systems showed almost identical results.

Cinebench test - thanks to this test you can evaluate system performance in programs specializing in 3D modeling. Both systems have similar results.

Speed ​​test Windows boot- This is practically the only test when the Windows 8 operating system shows the best result. This system boots much faster. The system shutdown time is also less than that of Windows 7.

The time required to launch applications remains almost the same. This is due to hard speed disk, not the operating system.

Conclusions on the operation of the Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems with application programs

The situation is almost the same as in games. The performance of the systems is almost the same, although Windows 8 showed abnormally low results in graphics tests. The user is very pleased with the boot time and shutdown time of the new version of the operating system.

Let's sum up the final results and also find out which system is better to install on your laptop or computer.

The Windows 8 operating system has almost the same performance as Windows 7. There is no point in installing Windows 8 to improve system performance in applications or games. The Windows 8 operating system turns off and on faster.

The Windows 8 operating system is best suited to work on devices with touch screens.

Not everything is so simple with devices with regular screens. Windows 8 specializes in working with touch screens, which is evident in all interface elements. Using a keyboard or mouse with a touch screen is not so convenient to work with. Although you can install third-party utilities and customize the start menu, and make the desktop the start page. The choice is yours.

Windows has come a long way since Windows startup 1.0 in 1985. Microsoft's latest product today is Windows 8. However, the launch of this operating system has generated a lot of debate whether it is better than its predecessor, Windows 7. Let's find out.


Do you know that?

Microsoft supposedly carried out 1200000000 hours of testing before releasing Windows 8!

Windows 8 was announced at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, and in June 2011, Microsoft showed off a new user interface and newly added features. A new version Windows became available for download on MSDN and TechNet for subscribers on August 15, 2012. However, it became available for public use only on October 26. Its predecessor, Windows 7, was launched in 2009.

So, is Windows 8 performance better than Windows 7? Critics have their own opinions on this issue. I will voice my point of view about these operating systems.

Windows 7: what's new?

The launch of Windows Vista in 2006 created a lot of buzz with new features added to the OS from its predecessor, Windows XP. Whether it was better or not is up for debate, but users were eagerly awaiting a new OS that would fix Vista's shortcomings. The wait ended only in 2009, when Windows 7 was launched. It was released on July 22, 2009, and on October 22 of the same year, the product was made available to retailers.

  • This version retained the virtual style of Vista, and increased the platform for compatible software and hardware. The most noticeable change was the taskbar. Jump lists have been introduced. There is no need to use the "Alt + Tab" function. To switch to another application, you can simply click right click mouse on a specific program icon on the taskbar, and you could see a list of applications running in the background.
  • AeroPeek feature has arrived! This version also eliminated the need to manually size the window so that they could be seen side by side, dividing the screen into equal parts. This Automatic change window size was called the AeroSnap feature. If you had to work in two text documents At the same time, you can simply drag the document onto the desktop and its size will change. Thus, the screen is automatically divided into two halves.
  • If you have touch screen and Windows 7 installed, you can use your fingers to control your computer. All this was not available before the release of this version.
  • The OS is available in 32 and 64-bit versions. The physical hard drive space required to boot the OS in the 32-bit version was 16 GB and 20 GB for the 64-bit version.
  • The VHD (VirtualHardDisk) allows users to store files and folders on virtual disk, the size of which can be expanded. You can choose a fixed partition size, or expand it according to your data size. You can select the system boot option through this HDD, known as native boot.
  • Home Group, similar to the lock concept in Vista - but an improved version, this allowed users to add special home networks, a system that allows Windows 7 users to join a group using a password. A group can share files and folders between multiple computers.
  • Streaming remote media. The feature allows users to share media files from one computer to another without having to physically connect the two devices. WindowsMedia Player Library allows you to access files stored on your home computer via the Internet while working on a laptop.

With so many new features that have been introduced in the v7 version, expectations for the v8 version are increasing. However, not all expectations were met. Let's see what's new in Windows 8.

Windows 8: what's changed?

The development of Windows 8 began even before the release of Windows 7. However, 3 years later, in 2012, this new OS was launched.

Windows 8 vsWindows 7

Based on NetApplications market share data as of July 2014, Windows 7 holds 44.85% market share, while Windows 8 trails even Vista (considered one of the biggest OS failures) with 8.27% market share.

Desktop: Windows 8 has all the features that make it fast and stable, but most of its features are designed for tablet device users. Not much has changed for desktop users.

Search: The search option can be a really troublesome option for Windows users 8. But if you are using Windows 7, all you have to do is click on Windows button, enter the search text, and immediately get the result. Also, in Windows 8, search results will only be from the default location.

Entrance: Entry delay account, this happens when you are using Windows 8 on your desktop. The reason for the delay is the lack of direct download. If you mistakenly navigate to a corner of the screen, a huge menu will appear with some apps that you may not even be interested in this moment. Every click on the options taskbar opens up wide options and a screen with more options!

AeroSnap: Its absence in Windows 8 means you can't have two windows side by side. Welcome back to the "Alt+Tab" options we've all but forgotten thanks to Windows 7.

Forced applications: Most of the pre-installed apps are those that Microsoft forced on us, such as Bing, SkyDrive, Windows Store, and Xbox LIVE. You have no choice but to have them on your system. Windows 7 is more like the OS we all know.

Poor graphics functions: To expand the user base, you also need to click on the gaming zone. While startup and shutdown have improved in Windows 8 (the home screen will take a while to appear), graphics performance has been significantly hampered. This means that while playing, this version will not provide fast results.

Now let's shift our focus to the speed and performance aspects of these two options. When we talk about startup time, Windows8 is a little faster, just a few seconds. However, when 3D graphics come into the picture, Windows7 is the clear winner. Even in the gaming arena, Windows7 is faster than version 8.

Modern features: If you have a touch screen, Windows7 will not treat you the same way as Windows8. Moreover, the lack of a direct function sharing cloud technologies will not please those who want to access their data from another computer without sending files via email.

Although Windows8 is better suited for tablets and touch computers, Windows7 is a universal OS. So maybe you could just wait a little longer to upgrade your OS version to Windows8! And there are already suggestions that Microsoft hopes to cover the shortcomings of Windows8 with WindowsBlue OS (Windows8.1 OS). Maybe this time they can get it right and thus increase the user base.