Poll: What version of windows do you use?

[broadbandaddict]

I run Windows 7 on my desktop, Windows 8 on my laptop and HTPC, and I run Server 2012 on my server with Ubuntu, WHS 2011, and another 7 running in VMs. I also am getting ready to set up an unRAID server on Thursday.

I don't understand why people complain about Vista. I used it for a couple of years and as long as you aren't a dumbass it works great.

Also to those saying Windows 8 doesn't bring anything to the table, try using it. In my experiences it has run a lot faster than 7. Just try not to run it on hardware built for XP.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

XP, since it's not technically dead until next April. Upgrade may happen at some point, but not until I swap out the motherboard and processor.

Or buy a new computer and have to downgrade from 8.

 

[Xan Krieger]

I run Windows 7 on my desktop, Windows 8 on my laptop and HTPC, and I run Server 2012 on my server with Ubuntu, WHS 2011, and another 7 running in VMs. I also am getting ready to set up an unRAID server on Thursday.

I don't understand why people complain about Vista. I used it for a couple of years and as long as you aren't a dumbass it works great.

Also to those saying Windows 8 doesn't bring anything to the table, try using it. In my experiences it has run a lot faster than 7. Just try not to run it on hardware built for XP.

Sure it's faster but there's no start menu and that's a deal breaker. Instead you have to use this hideous interface and that just makes things too difficult.

 

[votemarvel]

Oh, and if anyone is using XP, please get with the times

What does Windows 7 do for me that Windows XP does not?

Security? I've never been infected with a virus or been "hacked" or had any type of security issue while using Windows XP. So how is Windows 7 going to protect me more than never getting anything?

Perhaps speed could tip the scale. I freely confess that Windows 7 starts quicker than XP but given that I rarely turn my computer off I find it hard to see that as a plus. Performance of apps and games? Didn't see the slightest bit of difference between the two.

I also hate the overall look of Windows 7 and how it has removed basic options such as the File Types tab, an 'improvement' which stops you changing which program is used with the Right Click "Edit" command unless you get a third part program or go RegEdit diving.

Also Windows 7 makes text look like crap if you run your desktop at less than your monitor's native resolution, whereas Windows XP can make text look crisp no matter what you choose to run at.

It's not that I think Windows 7 is a bad operating system but no-one has yet managed to give me a convincing argument as to why I should move to it. App and game developers have yet to release anything that I am interested in that wont run on XP or I can't play on my Xbox 360.

Also to those saying Windows 8 doesn't bring anything to the table, try using it. In my experiences it has run a lot faster than 7. Just try not to run it on hardware built for XP.

I am running Windows 8 on my spare desktop, which oddly is better spec than my main, and I can't stand it.

I can see how Metro is going to be very good and easy to use with touch-screen devices but as with the traditional keyboard and mouse it is clumsy and irritating.

 

[EHKOS]

Vista for the time being, the computer I'm using right now is almost toast though, and I will definitely be using 7 as soon as I can.

 

[broadbandaddict]

Sure it's faster but there's no start menu and that's a deal breaker. Instead you have to use this hideous interface and that just makes things too difficult.

There is a start menu, it just looks different. I find my programs the same as I do when I use 7. I press the windows key and start typing what I'm looking for. I'm not trying to get in an argument or anything but if someone doesn't like it because they see other people don't like it then they should try it. You never know, you might like it.

 

[Xan Krieger]

Sure it's faster but there's no start menu and that's a deal breaker. Instead you have to use this hideous interface and that just makes things too difficult.

There is a start menu, it just looks different. I find my programs the same as I do when I use 7. I press the windows key and start typing what I'm looking for. I'm not trying to get in an argument or anything but if someone doesn't like it because they see other people don't like it then they should try it. You never know, you might like it.

I've used the review version where I work and it's harder to use. They made it less user friendly. The start menu is nice, from there I can access everything in a way that I've been using since windows 95. Windows 8 changes things on desktop PCs just to help tablets and that's stupid. I'm going for windows 7 because it's more accessible and user friendly.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Windows 7, but at work we use Windows XP because they've never bothered to upgrade the computers. I think they're scheduling an upgrade later this year to Windows 7 though, so that'll be good.

Also I'm not going to bother upgrading to Windows 8, unless it comes standard in my next laptop or whatever. 7 does the job just fine.

 

[teqrevisited]

Win7 64bit. I've got my old XP machine for things that don't work on it too. Not everything works on 7 but there are so few things that don't that it's hardly ever an issue.

 

[JoJo]

Vista, since it came installed in my laptop which I've had for over four years now. Honestly though I prefer it to XP and it didn't even cause any problems until the last few months, which I think is down to my laptop reaching the latter part of it's lifespan rather than a fault in the software itself.

 

[Moderated]

Needs a windows 8 option.
I don't need it myself, it looks terribad.

 

[Dirzzit]

Windows Me is where it's at yo.

 

[Stainlesssteele4]

Windows 7 Ultimate, for the man that doesn't believe in over kill.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I run OSX and XP

 

[lacktheknack]

Windows 7 Ultimate, for the man that doesn't believe in over kill.

What's overkill?

Windows 7 64bit, here. Vista was great when I used it, but I got 7 for free, so why not.

 

[Signa]

Performance of apps and games? Didn't see the slightest bit of difference between the two.

well, if you have a video card made in the last 4 years, you aren't able to take advantage of all of it's features. No one will see a difference by the OS upgrade alone, but more options will come available by upgrading.

I also hate the overall look of Windows 7 and how it has removed basic options such as the File Types tab, an 'improvement' which stops you changing which program is used with the Right Click "Edit" command unless you get a third part program or go RegEdit diving.

LIES!!

I can right-click any file and go to the "open with..." option and select on the fly the program I want to open the file with. I feel though that I might be misinterpreting what your gripe is, because now that you've mentioned it, I can't find the feature I think you're looking for. The thing is, I haven't needed it once since I upgraded to 7. Every time I want something that isn't default, it's just a click or two away from being opened in the right program. There is also the control panel option "Default Programs" which covers the functionality that I think you're looking for.

What does suck is how you have to hit alt to see your toolbar (File, Edit,Veiw...) in default settings, an "improvement" they added in Vista. I also miss having extra toolbars around the edges of my screen, instead of being restricted to the one. I also hate the Libraries folder being open all the time when I'm browsing for a file, or how it's the default location when I pin a shortcut.

OT: On 7 here, and I'm not looking back. 8 looks awful, and my programer friends hate it too.

 

[octafish]

I mostly use 7, but I have a "living room PC"* that runs the trial of 8. It is a pain to try and "do" anything with 8 but once you have it all set-up it is pretty good for TV, playing games, or watching Media. I'm still hoping they bring back the Start button with a Service Pack though.

*[small]I'd call it an HTPC but with a GTX560 and a Yorkfield Quad it isn't exactly aimed at just Home Theatre.[/small]

 

[Trigger Happy]

I'm using windows 8 right now, partly because I'm a sucker for new stuff, and partly because my copy of windows 7 ran out of installs and this is the free 90 day trial version of win8. that said, I like it. Personally, I never used the start menu for more than "start button -> search 'calc' or 'cmd.exe' -> press enter key" and in that regard it's the exact same and everything else I use frequently is just pinned to my taskbar. other than that I like seeing that I have 'X' new emails, checking my calender and the weather at startup, and the new task manager, I love that thing!

 

[neonsword13-ops]

After years and years of using Vista/XP, my mother finally decided to switch to a W7 laptop.

I just gotta say that I love the UI. It's so slick and clean!

Now I just gotta see how many of my Steam games work on it.

 

[votemarvel]

well, if you have a video card made in the last 4 years, you aren't able to take advantage of all of it's features. No one will see a difference by the OS upgrade alone, but more options will come available by upgrading.

It's a Radeon 6450 in my Windows 7 PC (compared to the Geforce 8600GTS in my main).

Not exactly a top end card but it has 1gb of memory on board and support for DirectX 11. As well as being released in the last five years.

If there is a difference in speed for programs and games it is so small to be unnoticeable by myself.

LIES!!

I can right-click any file and go to the "open with..." option and select on the fly the program I want to open the file with. I feel though that I might be misinterpreting what your gripe is, because now that you've mentioned it, I can't find the feature I think you're looking for. The thing is, I haven't needed it once since I upgraded to 7. Every time I want something that isn't default, it's just a click or two away from being opened in the right program. There is also the control panel option "Default Programs" which covers the functionality that I think you're looking for.

Let me explain a little bit.

When you double click (or right click and choose open) the default program is opened. With a .jpg this is the Windows Picture Viewer. This is fine for me as it is a quick and simple option to see a larger view.

However when I want to make changes to that image I right click on it and choose Edit to open, in my case, Photoshop Elements. Open and Edit start two different programs, the second one of my choice I could set through the File Types tab.

Changing the default program only changes what is used when double clicking, or right clicking and Open.

Now you're quite correct that I can use the Open With sub-menu but that brings me to another annoyance of Windows 7, the requirement to do extra steps to accomplish the same tasks I did in Windows XP. Sure that's only one extra step to get to Open With but look at what sharing media to your Xbox 360 takes compared to the steps in XP.

What does suck is how you have to hit alt to see your toolbar (File, Edit,Veiw...) in default settings, an "improvement" they added in Vista. I also miss having extra toolbars around the edges of my screen, instead of being restricted to the one. I also hate the Libraries folder being open all the time when I'm browsing for a file, or how it's the default location when I pin a shortcut.

I've turned the menu bar on permanently and used a third party program called Classic Shell to restore the toolbar buttons, as I find 7's way of navigation to be a pain.