My desktop PC, which I use for work, is five years old, and is slowing down and starting to freeze when I have too many programs open. I reinstalled the Windows 7 operating system and added RAM a couple of years ago, and my computer consultant says I can’t add any more memory or otherwise improve it.
I am thinking about buying a new PC, and see that HP and Dell (and probably other) are still selling and marketing Windows 7 units. I like Win7 and don’t really like Win8 on a desktop or laptop. I read that Microsoft intends to let Win7 and 8 users upgrade to Win10 when it comes out later this year. So, it seems to me that I should buy a new Win7 PC, with plenty of RAM, and then update to Win10 once it has been out for awhile.
Does this sound like a good plan, or should I think about something else. I’m probably considering HP first, but am not really tied to that brand.
I would recommend buying a win8 machine, installing classic shell (Easy, free, and makes the machine behave like win7 for you), then upgrading to win10, or not, later.
Insisting on win7 may restrict your choices of device at this stage. If you’re certain this isnt a factor, then everything I just said can safely be ignored.
Thanks for the tip. Does Classic Shell improve the functionality of adding desktop icons and using control panel/settings? Those, along with the silly tile page (silly for desktop use, anyway) are my main objections to Win8.
Not really sure what you mean about desktop icons - those work the same in win8 as they always did.
When win8 was new, some of the control panel stuff was dished up in metro apps, but all of the traditional win32 style control panel dialogs are still there. Win8.1 exposed them a little more, but yes, as far as I understand it (ive never used it myself) Classic Shell will give you a win7 experience in almost every way (possible exception of things that are unequivocally better in win8, such as the file copy dialog).
Let me be really clear on my motives though. I have only recommended getting a win8 machine on the basis of two factors:
If you shop for a win7 machine, you might be buying ‘new old stock’, in which case you may get older hardware and less value for your money (if your favourite vendor is offering a choice of OS across their range, then this is not a concern and you maybe should just go with win7)
IMO, the upgrade to win10 will probably be marginally smoother and ever so slightly less prone to small risks (such as some driver not being quite right or similar), compared to the upgrade from win7, but in theory, either should really be a breeze.
