# Win 7 vs Win 8 +$100? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 31, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-7-vs-win-8-100/684994 "2014-03-31T15:50:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![andrewm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@andrewm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-7-vs-win-8-100/684994/21 "2014-04-01T02:10:15Z")
I would say go with 8.1. The UI isn’t that much different from 7, and it has significant new security features that 7 lacks (like using SMEP on new CPUs). If you decide you don’t like the start screen, you can get utilities to bring back a start menu for a lot less than $100. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-7-vs-win-8-100/684994/22 "2014-04-05T01:25:39Z")
> [@andrewm](#): > > I would say go with 8.1. The UI isn’t that much different from 7, and it has significant new security features that 7 lacks (like using SMEP on new CPUs). If you decide you don’t like the start screen, you can get utilities to bring back a start menu for a lot less than $100. Like free [http://www.classicshell.net/](http://www.classicshell.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-7-vs-win-8-100/684994/23 "2014-04-05T16:16:40Z")
Windows 8 is not as bad as people make it out to be … it requires to get used to, but that’s it. Kids either have no issue what-so-ever with it or have issues with Win7 as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-7-vs-win-8-100/684994.md?page=1)