# Windows 8.1 vs 7 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850 "2014-05-06T22:53:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/101 "2014-05-21T19:03:48Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Windows XP isn’t like the Model T car, which nobody knows how to drive. It’s more like a classic Chevrolet or Ford from the 1960’s or 70’s, which everybody knows how to drive. > Today’s cars use _identical_ procedures…The steering wheel is identical , the brake pedal and accelerator pedals are still in the same place , the rear-view mirrors haven’t moved, etc,etc… Sure, it’s important to read the owner’s manual to learn about the new sound system… Last year I rented a car from Avis. They gave me a Nissan. The damn thing didn’t have a key. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how to start it. Yeah, I pressed the button where the ignition should be, I held the fob up against it, I tried everything I could think of. There were no Avis employees in sight and the rental counter was out in the lobby up two floors. I wandered around looking for someone to help me until I got to the exit booth. The nice lady in the booth asked me right away “Is it a Nissan?” Apparently this was a routine question. She explained that you had to put the key fob in your lap, depress the brake pedal, and then press the button in the console. It’s nothing earth-shattering, but you’d think there could be an instruction card in the car somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/102 "2014-05-21T19:13:07Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > I enjoy learning new things. I’ll even pay money for a book which would teach them to me. The problem is that when I go looking for a “Intro to Windows XP” or “Intro to Windows 8” or whatever, they are all designed for total novices who know nothing about computers. What I’d absolutely love is something titled “Windows 8 for People Who Already Know Windows XP Very Well”. Any suggestions? > > It is true that in many cases, I can go to the Internet and search Google for the solution to my problem. But that takes time, and the quality of the answers varies widely. I’d love a single reference work that would cover even 50% of my questions. I learned about Windows 8 from a 5 minute video on youtube. Actually, I watched two versions of the same video: one for keyboard users and one for touchscreen users. I tried to find the videos for you, but when I watched them there were just a few and now there seem to be thousands and I don’t remember which one I watched. It just took ten minutes and I was ready to do whatever I had routinely been doing with my old computer. And, yes, I wish Microsoft had put out a booklet or a reference card or something. But nobody believes in documenting their products any more. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/103 "2014-05-21T19:17:43Z")
Am I correct to assume that you still need to buy 3rd party anti virus software for WIN/8.X? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/104 "2014-05-21T19:51:35Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Am I correct to assume that you still need to buy 3rd party anti virus software for WIN/8.X? Windows 8 comes with Windows Defender, which is basically Microsoft Security Essentials bundled up with Windows. MSE’s performance has been a bit lackluster in recent years though, so a 3rd party antivirus is probably a good idea. But buying one? AVG, Avast, and Avira (hmm… all A’s) all have scored fairly well recently and have free versions available. I personally use Avast but Avira has scored a bit higher in recent tests that I have seen. ---
**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/105 "2014-05-21T20:12:48Z")
I used Windows 8 briefly ona new computer, I had to return the computer for variosu reasons, not having anything to do with Windows 8. I noticed that the email ‘app’ did not support POP servers, the one most email provides use, or at least mine does. I had no way to use the mail app to access the email I wanted. I could set up Hotmail accounts in it but not my main account. Anyone else have this experience with WIn8? Was it changed in 8.1? I ask be cause someone upthread said they accessed all their email accounts effortlessly. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/106 "2014-05-21T21:25:20Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Windows 8 comes with Windows Defender, which is basically Microsoft Security Essentials bundled up with Windows. MSE’s performance has been a bit lackluster in recent years though, so a 3rd party antivirus is probably a good idea. > > But buying one? > > AVG, Avast, and Avira (hmm… all A’s) all have scored fairly well recently and have free versions available. I personally use Avast but Avira has scored a bit higher in recent tests that I have seen. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/107 "2014-05-21T21:53:10Z")
Look, I am 77 years old, bought my first computer (running IBM-DOS, unnumbered by retronumbered 1.0) 32 years ago, learned used MS-DOS up to 6.x, Win 3.1 (a real dog), Win-95, Win-98 (both usable), NT (vast improvement), XP (loved it), Win-7 (it took a while, but I am used to it) and **I am simply not interested in learning a new and different UI**. Is that a crime? Damn you Microsoft! My wife has a computer that is 15 years and is now afraid to replace it. It was upgraded to XP when the hard disk went bad some years ago. And for much the same reason, we are not interested in Apple. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/108 "2014-05-21T22:07:13Z")
> [@BrianJ](#): > > I noticed that the email ‘app’ did not support POP servers, the one most email provides use, or at least mine does. I had no way to use the mail app to access the email I wanted. I could set up Hotmail accounts in it but not my main account. Apparently it doesn’t natively support POP (and there are justifications for that, right or wrong), but it supports IMAP - which most mail providers should be able to offer as a better alternative to POP3. Or you can get Hotmail/Outlook.com to collect your POP email for you. But really, the Windows Mail app is a bit shite anyway - you’re not obliged to use it (I just installed Thunderbird) ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/109 "2014-05-22T13:17:11Z")
> [@BrianJ](#): > > I used Windows 8 briefly ona new computer, I had to return the computer for variosu reasons, not having anything to do with Windows 8. > > I noticed that the email ‘app’ did not support POP servers, the one most email provides use, or at least mine does. I had no way to use the mail app to access the email I wanted. I could set up Hotmail accounts in it but not my main account. > > Anyone else have this experience with WIn8? Was it changed in 8.1? > > I ask be cause someone upthread said they accessed all their email accounts effortlessly. You can download Windows Live Mail fro free from Microsoft - it works just like the Windows Live Mail in Win7 and similar to Outlook Express in XP. ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/110 "2014-05-22T13:36:45Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Your analogy isn’t quite right. > The Model T is ancient and _irrelevant._. If it were a computer, it would be the ancient model from 1980 Radio Shack, which you had to insert a set of floppy disks into as you turned it on, so it could boot up a primitive version of DOS . > > Windows XP isn’t like the Model T car, which nobody knows how to drive. It’s more like a classic Chevrolet or Ford from the 1960’s or 70’s, which everybody knows how to drive. > Today’s cars use _identical_ procedures…The steering wheel is identical , the brake pedal and accelerator pedals are still in the same place , the rear-view mirrors haven’t moved, etc,etc… Sure, it’s important to read the owner’s manual to learn about the new sound system… > > But any user with 10 years experience can use a modern car right from the start, following his standardized, familar procedures… > Unlike Windows 8. > > (and thanks for the fascinating link about the Model T!) > [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Last year I rented a car from Avis. They gave me a Nissan. The damn thing didn’t have a key. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how to start it. Yeah, I pressed the button where the ignition should be, I held the fob up against it, I tried everything I could think of. > > There were no Avis employees in sight and the rental counter was out in the lobby up two floors. I wandered around looking for someone to help me until I got to the exit booth. The nice lady in the booth asked me right away “Is it a Nissan?” Apparently this was a routine question. She explained that you had to put the key fob in your lap, depress the brake pedal, and then press the button in the console. > > It’s nothing earth-shattering, but you’d think there could be an instruction card in the car somewhere. Some people also get confused when a new car shuts down at the traffic lights and turning the key does nothing. Or you need to press the clutch to actually turn the car on. A Buddy of mine was stuck in a VW Passat at some stage he needed to drive home for someone after a night out, it started and all worked fine except he could not drive off, because the handbrake would note release and there was no leaver for a handbrake - they put a button there - no more leavers. It’s the first time he or I came across this. So, even in modern cars they like to change things around a bit. The Model T was just an extreme example on how different it was… like Win 1 to Win8. The handbrake leaver to button and Autostop is somewhat more similar to Win7 to Win8. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/111 "2014-05-22T14:09:57Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > AVG, Avast, and Avira (hmm… all A’s) all have scored fairly well recently and have free versions available. I personally use Avast but Avira has scored a bit higher in recent tests that I have seen. I switched to Avira for my new Windows 8.1 laptop (from AVG, which I’d used for 10+ years) and I love it. It’s unintrusive, doesn’t consume resources, has a pretty interface, and seems to be more effective than the other freebies. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/112 "2014-05-22T14:44:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I switched to Avira for my new Windows 8.1 laptop (from AVG, which I’d used for 10+ years) and I love it. It’s unintrusive, doesn’t consume resources, has a pretty interface, and seems to be more effective than the other freebies. I like Bitdefender (free) because it’s entirely invisible. Until there’s a problem, I never see it. It’s extremely bare-bones, the only user input is basically an on/off switch, but it seems to get the job done. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/113 "2014-05-22T15:46:04Z")
I tried Bitdefender right before I got this computer and Windows kept telling me it was inactive. Not sure what was up with that. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/114 "2014-05-22T16:17:18Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I tried Bitdefender right before I got this computer and Windows kept telling me it was inactive. Not sure what was up with that. If you aren’t sure if your virus-checker is working or not, try to open or download the “EICAR Standard Anti-Virus Test File”. Read about it at Wikipedia [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EICAR_test_file), and then download it from the site [here](http://www.eicar.org/85-0-Download.html). If your anti-virus is working properly, any attempt to download or open it will be prevented. If your anti-virus is not working properly, then you will be able to download and open it – but don’t worry, because it is harmless. ---
**Author:** ![gumpy3885](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@gumpy3885](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gumpy3885)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/115 "2014-05-22T18:43:01Z")
I’ve tested Windows 8/8.1 but always end up going back to Windows 7. My observation is that MS seems to be focused on developing a consumer-facing UI and apps which is fine. As a professional who spends 8-12 hours a day using a computer, my productivity with Windows 8 took a huge nose dive and it wasn’t all about the learning curve. I don’t need a media player or constant updates from Facebook. I sure as hell don’t want tiles on my server. I need to organize my desktop with the IDE’s and tools that all work together to let me get my job done. I need to ensure that my customers and users can get their job done with a minimum amount of interference from the OS. Up until Win 7, most users didn’t really care about the OS because it stayed in the background and didn’t get in the way. With Win 8, Microsoft has chosen to make the OS a part of the foreground and requires users to fight through the UI rather than taking it for granted. If you believe tablets are the wave of the future, Win 8/Metro might be the holy grail for you. For those of us who use laptops/desktops as the tools of our trade, no tablet will ever replace that and Metro gets in the way. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/116 "2014-05-23T13:35:35Z")
At a typical day at work as a health insurance claims processor, I have: Four to six different internal web applications over two windows: Four mainframe emulator windows Two Excel spreadsheets Email / IM No surprise, the company decided to go with Windows 7 (which Microsoft even suggested). I can just imagine trying to do my job with a touchscreen. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/117 "2014-05-23T13:39:48Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > If you aren’t sure if your virus-checker is working or not, try to open or download the “EICAR Standard Anti-Virus Test File”. Read about it at Wikipedia [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EICAR_test_file), and then download it from the site [here](http://www.eicar.org/85-0-Download.html). If your anti-virus is working properly, any attempt to download or open it will be prevented. If your anti-virus is not working properly, then you will be able to download and open it – but don’t worry, because it is harmless. Hey, thanks! Definitely bookmarking those links. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/118 "2014-05-23T14:21:56Z")
> [@Mdcastle](#): > > At a typical day at work as a health insurance claims processor, I have: > Four to six different internal web applications over two windows: > Four mainframe emulator windows > Two Excel spreadsheets > Email / IM > No surprise, the company decided to go with Windows 7 (which Microsoft even suggested). I can just imagine trying to do my job with a touchscreen. Win7 is probably still a better choice for business anyway, but _ **touch screens aren’t mandatory in Win8.** _ It’s perfectly possible to use keyboard and mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/119 "2014-05-23T16:00:44Z")
My Win-8-native laptop didn’t even come with a touchscreen. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850/120 "2014-05-23T16:08:27Z")
My fiance just bought a new laptop, and it has a touchscreen. I set it up for her, and frankly I don’t really see the point of the touchscreen. If the screen folded back or detached that would be different, but it doesn’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-1-vs-7/687850.md?page=7)