<p>Here’s my dilemma,
Dell Inspiron 15 runs Windows 8.1 costs $300 320gb
Dell Inspiron 15 runs Windows 7 costs $370 500gb</p>
<p>Which one should I get? I have used windows XP all my life. </p>
<p>I’m going to need a LOT more information than that, preferably model numbers. </p>
<p>I think he just means the OS and no, it’s not that bad. I mean, I wouldn’t use it since I am at home with Unix OSs but it is not as bad as people make it out to be and the “bad” parts can be easily ignored or circumvented. Under the hood it’s a vast improvement from 7 in terms of performance.</p>
<p>It’s a pain in the but to set up a dual boot with Windows 8, and it does take some getting used to. I only use Windows for occasional games, so I ditched the Windows 8 that came with my computer and used a free install of Windows 7 instead. In my minimal experience with Windows 8, it’s not terrible, but there’s definitely an adjustment. Unless you have a compelling reason you need Windows 7, I wouldn’t spend an extra $70 to get 7 instead of 8.</p>
<p>I used XP since it came out and had no issues with 8.0 or 8.1. Yes you will have to learn where some icons were moved to but it’s not a big deal. Once in the desktop mode, it really looks and feels similar. </p>
<p>I really liked Windows 7, but I fell in love with Windows 8. It is an improvement in a lot of ways, but so many people are scared of the GUI. I don’t understand why, it is pretty intuitive. </p>
<p>Thanks guys</p>
<p>update, i got the windows 8.1 and it’s perfectly fine, i dont see what the big fuss is over. </p>
<p>Personally, I like Windows 8. I got a new laptop about 4 months about with Windows 8, got the 8.1 update when it came out…I don’t understand the dislike for it. </p>
<p>There was a little bit of a learning curve in getting used to the new Start menu, but overall it’s essentially the same. I have mine set to boot right to the desktop, and I rarely even have to go into the Start menu because I have desktop icons for the things I commonly use. </p>
<p>I’m not a real heavy computer user, so that may make a difference. I use it for research and general internet/Facebook/email type use, as well as writing papers and things like that. If I was a gamer or a real heavy computer user I may feel differently. I think a lot of the hate for Windows 8 comes from fear of change.</p>
<p>Windows 8 is tolerable if you add on the StarDock StartUp8 and StarDock ModernMix addons ($10 for both, $8 if you buy both at the same time). Without it, it’s awful; the interface is illogical and unintuitive. </p>
<p>Honestly, Windows 8 is the reason I switched to Mac OS X in the short term, and will be developing my own OS for the long-term. I was a long-term windows user (XP and 7 are fantastic; never used Vista), and refused to use OS X because I couldn’t stand the OS X user interface… well Microsoft screwed up so bad, in my opinion, on Windows 8, that I finally switched. </p>
<p>I have Windows 7 installed via BootCamp on my MacBook too. Stick with Windows 7 until MS wises up and returns a full functioning desktop interface to their non-mobile operating system, or get Windows 8 and add StarDock.</p>
<p>windows 8.1 is perfect for daily use, i wouldnt say its better than xp but its not worse. this thread can be closed btw </p>
<p>New start menu is pretty crap, but you can easily download a start button for free. </p>
<p>I have a tablet with Windows 8.1 and haven’t had any problems. The only difference I see between 8.1 and 7 is the start menu. I don’t see much of a point in getting 8.1 if you’re not getting a touch screen (I can imagine the start menu would be annoying).</p>