Windows 7 or Windows 8?

Windows 8 is Win 7 with additional crap added on top such as the Metro which should never be touched unless on a tablet PC, weather, built-in adware/spyware, application store (please enter your credit card), glitchy navigation and other always online rubbish. Aka - a hackers paradised improved. You can however strip it down back to a usable OS.

Windows 7 and Windows 8 perform equally as good in gaming. Just get the version you prefer really.

I prefer and recommend 7.

I don't know about you, but I need a start button on my taskbar, so Windows 7 ftw.

windows8 is good if you have touch screen

7

7

Gaming wise, whatever YOU prefer.
Even though there are reports here and there about game incompatibilities on Windows 8, those aren't true fot the majority of Win8 gamers.
Bear in mind that in Windows 8 you will be able to buy exclusive games ported from XBOX 360, such as Ilomilo Plus and Hydro Thunder Hurricane.

They're the same thing. Though, Windows 8 performs better. Games that weren't compatible are now, at least, most of them. There'll also be a newer version of directx exclusive to Windows 8. Finally, with the Windows 8.1 update, it'll fix things people didn't like about Windows 8. All in all, you should get Windows 8. About your question, Windows 8 is quite light. If you have 4 GB of RAM, you should be fine.

Windows 8 and then get a program to remove metro. There is ZERO reason to buy windows 7 anymore.. (While there is little reason to upgrade to 8 from 7).

I use start is back and it removes metro but if you like metro you can just leave it ;)

The one thing windows 8 does have over 7 is there has been benchmarks that it really does have a few fps better then the same machine on windows 7.

tl;dr If you already have windows 7 on a machine just keep it.. as the upgrade is too small from 7 to be worth $60ish but if you are building a PC and need a OS get windows 8 as it is better in every way and has a performance boost over 7. If you don't like metro UI you can remove it with Start Is Backfor a few bucks and you will have a start menu again.. or you can get Classic Shelland that one is free (but not as well integrated into windows imo)

Personally, I use windows 8. I have no problem with the layout, and if the lack of start menu bugs you , you can always install a program to create one.

I find its faster, and my games run a lot more smoothly on 8 than they did on 7. But both are fine for running games imo.

It's the same. If you like the metro style, get 8, if you prefer the old school, keep 7.

windows 7

windows 8

6+1

8

Hmm, Win7 or 8 you ask. Answer yourself who you are:

• Basic user (webbrowser + games + photos + movies + videos) - any system should do it but Win8 looks more friendly.
• Average user (basic user + office + some other simple programs) - any system should do it but Win8 is getting a bit messy and annoying when switching between screens (I have fullscreen switching every few clicks).
• Advanced user (average user + more advanced programs + some modifications in system configuration) - I suggest Win7 as it's easier to do stuff and is more friendly when applying modifications but Win8 can do it as well.
• Professional - you don't care as you can get rid of (almost) everything that annoys you, replace GUI/shell, add Start Menu or whatether you like (or leave Metro/Modern/Start be), you don't use Explorer (most likely Total Commander or similar) if you don't like it etc... basically you get rid of 2/3 of system tools/applications after installing and modify other. You simply get the job done :)

Win8 talk about:

1. Performance. Windows 8 should be better for the system and programs work. Gaming... well, system is using GPU more, runs many small background applications and some new services so I think ups and downs should neutralize themselves, meybe it will give a bit improvements - I haven't tested Win8 on gaming platform. Unless you tweak up some system settings.

2. Support. It'll be longer supported by Microsoft. Direct 11.1 is supported only on Windows 8 and up and DIrect 11.2 will be supported on Win8.1. Supported (first phase) products also gets updates (other than security - yes, I talk about you WinXP), extra functions and Microsoft will make new software work on it.

3. Gaming platforms. Currently no gaming platform (except for XBox integration allowing to list games) offers any special integration with Win8 or plans it. Same with games. There are some special apps like Steam Tile for Steam etc. So unless you use special applications you won't get any extras or special behaviour.

4. Compatibility. Win8 has similar issues as Win7. Running some very old games requires some tweaks or emulator (or virtual machine with older system). Some libraries may be missing but installers are mostly available so it just takes some extra time. Nothing unusual with Microsoft - you can't run too new applications (older systems - support) and too old applications (backward compatibility) easily but if you have some time - it's not big deal. For running old apps/games Linux is doing quite well :)

I hope this helps.

[Edit]
PS: Win8.1 (should be free update I think) should solve some (but not all annoying) of Win8 issues.
PPS: you can test Win8 (or 8.1) on virtual machine. VMware Player or VirtualBox should do the trick but you won't be able to run any recent games as graphics virtualization is still in its infancy.

Win8 for office work, Win7 for gaming. Simple as that.

Is this seriously a thread? Has anyone actually tried using windows 8 for office work... or gaming, or anything...

Windows 8 is total crap, complicates everything and is simply a waste of time. They removed some very simple yet important features, that are in windows 8 but not in 7. Just stick with 7, it's the way forward... Coming from a person who works in a PC & Laptop repair shop.

Having said that, an update is coming to windows 8 which is 'supposed' to fix all of that.

Windows 8. If the lack of a start button worries you, the free 8.1 update scheduled for later this year will add it back in as well as improving current features.

Why go backwards? I've used every MS interface since DOS (yes, even Windows ME for a short time shudder) and I switched from 7 to 8 on it's release. Now that I've figured out how things work, other than a couple more clicks to shut down, I haven't really noticed any other inconvenience or compatibility issue and I'm growing to like the new interface and apps. I haven't felt any need to add back the start button. Gaming performance is comparable and it boots noticeably faster which is nice.

No point trying to stay in the past, learn to adapt to changes and take advantage of the new features.

u already wrote it. 7 is the right.

Just getting another vote in for Windows 8. Has been running great since release :D 8.1 coming out at 18th of October, which will give the much wanted start button back. There will however not be another menu, it will still be the full screen menu, but it does work slightly different.

I had many problems with win8 with gta4 series on steam [didint resolved till reinstalled 7] other games where good. so i would go for 7 .

Might as well go with 8 because it'll receive support longer, and install Classic Shell if you end up disliking Metro layout on the desktop.