Choose your operating system: Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Choose your operating system: Windows 7 or Windows 8.
For gaming purposes, choose 8.1. If you don’t play games, opt for 7 for a lighter setting.
I changed to Win 8 a year ago when setting up my PC, and I’m happy with the result. It’s almost identical to version 7 if you skip the new start screen and install StartISBack, though there are some minor tweaks like a better Task Manager, improved file copy view, and quicker boot times. Overall it feels a bit snappier. Plus, you can find it very affordably (around 22€).
I would definitely rely on version 8.1. You might hear a lot about how Windows 8+ is terrible, but that’s not accurate. Most users simply prefer staying updated. It’s smoother, quicker, and many of the bothersome issues from Windows 8—like full-screen Metro apps without a close button—have been resolved through updates.