choosing an OS
choosing an OS
Win7 stands out as the top choice. Win 8 seems to be the least appealing, while Win 10 offers a decent option. For new builds and future projects, Win 10 appears to be the most promising. I believe Win 7 remains the best operating system developed by Microsoft overall. I won’t switch to Win 10 unless improvements in DX12 significantly boost game performance and quality, which hasn’t happened yet.
I'm referring to how Windows 10 feels faster and more responsive compared to Windows 7. That's what I've observed personally.
Last night I watched a live stream from BBISHOPPCM and saw many differing opinions about various Windows versions. My main advice would be to give them a try if possible. I personally suggest Windows 10 since it's the newest and addresses many issues from Windows 8, though your experience might vary with other options.
However, you can choose from multiple options to suit your needs.
Windows 7 stops receiving support in 2020, which means no more updates after that point. We're just over four years away from that timeline. Windows 10 is the final major version Microsoft has released. If you intend to keep using your device for a long time, it's wise to upgrade soon. Also, patches are no longer reviewed by Microsoft's professional development team; they rely on internal developers for testing updates. So... Regardless of the OS you're running, any new update could be risky. Windows 10 includes DirectX12 and other impressive features. It also runs faster and boots more efficiently.
It doesn't really matter when the end of Windows 7 support arrives. Getting updates from Microsoft now often leads to both small and major problems, more so than facing malware threats. Windows 10 can feel like a security risk, and I've experienced more significant issues from accepting its updates compared to dealing with malware or skipping them altogether. Before Windows 10, malware never forced me to reinstall my computer completely. But with Windows 10, that's becoming more common. Windows 7 remains a very stable operating system, while Windows 10 is proving to be less reliable. As you noted, Microsoft’s updates have dropped in quality since Windows 7 and 8, which are already fully updated versions. This makes Windows 10 a much riskier choice moving forward, just as it was back then—right now it's already a challenging experience. For more details, see the articles from Ars Technica, InfoWorld, Redmond Magazine, and others discussing the challenges of Windows 10 updates.
You might not have encountered malware that forced a Windows 7 reinstall, but I have. It's true that Microsoft Windows is closed source, and only Microsoft can patch security vulnerabilities. Updates are crucial for safety. Anyone who doesn't keep up is seen as unwise. I value security, especially when handling online banking or shopping. You're also urging me to fully support Windows 10? I don't. Once I finish university, I plan to switch to Linux. Windows 10 feels like a bad choice, and I won't tolerate outdated software. TIME IS UP. If you don't like Windows 10, there are better options—Linux or MacOS. Also, the Skylake chip won't work with anything newer than Windows 10. This trend is increasing. Microsoft may lock newer hardware out of compatibility. Those wanting upgrades will be left behind, stuck with Windows 10. It's like an asteroid on a collision course; you can't avoid it.
I also enjoyed Windows 7; it could be one of the top operating systems Microsoft developed. However, I now have a Surface tablet and am beginning to prefer it, so I thought it would be worth giving Windows 8.1 a try since I’ve been using Windows 7 for a while and feel it’s time to move on.