You'd likely choose Windows 10 or 11 for a new PC.
You'd likely choose Windows 10 or 11 for a new PC.
Many believe Windows 7 offers a better gaming experience, yet I favor Windows 8.1 over it. However, avoid Windows 8—it might disappoint you. Upgrading to Windows 10 could be more cost-effective, though I doubt it will succeed like Windows 8 did. If Windows 10.1 appears, it could become a solid option.
In one year it will become outdated. Therefore, if you prefer not to purchase Windows 8.1 and are likely to receive a free upgrade to Windows 10, go with 7. Once Windows 10 is released, 7 will be quite outdated, and a year later we should see new DX12 titles. Windows 7 could last about two more years if you want to play games at the best graphical settings and performance. Many games already run smoothly on 8.1.
What version believes Windows 7 offers better gaming performance is 8, thanks to improvements beneath the surface of 7. The disappointment with 8 comes from its differences compared to 8.1, which is free to update. Windows 8 didn’t crash; many users simply lack the knowledge to adapt. The “no start menu” criticism was just a misunderstanding—start menus were expected. Technology keeps evolving, so we must either keep up or fall behind.
You likely don’t need more clarifications yet, though someone might still be interested... I’m using Windows 7 now just because I’m too lazy to reinstall it. I’d definitely try Windows 8 on a new machine. Maybe Windows 8 has a terrible user interface, but you could find a workaround that brings back the Win 7 experience. I believe even though the design team made mistakes with Windows 8, most improvements are noticeable. Many people ignore these changes because they focus only on the new UI and dislike it. I personally dislike Windows 8 and wouldn’t use it, but since it’s so easy to switch, I’d definitely opt for Windows 8.1. EDIT: What has changed? SSD support and boot times are much faster. Windows 8.1 uses fewer resources compared to older versions.