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Post your comments for Consumer Reports makes case for Windows 7 PCs here

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[jgros]

There are many good deals at Frys and I bought one. A Lenovo had a good price. Keept it for one day and took it back. Lenovo along with Microsoft decided to change the BIOS on the computers. You can not boot to a CD. It is my machine and you are not allowed to change that. I still have programs that boot from the CD. I thought I could downgrade to Windows 7. They do not allow that, the BIOS will stop you.

[moe8125]

I run the free 90 day trial of Windows 8 RTM. I don't know if I can make the switch to Windows 8 because 7 iscso awesome and more stable. Although I have not had any major software issues with Windows 8 other than the Windows 8 apps crashing, I have seen some performance issues. Overall I like Windows 8, just not sure if I want to abandon 7 right now.

[karthiq]

Glad to know my fav hybrid the xps 12 is also the top rated among win 8 hybrids.

[karthiq]

god i sound like a 12 yr old.

[Patruns]

I wonder what Dell's 4th quarter sales are going to look like now that the only Home PCs they are selling with Windows 7 preloaded are the Alienware gaming systems. If you want a Windows 7 PC, shop HP or someone else I guess.

[yarrum31]

CR dead on! I switched from XP pro to Win 7 pro a month ago and am very happy. get a better deal with Win7 and save your sanity. wait for Win 9 to upgrade.

[visimp]

I bought several Win8 computers and had the same problem trying to boot from a CD to install Win7. In the bios, look for the option to disable "Secure Boot' and in the section showing the boot priority order look for the option to enable Legacy boot facilities. I think it as listed under CMS (old age is affecting the memory). Once both are set like this, the boot option menu will work again and you can get the computer to boot to a CD.

[mikefrombethany]

Quote

I wonder what Dell's 4th quarter sales are going to look like now that the only Home PCs they are selling with Windows 7 preloaded are the Alienware gaming systems. If you want a Windows 7 PC, shop HP or someone else I guess.

[mikefrombethany]

I just received my Dell Vostro 3560 yesterday with Win 7 Pro on it. Soo....

[LiveBrianD]

jgros, on 20 December 2012 - 06:36 PM, said:

There are many good deals at Frys and I bought one. A Lenovo had a good price. Keept it for one day and took it back. Lenovo along with Microsoft decided to change the BIOS on the computers. You can not boot to a CD. It is my machine and you are not allowed to change that. I still have programs that boot from the CD. I thought I could downgrade to Windows 7. They do not allow that, the BIOS will stop you.

There should be an option to disable Secure Boot in there btw, which fixes the problem.

[LiveBrianD]

Patruns, on 21 December 2012 - 08:48 AM, said:

I wonder what Dell's 4th quarter sales are going to look like now that the only Home PCs they are selling with Windows 7 preloaded are the Alienware gaming systems. If you want a Windows 7 PC, shop HP or someone else I guess.

Unfortunately, they're ALL phasing out Windows 7 machines on the consumer side. If you want a good OS, you have to get a business machine. (most of the Lenovo Thinkpads have an option for Windows 7. Heck, my x120e even has drivers for XP, though it shipped with 7.)

[brainout]

jgros, on 20 December 2012 - 06:36 PM, said:

There are many good deals at Frys and I bought one. A Lenovo had a good price. Keept it for one day and took it back. Lenovo along with Microsoft decided to change the BIOS on the computers. You can not boot to a CD. It is my machine and you are not allowed to change that. I still have programs that boot from the CD. I thought I could downgrade to Windows 7. They do not allow that, the BIOS will stop you.

YOUR COMMENT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. Thank you for posting it.There are workarounds, but they are a hassle to learn and use; so it's better to buy a Win7 system and then fix its UEFI and other settings in BIOS so that you are not disabled from various options at boot time.

This post has been edited by brainout: 22 December 2012 - 03:16 AM

[brainout]

Patruns, on 21 December 2012 - 08:48 AM, said:

I wonder what Dell's 4th quarter sales are going to look like now that the only Home PCs they are selling with Windows 7 preloaded are the Alienware gaming systems. If you want a Windows 7 PC, shop HP or someone else I guess.

Not true. You can buy any machine with Win7. Just go to Dell.com, pick a category of computer, and then look on the left for your selection of the parameters. One of the categories you can select for business machines is the OS: Win8, 7, BSD or Linux. For 'home' machines, you can still pick between Win8 and Win7.

You don't have to BE a business, to purchase a business machine. And frankly you're always smarter to buy a business laptop or desktop, as they will have a higher productivity, better features, higher resale value.

This post has been edited by brainout: 22 December 2012 - 03:20 AM

[edmsing]

While I own both an XP and Window 7, I mostly use the XP because its the only OS that runs Microsoft Bookshelf 2000 which I need, yes need for writing...

[realman]

Just for curiosity, I updated my Windows 7 home edition to windows 8.Apart from the new metro start screen, and a fiew improuvements under the hood,
there in no difference, to win-7.Sure, its takes a bit of time to get used to the new layout, but thats'it.Once you get to your desktop, it is windows 7 all over again.Even better, download the Classic Shell start program,for a better feel for win-7.
The new metro start layout and its icons, and new apps store, remind me of the Apple and Google tablets styles, and it could be useful over time, to get to know it.

[jacko15]

I just ordered a Dell XPS 8500 with Windows 7. The XPS Dell's were not available for a few days earlier this week, but they are now. I think Dell has seen the writing on the wall, people are looking for desktops with Windows 7. Windows 8 just doesn't hack it for the keyboard and point and click crowd. You can cheer for Windows 8 all you want, but people will buy what they're most comfortable using. Dell wants to sell computers, so they will keep offering Windows 7 on their mainstream desktops.

[cajun62234]

I'm sorry, but for a typical home-user, I see no benefit from all the 'guru-garbage' that microsoft has been putting out....XP has all I need; Vista was a flop, Win7 [I took it out and replaced it with XP Pro so that I could use the d@%m thing....why did I have to re-learn using a computer???.... call a spade a spade, don't go changing the terminology and methods] and now you want me to put fingerprints all over my screen and wear my shoulder out from reaching.... my mouse is FASTER !!!!!!!!!!]. Hey Microsoft, if you thought about the consumers, instead of what [useless] magic your teams can produce, you might avoid the flight to Apple. I predict you [Microsoft] will see a plunge in sales this year... btw: I did keep Office 2010; that has some benefits over other Office versions....as for switching to Win8...that'll never happen in my home..

[dlauber]

Although I'm a lifelong Consumer Reports subscriber, following in my parents' footsteps, I learned a long time ago that CR doesn't do a very good job reviewing technology, whether it be computer or stereo systems. Having used Windows 8 in a business environment for nearly two months, I've got to report that CR's comments on Windows 8 are simply ludicrous. I can't imagine why any business would stick within Windows 7 or XP. Windows 8 is more stable, faster, and more forgiving than Windows 7 and especially than the outdated Windows XP. And Windows 8 is definitely easier to use for the vast bulk of computers users who, frankly don't have as clue what they can do on the computer beyond surfing the Internet, email, and using Microsoft Office. The only valid complaint about Windows 8 is the new "Modern UI" which you can easily get around by installing Start8 from StarDock ($4.99) or any of its siblings that restore the "Start" button and menus to the desktop and easily enable you to boot to the desktop. We've seamlessly upgraded all of our office's Windows 7 computers to Windows 8 Pro and are thrilled with the results including our increase productivity.