“Upgrading from Windows 7: Is it Worth the Trouble?”
June 04, 2013
Windows 8 has definitely made a name for itself throughout the Windows community. As it was pretty much the biggest change to the operating system since Windows 95, everyone was very excited for its release. Yet, since its reveal, there have been very mixed reviews about the new operating system. It seems that some people feel that change is not always good! While the upcoming Windows 8.1 seeks to “fix” some of the problems associated with Windows 8, we have to ask the question “Is it worth upgrading from Windows 7?” We’ve come up with a list of pros and cons for you to consider if you’re thinking about making the switch.
Have you made the switch over to Windows 8? If not, what is keeping you from doing so? Share your thoughts below!
The Pros
1) Useful features
Windows 8 has some great features and changes but there are actually a ton of useful features that are not as well-known such as: History, Storage Spaces, and Refresh/Remove. File History will be able to back up your personal documents in the Documents, Video, Music, and Photos folders. It will also save contact information, favorites, and items on your desktop. Storage spaces will never have you worrying about managing multiple drives or backing up your data. Lastly, the Refresh/Remove Refresh will retain all personal data, settings, and other apps.
2) Cloud
If you spend most of your time on your computer in a browser using web services, you’re probably really going to love Windows 8. Your email will be synced immediately to the Mail app. Photos from Facebook and Flickr will populate the Photos app. The People app pulls information from Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to provide you updates for specific contacts. Everything is simple and well integrated.
The Cons
1) No touch screen
A major difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8 is the new emphasis on creating a touch friendly user experience. Microsoft has put a lot of time in creating a touch friendly user experience with Windows 8 and if you don’t have a touch screen, your experience just won’t be the same.
2) Learning the new operating system
Windows 7 is a solid operating system and Windows 8 can be difficult to master. The start menu is gone. You will most likely end up re-teaching yourself the different programs, where to find them, and how to start them. Trying to find My Computer? Power button? The locations have changed for many of these programs and you may need to spend quite a bit of time just finding the programs you need.
What are your reasons that keep you from upgrading? Or what do you like about Windows 8 that helped you make that transition? Please share your comments below!
Posted By: Melissa Zeman