Ok, I heard the sad news that Microsoft will no longer be offering support after April for the Windows XP OS (operating system). And..... I'm looking into getting a laptop w/a newer Windows OS. Vista is not an option, so my dilemma is: which is better - Windows 7 or Windows 8 or 8.1 ?
Which is the most similar to XP w/ease of use, stability, etc.?
Will Windows 7 or 8/8.1 work w/my current hardware, such as my scanner, printer & usb camera?
What is the difference between Windows 8 & 8.1 ?
I would LOVE to stay w/Windows XP but realize computer technology is ever evolving, & I really don't want to have to go out & buy a new printer, scanner, etc. In addition, I want the OS to be as similar as possible to XP.
Any help/input is greatly appreciated. Thanks! :)
Proud member in good standing of R.S.B.B.V.J.C.
Please identify yourself in 1st email w/name/username. Due to recent problem trades, if I haven't traded w/you before, I will probably require you send your end 1st or I'll need LEGIT trade references/feedback. I will be happy to provide the same. IF you plan to hold your end til you've received mine, I will need to know that IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE trade is finalized.
1|1|8.1. There's no point in 8 as not all the apps will work on it. More|Kristy|mi3zons1@yahoo.com|13:34:13|03/01/2014|
Windows did extend the support for XP OS. I don't know the date. 8.1 is easier to use it's just a massaged 8.
"Women should not have children after 35. Thirty-five children are enough." - anonymous (Only 27 to GO!)
"You're so open minded that your brain leaked out." - Steve Taylor 2|1|I have XP and love it, none are at all similar, windows 7 is a nightmare, UGH, have a new computer sitting here in the box since July 2012 and just don't want to even open or use it, especially the windows live mail, why can't they leave things alone!!!!!!!!!!|padrifter|candles@nb.net|09:59:04|03/02/2014|
http://www.refundsweepers.com/dcforum/feedback/127.html 3|1|Rather still have Windows 95 or 98 rather than any of the others|padrifter|candles@nb.net|09:59:37|03/02/2014|
http://www.refundsweepers.com/dcforum/feedback/127.html 4|1|windows xp if you can get it|noway|minalouwho@gmail.com|10:43:02|03/02/2014|
Have a brand new laptop with the current Windows 8 and it's just AWFUL- in fact, it makes me want to light my laptop on fire or throw it off a balcony every time I use it. Fraught with errors, not user friendly, just deplorably bad. If you are lucky enough to find XP use that. 5|1|I like Windows 7...|inthesticks|jbsimon@ymail.com|12:31:32|03/02/2014|
...which is what I have on my desktop. I will be getting a laptop this year, and I really don't want Windows 8 or 8.1, etc. I've never had any problems with Windows 7. 6|1|Thanks everyone! Just 1 more question please. LOL|maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|12:45:01|03/02/2014|
Well, maybe 2 more questions. LOL
Is Windows 8.1 similar to XP, or can you adjust the settings to make it similar to XP? Like when it comes to finding things such as the stuff listed under the Start button (Programs, Control Panel, My Documents, My Computer, etc.). I ask this cuz my sister has Vista on her laptop & it is always a frustrating hassle for me to find things on her computer when she asks me for help.
Also, will Windows 8.1 work w/my current hardware (scanner, printer, camera), or will I have to upgrade to newer ones of those too? Oh, I hope not!
Just seems like alot of hassle for people everytimes MS decides to come out w/a new OS. Sheesh! And I agree, why can't they just leave things alone - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Just read that MS has extended the anti-malware support for XP users w/Microsoft Security Essentials. This extension is until July 2015. If you don't already have MS Security Essentials, you will want to get it asap cuz you will not be able to after April 8th, 2014 (next month!).
Proud member in good standing of R.S.B.B.V.J.C.
Please identify yourself in 1st email w/name/username. Due to recent problem trades, if I haven't traded w/you before, I will probably require you send your end 1st or I'll need LEGIT trade references/feedback. I will be happy to provide the same. IF you plan to hold your end til you've received mine, I will need to know that IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE trade is finalized.
7|2|I know that Windows 8.0 is totally different...|inthesticks|jbsimon@ymail.com|13:15:00|03/02/2014|
...than any earlier versions of Windows. Windows 8.0 has tiles on the desktop that you click on. Here's a link for a short overview of what the new Windows 8 will look like on your computer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxbHawhzACA
Windows 8.0 had a LOT of bugs, and this version is a totally different system. Version 8.1 fixes some of the bugs. That's about all I know of this version. 8|2|Drivers will need to be updated|oakridge32|hammer_1116@yahoo.com|13:46:45|03/02/2014|
If you buy a new computer with Win 8.1 you'll likely need to download drivers for your printer, scanner, etc from the manufacturers' websites to make them compatible You might want to check to make sure those Win 8.1 drivers are available before making your computer purchase. 9|1|windows 8 and 8.1 were created for touch screen|ppe1952|matwell3@rochester.rr.com|14:43:33|03/02/2014|
if you don't have touch screen then you can run window 7.
DO NOT meddle in the affairs of dragons for YOU ARE CRUNCHY AND GOOD WITH KETCHUP!
10|2|EVERYONE I KNOW WITH NON TOUCH RUNNING 8 AND 8. 1 LOVE IT.......NO PROBLEMS|JOYHAPPYONE|DAIDOLA5@AOL.COM|18:45:07|03/02/2014|
------------------------------- 11|3|I don't want to touch anything but the mouse & keyboard. LOL |maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|20:42:54|03/02/2014|
I don't want the touch pad stuff. No way, not for me. Like things the old-fashioned way w/my mouse & keyboard. :)
Proud member in good standing of R.S.B.B.V.J.C.
Please identify yourself in 1st email w/name/username. Due to recent problem trades, if I haven't traded w/you before, I will probably require you send your end 1st or I'll need LEGIT trade references/feedback. I will be happy to provide the same. IF you plan to hold your end til you've received mine, I will need to know that IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE trade is finalized.
13|4|Me too!!!|20yrrefunder|tradernikki@yahoo.com|22:25:22|03/02/2014|
My kids are always trying to get me to "upgrade" but I LOVE my OLD, OLD keyboard and OLD, OLD mouse. When I go to their house, they have to drag out their old mouse and hook it up to their new gadgets so that I can at least check my email.
Nikki
http://www.refundsweepers.com/dcforum/feedback/366.html 12|1|how often does one use techical support...really when you think about it.|SandyC|sacoates1@msn.com|20:46:37|03/02/2014|
If you found something with xp and had a problem, I am sure someone would be able to help you. I don't like change either. Just an opinion.
:D
SandyC
14|1|Windows is discontinuing support for XP April 4. I have used it a long time, not sure what to do. I really|lv2qpon|jcummins1@rochester.rr.com|15:00:49|03/06/2014|
cat' afford a new computer now. 15|2| Just read the other post, is that Microsoft support until 2016 free? Typo in other post, should say can't afford a |lv2qpon|jcummins1@rochester.rr.com|15:05:17|03/06/2014|
new computer right now. I know I typed correctly, sometimes letters seem to disappear. :0 16|1|What does it mean - Discontinue Support? No updates to fix bugs?|gwkatt2|gwkatt2@hotmail.com|16:46:03|03/06/2014|
But you should still be able to use it, right? 17|1|Very confusing, I went to update Explorer 8 and got this message. I was able to update my driver though.|lv2qpon|jcummins1@rochester.rr.com|18:02:21|03/06/2014|
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-support-help?ocid=xp_wol_eos
18|1|XP is by far the best, followed by Win 7 however... XP goes end of life in a few short weeks|whitmarg|robin@whitmannet.com|08:09:57|03/09/2014|
Besides being impossible to get, there will be no updates -- which are often security updates to protect your machine from outside forces. Your machine will be much more susceptible to malware/viruses and the like.
For home users, 8.1 "should" be ok but personally, I'd wait for the next full version. Microsoft has a history of every other OS being great. 19|1|I had to get a new computer a couple months ago...it has Win8....hate it...it's horrendous. I downloaded an app called Classic Shell which mimics Win7....there are still some aspects of the OS that you have to manuever around or get used to, but for basic use the Classic Shell was a sanity-saver!|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|20:13:26|03/11/2014|
LONG TIME MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE R.S.B.B.C. AND THE R.S.B.V.J.C
20|2|Just google Classic Shell plug in for Windows 8 and you'll find a download...|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|20:14:06|03/11/2014|
LONG TIME MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE R.S.B.B.C. AND THE R.S.B.V.J.C
21|3|Thank you Joy! Glad to see you posting too! :)|maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|20:38:00|03/11/2014|
Proud member in good standing of R.S.B.B.V.J.C.
Please identify yourself in 1st email w/name/username. Due to recent problem trades, if I haven't traded w/you before, I will probably require you send your end 1st or I'll need LEGIT trade references/feedback. I will be happy to provide the same. IF you plan to hold your end til you've received mine, I will need to know that IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE trade is finalized.
22|2|Joy, what is about Windows 8 that you don't like? What kind of computer did you get? I am still running XP|lv2qpon|jcummins1@rochester.rr.com|15:41:25|03/27/2014|
and I can't get any more support for that. My gateway is fine for offline, graphics etc. but I guess I need to think about a new computer. I bought it in 2003. I sill plan to keep the gateway for offline. 23|1|I had Windows XP and hated the thought of not being able to use it anymore|flapper|joyphalen@yahoo.com|16:43:35|03/27/2014|
and knew I wouldn't be able to get any support for it and my computer just didn't have the room to take
the Windows 8, so went and bought a new computer with 8 in it. Was petrified, but you know to my utter
surprise I had no problems using it. Then I heard they were coming out with the 8.1 so I downloaded it
to my computer myself and everything turned out good. Only thing that happened was my pictures moved from
photo gallery to another folder in My pictures. Got a hold of Microsoft and they helped me get them back
to the photo gallery. I had a 90 day warranty so that was good. When we were on our cruise last month
Holland American line, they have a digital workshop and that was helpful and I found out how to do a lot
of other things that I didn't know that I could do.
They also told me of a Book and it's title is Microsoft Plain & Simple 8.1. They had windows 8, but since I
had already downloaded I got the 8.1 It gives you a page by page of everything you want to do. Plus I
did some searching for things I couldn't find and was able to pull information on web.
But I really didn't find the 8 or 8.1 very hard at all. I got the book at Barnes & Noble, you can get it on
Amazon for a lot cheaper, but you have to pay for shipping charges, and I figured it all added up the same.
I really recommend this book. The instructor also uses it on the ship.
And I use my mouse, no touch screen. You know on the apps you can take your mouse and at the very top
of the page, bring the mouse down to the bottom really fast. And if take your mouse and go to the upper
left, it will show the apps that you still have open, just keep the arrow on it and hold down the scroll
button on your mouse and that will close your app. If you have several apps open, do each one the same way.
Neat trick I learned in the workshop. It was worth the cruise (in addition to the warm weather and all the fun)
Hope I was able to help you out some.
Joy flapper
I prefer no fee paypal, but will accept cc, stamps plus postage
Thank You
Joy User name flapper
Please leave your user name for feedback and mine is above.
Garnette member 24|1|Tami Invest in MacBook Air threre so great......|melpaul|Melpaul199@aol.com|16:53:16|03/27/2014|
no virus at all on them much safr then windows too You would love this one