Dell will continue selling Windows 7

Fudzilla ^ | Monday, 15 October 2012 11:42 | Nick Farrell

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Not sure about this eight lark

Tinman Michael Dell has said that he will continue to flog Windows 7 machines after Windows 8 hits the shops. The move is being seen as a note of caution, because some analysts are not sure how successful Windows 8 will be.

Windows 7 is seen as a good stable operating system, particularly after the disaster that was Vista. Windows 7, which reached PCs in October of 2009, will be offered as an option to commercial and gaming customers. In fact Dell has said that it will offer Windows 7 as long as it is allowed to.

Apparently Dell is still moving business customers from XP to Windows 7. The company is continuing to recommend that customers migrate to Windows 7 and that those who need touch capabilities on PCs adopt Windows 8, a Dell spokesman said.

Both Windows 7 and 8 will be offered as options on the Latitude, OptiPlex and Precision brands, the company said.

[Cicero]

As numerous articles have been suggesting, Windows 8 has two major changes: It changes the appearance of the screen from the current desktop, icons, and start button. And it favors the use of touch screen over keypad and mouse. It is primarily designed for tablets, and is awkward to use on a laptop or desktop computer.

That can be compensated for by providing a usable keyboard and mouse. Dell is, as I hoped, apparently doing that. So you can buy Windows 8 from them with a stand to hold the screen in position, and a decent mouse and keypad.

Or, in case that doesn’t work, you can stick with Windows 7 until we see whether or not Windows 8 catches on.

A recent article says that Dell will offer several options that will allow touch operation OR decent keyboard and mouse operation:

http://betanews.com/2012/10/12/dell-offers-new-touch-enabled-pcs-for-windows-8-day/

[ari-freedom]

Do not want.

[MeganC]

In Windows 7 you don’t need to know where things are like you did in XP. Just use the search bar to find things.

[MeganC]

“IOW, Dell still has a lot of Windows 7 in a warehouse that haven’t sold.”

You really don’t know much about how to deploy operating systems these days, do you? OEM images are not deployed with a warehouse full of DVD discs. While I don’t know exactly how Dell deploys their images I do know that it is absurd to propose that they do so with a ‘warehouse’ full of DVDs. The standard for OEM and most enterprises anymore is to deploy images via one of a myriad of options like Microsoft SCCM.

[BillM]

You realize that you can use your old desktop (W7) right?

[zeugma]

Do not want.

Indeed. Linux works fine for me. Wife recently got a Macbook. Can't say that I particularly like the way it works either. I guess I like having control of my computer and data too much.

[Army Air Corps]

Gads, it looks like a mess.

[Little Ray]

I don’t want to use the search bar. I want them back in the proper locations. I’ve been an admin level user for 20 years. I don’t like be reduced to using search bars.

[bgill]

Pardon me. I meant to say Windows 7 installed COMPUTERS, but carry on.

[publius911]

I wonder if BestBuy is gonna give Mom and Pop and Grandpaw a Windows 7 option or if they’ll simply try to shove the totally dysfunctional Windows 8 down their throats? My guess is it will be throat-shoving all the way.

No need for pessimism. People aren't stupid; even Mom,Pop and Grandpaw.

Two words for you:

Windows Vista.

Neither Microsoft, nor Technogeeks, nor PC manufacturers, were able to shove that loser down the throats of anybody, but the terminally and totally clueless.

[ken in texas]

Didn’t the RTM version of W8 drop or cripple that workaround?

[publius911]

And after years of training the Grand Kids to keep their dirty little paws off the walls, windows, TV and computer screens...

Never mind the kids.

Nobody's hands are clean and oil-free enough to prevent the need for non-stop screen cleaning. Don't know about everyone else, but I enjoy knowing if that's a decimal point or dust/pizza/danish/donut/potato chip/ residue up on the screen.

Whose bright idea was that touch screen stuff, anyway?

[MeganC]

“I don’t want to use the search bar. I want them back in the proper locations. I’ve been an admin level user for 20 years. I don’t like be reduced to using search bars.”

I long used the full path to get to Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter in Windows XP (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools) and now just type ‘Disk’ in the search bar and there they are. It saves a lot of time. I also find things like the TPM console by just typing TPM.msc instead of hunting around for it. Saves a lot of time.

While there maybe are arguments for knowing where things are even if you do know where they are (like with the aforementione tools) you can still get to them faster with the search bar.

Like you I didn’t take easily to the changes, but once I did I really started to like them. Now I rely on them. I’m also a huge fan of the Aero features in Windows 7 for saving time on the Desktop.

[MeganC]

Even then there’s no warehouses filled with computers. Dell and HP makes most of their machines to order and they use ‘just in time’ manufacturing techniques to save on warehousing costs.

All of this means that Dell is sticking with Windows 7 because it is a better OS than Windows 8 for most users (I agree), not that they’re married to it because they invested in a bunch of stuff they need to sell off.

[Revolting cat!]

I’ve just ordered a Mac Pro computer specifically asking that they NOT put Windows 8 on it!

[publius911]

Since I use the computer only for photos, surfing, emails, shopping, occassional CC payments and access to my former employer’s (I’m retired) benefit center, how much am I tempting fate by continuing to ignore these up dates?

A LOT more than you want to know.

The only way to prevent viruses, trojan horses, etc. altogether is never to access the internet, which pretty much prevents all the activities you've listed.

Plus you would have to prevent the use of any USB memory sticks from external sources, too.

Bottom line?
Find out if your Internet Provider furnishes an antivirus protection suite upon request.
You shouldn't ignore critical Windows updates; that's just asking for it.
Just opening the wrong email could ruin your entire month.

[Roccus]

Thanks for your reply.

I have AVG and I NEVER open any email where I do not know the sender. Memory sticks are a mystery to me so I do not use them. I live alone and no one has access but me.

Is there any way I can tell if these “critical” updates will alter the way I have my computer screen set up as has happened when I allowed them to up date automatically

[publius911]

I don’t want to use the search bar. I want them back in the proper locations. I’ve been an admin level user for 20 years. I don’t like be reduced to using search bars.

It would be bad enough, but in Win7 if you create a favorite TAB in the favorites BAR by mistake, try getting rid of it!

If it ain't broke, don't "fix it."

[publius911]

All of this means that Dell is sticking with Windows 7 because it is a better OS than Windows 8 for most users (I agree), not that they’re married to it because they invested in a bunch of stuff they need to sell off.

Think outside the box.
The poster is referring to the OS, which is not subject to "Just in time" limitations. The arrangement between Dell and MS might not have limited the total number of OEM Win7 OSs Dell could install.

[publius911]

Is there any way I can tell if these “critical” updates will alter the way I have my computer screen set up as has happened when I allowed them to up date automatically

Unfortunatel, there is no way to tell ahead of time, specially with Win7 which I al stll trying to lern. Experience has taught me that anything is possible after a critical update. With Microsoft, that is never likely to change.
The question is, do the new "problems" outweigh the benefits? With a good antivirus suite, I think so.

Heck, I've never figured out a way to prevent updates from scrambling my desktop icons in Win 95, Win98, WinXP or now Win XP!