Comparison of Windows 7 and Windows 8

System Requirements

Only 4 years have ed between the first releases of Seven and Eight, during which time the available computing power hasn't been updated much, so the minimum PC hardware requirements for both systems are similar.

For performance. Windows 7 The minimum hardware required is this type of hardware:

• U – One core or two cores with a frequency of at least 1 GHz;
• GPU – DirectX 9 compatibility;
• RAM – At least 1 GB for 32-bit editions and 2 GB for 64-bit editions;
• system space – At least 16-20 GB, depending on the size of the bits.

A Windows 8 function properly, the computer must have the following specifications:

• U – Preferably a dual core with 1GHz or more and for PAE, NX and SSE2 instructions;
• GPU, RAM, system space – are similar to «seven».

As you can see, the difference in the requirements of the two systems is really small, so they are comparable in this regard.

software compatibility

At the time, it was criticized Windows 7 for having problems running programs designed for Windows XP or even 98, but this deficiency was partially fixed in the Service Pack 1 (SP1) update. Windows 8, unfortunately, cannot boast of the same: most programs, games, and most importantly, drivers developed for XP and 98 do not work on this operating system. It is also worth noting that in "7", despite the official end of , it still operates most modern applications, including service software for various devices, as well as games, even AAA class. Therefore, it is the system that we can consider the winner in the category of software compatibility.

Security

Both systems in question are technically outdated at the time of this writing, but keep in mind the following fact: Windows 7 was released at a time when the Internet was not yet a part of life, and serious threats were more well an exception. In 2012, when Windows 8 was released, this changed and Microsoft focused on integrated security, first introducing Microsoft Defender, which most people already know, as a complete antivirus solution. Windows 7 s using the operating system for security-sensitive operations (such as online banking or shopping) are advised to install a third-party security tool.

Read also: Antivirus for Windows

Interface Features

Windows 8 is famous among s for a radically altered interface designed for the growing popularity of touch devices. MetroUI with a tiled interface was puzzling to many, and it's also a bit of a stretch to call it usable. The most shocking thing was the removal of the start menu which has been present in every version of windows since 95. Of course, enthusiasts ended up fixing that bug with a tweak, and later the company officially brought it back to Windows 10, but at first it scared a lot of people.

"Seven" is more conservative in this regard: the interface differs only in design and the presence of "niceties" such as adjustable transparency of Aero windows and scrolling of some elements, so switching to it from then-current Windows XP and even more so Vista was relatively painless. It is impossible to define a winner in this category, so let's consider that both operating systems are conditionally equal in this criterion.

Technical differences

But the Eight differs from its predecessor in more than just the interface: there are quite a few changes, both positive and conventionally inconvenient, lurking under the hood. Let's take a brief look at the main ones:

1. 1. The first thing that catches your eye is the deep integration with the cloud service Microsoft OneDrive. On the one hand, this allows you to sync files across multiple devices, as well as make handy backups of system settings for quick recovery after an accident. On the other hand, the amount of storage available for free is extremely limited, and the service is very dependent on the quality of the Internet, which in poor coverage conditions nullifies any advantage.
   2. The next big change is the redesign of the Task Manager. In Seven and earlier versions, s often complained about the lack of functionality in this plugin, and the developer has responded to the complaints. In eight, by default, the tool only shows tasks with active windows. On the other hand, clicking the button "Read more". opens an advanced interface where you can access the familiar process list and performance monitoring, as well as, for the first time in the family's history, the autorun and system services configuration utility .
   3. One of the nicer changes is the ability to pause copy or move operations, useful, for example, when two files with the same name are found. There is also a graph to control the speed of execution: just click the button "Details" button.to open the monitor.
   4. There are also a number of minor changes, most notably an optimization that makes the system boot from the hard drive slightly faster than its predecessor, but this difference is made up for by the SSD.
   5. As for the unpleasant changes, it is worth highlighting the duplication of functions by apps "System configuration" и "Control ".The latter is usually more functional than the former. There is also a very strange solution to remove from the GUI element "Wireless network management".that forces s to resort to "Command line"..

As you can see, there aren't too many major differences.

What to choose, Windows 7 or Windows 8?

The choice of operating system should be based on the tasks for which it is intended to be used. For example, if compatibility with old software is important to you, your computer or laptop is not conspicuous with its hardware characteristics, but the use of modern Internet means is still expected, it is better to stop at “seven”. However, if you need some security, boot speed, and advanced system and file management features, Windows 8 it is your choice.