HP Explains Why It Is Selling Windows 7 Again
It's all about choice.
There's no doubt that Microsoft caused quite a commotion when it launched Windows 8 in October 2012. Many opinions in the press have made the change seem somewhat apocalyptic, especially where desktops are concerned. Sure, Windows 8.1 cleaned up the place a bit, but there are a vast number of people still clinging to Windows 7 and even the decaying Windows XP like a life preserver.
So enter Hewlett-Packard, or HP for short, who has decided that, thanks to popular demand, it should sell a number of PCs with Windows 7 installed. Although Microsoft pulled the plug on retail sales back on October 30, 2013, OEMs can still sell machines with Windows 7 pre-installed until a date that's yet to be determined.
So the next question is: Why sell Windows 7 PCs at all? The answer, according to HP, is dead simple -- choice.
"We like giving our customers the option to get the computer that's right for them," reads the company's blog. "For some folks, that's Android. We've got everything from 2-in-1 detachables like the SlateBook x2 to the giant-sized Slate21 All-in-One."
"And, yes, some people still want to run Windows 7 on their computers," continues the blog. "We want people to be happy with our computers – whichever option they choose – BUT WE ARE NOT DROPPING WINDOWS 8."
Point made. The blog also points out that HP has five machines with Windows 7 installed with a Windows 8 option, whereas the company has several dozen machines that only offer Windows 8.
So there you go; it wasn't much of an explanation other than HP wants to provide a choice. And perhaps Microsoft gave the green light, knowing that OEMs are struggling in a declining PC market. For that matter, it wouldn't be surprising to see other OEMs like Dell and Acer give in to "consumer demand" and launch a number of Windows 7 products.
Given the choice, which OS would you pick, and why?
8.1 has a much better thread scheduler and task manager and a much-updated file explorer and copy dialog. The right-click menu on the Windows button is handy. Is 'the interface formerly known as Metro' annoying? Hell yes, but, I never have to see it with all the options introduced in 8.1 enabled. I'm still excited to see them return more to the desktop paradigm in 8.2 or 9, including the ability to run Modern UI apps windowed and running more than 2 per monitor, but there's nothing that bad about 8.1. People will whine about anything.
Second moan is you need a Microsoft Account and are required to download many programs from the Microsoft Store.
Third moan, is, if there are problems or difficulties W7, is easy to troubleshoot, and find and identify what things are. Aps? Tiles? Not optimized for mouse and keyboard?
Fourth is that stupid hidden control bar, which does not function well with some old hardware. And can be annoying when the mouse loses it on any hardware.
Fifth the jump from W8 to w8.1 can mess with settings, programs, and defaults.
Sixth, Microsoft seems more interested in "look what we have" than simple usability, a year and a half after introduction, finding solutions can be frustrating, and sometimes impossible.
Seventh is ending W7.