HP Bringing Back Windows 7 'By Popular Demand'

By Jane McEntegart
published

Bringing seven back.

Microsoft reimagined the desktop with Windows 8, and despite the arrival of Windows 8.1, a lot of people don't like the new Windows. If you count yourself among those who can't stand Windows 8, don't worry, apparently HP has your back. The company is giving the people what they want. HP's U.S. website now carries the message, "Back by popular demand. Customize a new HP PC with Windows 7 and save up to $150 instantly." Clicking for more information leads you to a page with all of HP's Windows 7 machines. This list is currently only five computers long and includes the Pavilion 500-205t desktop, the Envy 700-215xt desktop, the Pavilion 15t-n200 notebook, the Envy 15t-j100 notebook, and the Envy Phoenix 810-135qe desktop.

HP isn't doing anything wrong; manufacturers are still allowed to ship PCs with Windows 7. Microsoft stopped companies shipping Windows Vista machines after October 2011, and companies haven't been allowed to ship computers with Windows XP installed for over three years. (October 22, 2010 was the official date according to Microsoft's Windows lifecycle pages.) Redmond hasn't yet determined a date for the end of sales for computers with Windows 7 pre-installed. 

While HP is well within its rights to keep selling Windows 7 machines, it's worth noting that the selection of Win7 computers it's offering is very small, which is going to push users towards Windows 8 anyway. Still, with its touch-optimized interface, Windows 8 is totally different from Windows 7, and many find it hard to adjust to Microsoft's newest iteration of its operating system. Those people can turn to a very small corner for help.

According to IDC, PC shipments took a 5.6 percent dive in the fourth quarter of 2013. With only 82.2 million units sold during Q4, unit shipments for the whole year declined 10 percent from 2012, a record drop. IDC says commercial purchases helped prevent a larger decline while the consumer side remained weak. Though a mixed reaction to Windows 8 cannot shoulder all the blame for the declining PC market (there are other factors, including the rapidly expanding and changing mobile market), people do shy away from the new and different. Microsoft has made steps towards easing users' discomfort with Windows 8.1, implementing changes based on feedback received after the launch of Windows 8, but the fact that HP's running this campaign at all shows Redmond still has a ways to go with Windows 8.

Follow Jane McEntegart @JaneMcEntegart. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Jane McEntegart
65 Comments Comment from the forums
  • hakesterman
    Kind of a mute point because you can go into windows 8.1 and make some settings adjustments and make it look and feel like windows 7.
    Reply
  • Dax corrin
    If I want t touch screen, I'll get a tablet... I like my desktop the way it is, and I'll avoid Win8.x as long as I can. Maybe I'm an old dog that doesn't want to learn a new trick. and Hakesterman, it's "moot point" not "mute point"
    Reply
  • Lee-m
    Bring it back ? its still here, it never went away.

    What they choose to sell is their choice.
    Reply
  • johnsaar2005
    this is stupid just because consumers are to lazy to learn something new or accept change. windows 7 doesn't support trim for SCSI devices like PCI express solid state drives, it doesnt optimize for SSD drives like windows 8, it shuts down and starts up slower than windows 8 especially with mechanical drives, windows 8 utilizes multicore processors better especially with AMD. there are tons of benefits and improvements if you dont like the UI change it with 3rd party applications or you can not use the Metro interface at all but the benefits out weigh the cons. sticking with older OS's causes stagnation just like keeping XP for close to 15 years, working in enterprise I have seen this effect first hand. I remember companies using windows XP with SSD's and then wondering why their second gen SSD's are failing after a year or two of use. Duh no trim support for garbage collection! my point is going backwards is never good thing especially when its only justified because of a UI thats not that difficult to learn.
    Reply
  • red77star
    No, you cannot make Windows 8.1 to look and feel like Windows 7. SSD does not run any faster under Windows 8 than Windows 7 infact my x25-M cannot be trimmed under Windows 8 (Intel doesn't support it, but i can trim it under Windows 7). Of course it is not the case for every drive. I compared Windows 7 to Windows 8...not a single performance improvement. People should stop writing bullshit...
    Reply
  • therealduckofdeath
    I just wish more comment systems would incorporate block features like that otherwise horrible Facebook comment system. Then you could block liars like red77star with the click of a button and never, ever, ever have to read his utter nonsense again. :)
    Reply
  • lostgamer_03
    So many ignorant comments on this topic. This is the reason software evolution goes so horribly slow. No one wants to upgrade, because they're 'fine' or 'satisfied' with their current OS. Windows 8.1 was a great upgrade for me, it's much faster and the new layout makes it much easier to navigate around. I also enjoy being able to run phone and tablet apps on my laptop (also got it installed on my desktop), without needing to install all sorts of compatability software. The speed and other features such as anti virus (even though it's not top notch), easier reinstall of OS etc. means a lot to the average Joe, as it makes it much easier to fix or maintain a 'healthy' PC.
    Reply
  • bustapr
    I think this is a good move. More choice the better. Im looking into getting a new laptop for college and I just prefer less hassle there is with Win7 machines on a laptop. I much less prefer messing with 3rd party apps to change UIs. But thats just my personal preference. If they have a Win7 laptop with a new APU, then I probably go with HP this time.
    Reply
  • johnsaar2005
    12498376 said:
    No, you cannot make Windows 8.1 to look and feel like Windows 7. SSD does not run any faster under Windows 8 than Windows 7 infact my x25-M cannot be trimmed under Windows 8 (Intel doesn't support it, but i can trim it under Windows 7). Of course it is not the case for every drive. I compared Windows 7 to Windows 8...not a single performance improvement. People should stop writing bullshit...

    You need to improve your reading comprehension, no where in my statement does it say anything about SSD's being made faster under Windows 8 just mechanical drives. I said it starts up and shuts down faster which is not always determined by read/writes or IOP's but also OS optimization. Garbage collection is controlled by the SSD controller and trim, one without the other is a problem they work better together and put less stress on the SSD controller. Windows 8 optimizes SSD's Google what this does oh and Windows 7 does not support this feature just defraging for mechanical drives. Unmap trim for SCSI devices is for PCI express SSD's and Windows 7 doesn't support it. You can make windows 8.1 look just like windows 7 with free and paid 3rd party apps Google it. As for your personal performance benchmarks I can't speak for those, but there are plenty of benchmarks online that say different. Oh and AMD 8 core architecture had issues with Windows 7 when it first came out Google it they have fixed it I'm sure. Also AMD has optimized it's drivers for 8.1 it's proven better APU performance on Windows 8 compared to 7. you need to do some research regarding your own bullshit.

    Reply
  • I don't think this'll help. People don't buy new PCs because of the OS running on it; they buy new PCs because they need (a new) one... and frankly, if you've still got a Core 2 Duo, you won't be needing a new PC for a loooong time, unless you want to play the newest AAA games, which most people play on consoles anyways.

    Just because the fact that people hate Windows 8 and the fact that PCs currently don't sell too well coincide, doesn't mean they're actually related.
    Still, if HP thinks Windows 7 will help boost their sales, they're welcome to try. I'm definitely curious to see the results.

    win 8.1 sux especially when you experience the black screen of death. Great move by hp.
    But Windows 98, XP, Vista, 7 and 8 don't suck when you experience the blue screen of death?

    You got a problem with black?
    Reply