Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit or 8.1 Pro 64bit ??

slowcoach · 27-09-2014, 03:08

After many years of running Windows Server 2003 within VirtualBox on Debian I thought the time was right to move to a more current Windows version.
I only use Windows to confirm that my applications work well on Windows and to check where the config files get placed, as part of my Customer Support.

First I installed Windows 8.1 in VirtualBox, installation went well after a bit of trial and error with the VirtualBox settings. I allocated VirtualBox 4 CPU Cores and 4Gb of memory.

When 8.1 started up my first thought was wtf!!, is everyone on drugs these days.... After I had spent a bit of time using 8.1 I gradually started to get accustomed to the new interface, I was impressed by the speed which was very similar to Debian Testing using the Gnome 3 window manager on this machine.
OK, Windows 7 next.

Windows 7 installed without issue now that I have the VirtualBox settings mastered. Upon booting, version 7 was less psychedelic but it was noticeably slower than 8.1, I thought if I am upgrading I might as well go for the latest version and bite the bullet, so I re-installed Windows 8.1 and jumped onto the learning curve.

During a night using Windows 8.1 in VirtualBox I was quite impressed, I loaded some open source applications, Libre Office, Gimp and VLC without any hassle and they all ran very fast.

As dawn arrived the initial shock/horror was over and I was feeling at home with 8.1, deciding that for me at least, 8.1 was better than version 7 and wondering what all the fuss is about.

VirtualBox is brilliant, much better than dual booting as it allows my Linux Tomcat Server to remain working whilst I run Windows alongside Linux. Shared Folders allow either system to copy files back and forth, similarly sharing the Clipboard.

alanbjames · 27-09-2014, 12:51

I run Windows 7 Pro x64 on my PC.

My son has 8.1 x64 home on his laptop and i just don't like it, he says its "ok" but hardly enthusiastic about it.

qasdfdsaq · 27-09-2014, 16:58

The new interface takes some getting used to just like every previous change of interface (Windows 3.1 => Windows 95 => Windows XP => Vista => 7 etc.)

W7 does run pretty lame under Virtualbox without guest-additions drivers installed, although on some platforms it's not a huge amount better with. That said I don't usually use Virtualbox because of poor performance and scalability anyway, and have had no issues running W7 under VMware, Xen or KVM.

slowcoach · 29-09-2014, 02:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanbjames

I run Windows 7 Pro x64 on my PC. My son has 8.1 x64 home on his laptop and i just don't like it, he says its "ok" but hardly enthusiastic about it.

I guess I could live with either version if I had to, for myself I have been Windows free for some time now and only need to run Windows occasionally to check where my developed application config files are being installed so that I can advise my users, who are mainly using Windows, if help is required.

---------- Post added at 03:11 ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

The new interface takes some getting used to just like every previous change of interface (Windows 3.1 => Windows 95 => Windows XP => Vista => 7 etc.) W7 does run pretty lame under Virtualbox without guest-additions drivers installed, although on some platforms it's not a huge amount better with. That said I don't usually use Virtualbox because of poor performance and scalability anyway, and have had no issues running W7 under VMware, Xen or KVM.

I have had good results with VirtualBox on AMD systems, VirtualBox was the first VM I tried and as it worked OK for me I stuck with it, I haven't used any of the other VM's so I will bow to your superior knowledge.

SnoopZ · 29-09-2014, 08:14

The latest rumour is that Windows 9 will be a free upgrade from people upgrading from 8, so you may want to take that into consideration.

http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-9...osoft-official

qasdfdsaq · 29-09-2014, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowcoach

I have had good results with VirtualBox on AMD systems, VirtualBox was the first VM I tried and as it worked OK for me I stuck with it, I haven't used any of the other VM's so I will bow to your superior knowledge.

VirtualBox seems to work OK for desktop use on Windows systems in general (AMD and Intel) however it's an utter pile of poop on Mac OS X from my experience. It's probably the best 'free' desktop VM solution but it's not really scalable for server use which is what most of my VMs are.

---------- Post added at 14:10 ---------- Previous post was at 14:09 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

The latest rumour is that Windows 9 will be a free upgrade from people upgrading from 8, so you may want to take that into consideration. http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-9...osoft-official

Huh, I might even buy it in that case...

Ken W · 29-09-2014, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

The latest rumour is that Windows 9 will be a free upgrade from people upgrading from 8, so you may want to take that into consideration. http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-9...osoft-official

I am running 8.1 64 bit so if it is true I wonder if 8.1 to 9 will also be true.

SnoopZ · 29-09-2014, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken W

I am running 8.1 64 bit so if it is true I wonder if 8.1 to 9 will also be true.

It'll cover 8.1 too of course if the rumour is true, if it isn't I expect windows 9 to cost around £25 for early adopters like it did with 8.

Ken W · 29-09-2014, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

It'll cover 8.1 too of course if the rumour is true, if it isn't I expect windows 9 to cost around £25 for early adopters like it did with 8.

I have just seen this regarding the free upgrade from Win 8 to Win 9:- http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...-report/034823 Microsoft’s Indonesia president has announced that Windows 9 will be available for free for Windows 8 users. According to Indonesian tech site Detik, Andreas Diantoro said: “The Windows 9 upgrade will be available free of charge to all existing Windows 8 users once it's released." BGN translated the original report from Detik, revealing that once Windows 9 (also known as Threshold) is released, Windows 8 users 'will be able to easily install the Windows 9 update after downloading it from Microsoft'. A Microsoft UK spokesperson told PCR it cannot confirm or deny Diantoro’s statement. However, Microsoft’s Windows event will be held tomorrow where the full details of Windows 9 are expected to be revealed. This news comes after a series of images and videos were leaked seemingly displaying the Windows 9 Start menu and desktop.