Survey Says Windows 8 Users Prefer Windows 7


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More than half of Windows 8 users prefer Windows 7, fearing price and compatibility issues, according to a poll

A recent survey of Windows 8 users has revealed that more than half still prefer the current version of the operating system, Windows 7.

Forumswindows8.com, a Windows 8 help and support site, asked more than 50,000 Windows 8 users what they disliked and liked about the software and found that 53 percent liked Windows 7.

One quarter of respondents said that Windows 8 was their favourite version with the fast boot and shut down feature being the most popular feature.

Source and more.

While I might not like Windows 8 myself, I'm surprised at how that turned out. Am I to understand that 53% prefer Windows 7, 25% prefer Windows 8, and the remaining 22% prefer other operating systems (mac, linux)?

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and the remaining 22% prefer other operating systems (mac, linux)?

There's a graph (well a bunch really) over on those forums themselves, out of that 22%, 20% is XP. (It's other versions of Windows, not all OS's in general). I'm personally surprised at "the biggest weakness" category, the new interface is only at 18%.

http://www.forumswin...ws-7-a-7853.htm

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However the biggest concern was price [...] Just over a quarter were worried about system requirements while 25 percent feared incompatibility.

Huh. Price, system requirements and compatibility would be the least of my worries about Windows 8? :huh:

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That doesn't make sense.

Either they are Windows 8 users and then they don't worry about compatibility because they tested the programs they use, or they aren't and they liking Windows 7 is not particulariy interesting.

The most probable explanation I can think of is that these "windows 8 forums" have a lot of members not using Windows 8.

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Huh. Price, system requirements and compatibility would be the least of my worries about Windows 8? :huh:

No kidding. It makes the whole "survey" suspect.

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a Windows 8 help and support site, asked more than 50,000 Windows 8 users what they disliked and liked about the software and found that 53 percent liked Windows 7.

well no ****. Logic would dictate that most people going to a help and support specific website would be having issues and not be satisfied. websites like those is were people go to complain, all(well most) of the satisfied people couldn't care less to go to those sites because obviously they aren't having any problems

a poll like this needs to happen on a lot more generalized site to get accurate readings

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Am I the only one that likes Windows 8. It's brought back my old knackered Toshiba Portege tablet laptop to life.... yes OK I still have Windows 7 on my main desktop rig :)

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Just based on the concerns people are voting for I want to throw those results out entirely. Price is lower, compatibility is unchanged, and it's completely compatible with Windows7. People who prefer WindowsXP may be trolling?

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This means nothing, other than some people like Windows 8 and some don't. I could do a survey with the same sample size and find more than half of the people prefer Windows 8.

Server 2012!!!! FTW!!!!

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95% of the people that like Windows 8 don't read all the hate about Windows 8 and carry on with their lives. The other 5% are just so excited about Windows 8 that they are trying to convince the haters that they are just stupid.

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Hey, I just use whatever OS floats my boat at the time and I don't care what others think of it... and think people should just use whatever OS floats their boat and other shouldn't try to sink it.

unless it's a failboat like windows ME.....

then hit it with a NUKE!!!

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While I am kinda on the fence I would probably lean toward Windows 7 too, but I think it would be more of a fair survey if 8 had been around for as long as 7, and had been as thoroughly tested > updated > bug-fixed as 7 has been

Not really a fair survey between OS that is very well known, very stable, extremely popular vs an OS that is not even officially on the shelves yet

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Am I the only one that likes Windows 8. It's brought back my old knackered Toshiba Portege tablet laptop to life.... yes OK I still have Windows 7 on my main desktop rig :)

You are not; I now like it, although the first time I installed it, I was annoyed by things and went back to Windows 7 for a time. But having been on it now for about a month, I can say that I like it real good. I like the enhanced File Explorer with the tools on the ribbon, the new Task Manager, the new File Copy dialog. Everything (pretty much) that ran on Windows 7 runs on 8, and it boots quicker than 7 on the same hardware.

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You are not; I now like it, although the first time I installed it, I was annoyed by things and went back to Windows 7 for a time. But having been on it now for about a month, I can say that I like it real good. I like the enhanced File Explorer with the tools on the ribbon, the new Task Manager, the new File Copy dialog. Everything (pretty much) that ran on Windows 7 runs on 8, and it boots quicker than 7 on the same hardware.

Agreed... you can still "live on the desktop" as well... best of both worlds....

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This means nothing, other than some people like Windows 8 and some don't. I could do a survey with the same sample size and find more than half of the people prefer Windows 8.

Then that would mean 50% of people don't like Windows 8. And that's quite bad tbh.

Personally i'm in favor of Windows 7 for anything without a touch interface.

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Then that would mean 50% of people don't like Windows 8. And that's quite bad tbh.

Personally i'm in favor of Windows 7 for anything without a touch interface.

I didn't state numbers in mine. My survey could find that 99% of people prefer Windows 8. 50,000 is a very small sample size, compared to the number of Windows users worldwide. Further, as other people have mentioned, this survey was conducted on a Windows 8 support forum, and the main things they were bothered about were price, compatibility, and system requirements.

I've found that the new Windows 8 experience works excellently on a desktop or notebook with a hardware keyboard and mouse, so I'm in favour of it on any type of device.

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