I like XP, still have it on my laptop.  But April 2014 is coming soon.  I do like win7, on my desktop PC.  I'm someone who games, does a lot of writing (word processing) and is moving into video (low end - independent media-type). Win7 seems fine.   I'm not an under the hood gal, (as my noob questions elsewhere can attest). Is there any thing significant about win8.1 that I should seriously consider - or is 7x fine for now?

I have to say this in defense of Windows 8/8.1.

I run 5 monitors with two graphics cards. 16 GB DDR3 Ram. 2 SSDs. 6 core CPU.

I have a dual boot system, so all the hardware is the same on both Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Using WindowFX ;

On Windows 7, windows dragged to the monitors attached to the second gfx card go invisible until you release. On Windows 8, that doesn't happen.

On Windows 7, running Deskscapes on 5 monitors is draggy/jumpy. On Windows 8.1, smooth as silk.

All the same hardware and drivers updated.

Windows 8 simply handles resources better. No doubt about it.

I have been using 8 or 8.1 as my main OS for nearly a year now, or at least 6 months. Very few problems, now that Stardock has "fixed" 8 to look more like 7.

I'm not surprised to see XP and 7 leading the pack. Undisputedly the best Os's that Microsoft ever developed. I think that the future will show Win 7 users clinging desperately to what they have , much like the XP users of today. My gut feeling tells me that the whole Win8 debacle will fall along the wayside , much like Vista did. Perhaps , if Microsoft is smart , a new Win9 product, building on the foundation of the oh so sucessful Win7, will finally be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for Microsoft. Who knows what tommorrow may bring.

Well, you'd get a smaller than truthful number as so many use a pirated XP. MS could only report licensed XP sales.

"But in China, where XP remains king, 72.1% of the country's computers relied on the soon-to-retire operating system last month, or nearly three out of every four systems. In any XP doomsday scenario, that means China is in a position four times more precarious than the U.S....

China, however, is in a tougher spot because while it's been shedding Windows XP at about the same clip as the U.S., the country's much larger current share puts it at a severe disadvantage. By April 2014, XP will still be on between 65.2% and 65.7% of its personal computers.

By April 2014, XP will still be on between 65.2% and 65.7% of its personal computers. Eight months from now, China's XP problem will be six or seven times bigger than the U.S.'s." https://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9241429/China_has_a_massive_Windows_XP_problem?pageNumber=1

 

I have Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 at home.

I have no preference between the two other than Windows 7 can be customized more with WindowBlinds which matters a bit for me.

There isn't anything in Windows 8 that compels me to upgrade from Windows 7 though.

You'd get the exact same comment from me too....[other than mine's 8 not 8.1]....

This is my main reason.

I'd be back on 7 in a heartbeat if support could figure out why this happens on 7. There's a thread about it, it's not only me that sees this problem.

I fully realize most people don't run 5 monitors... 

Microsoft need to just figure out what makes their odd-numbered operating systems better than the even-numbered ones.

Hopefully, Windows 9 will be awesomesauce.

I've said that many times. The oddness is is that its actually true. The even numbers seem to be quirky and I think its because newer innovations meant to improve upon the previous OS aren't that well thought out as in the case with Vista and now Win8. Win8.1 corrected some on those quirks but I have to agree with RnD as far as handling resources is concerned. I had limited experience with Win8 and it does take some getting used to. Should this trend continue Win9 really will be 'awesonesauce'.

This is a no-brainer for MS. Only give your OSes ODD numbers...problem solved.  

I just upgraded to windows 7. Had to do soooo much tweaking though to get the OS to run the way I want it to...

I have news...the desktop PC is here to stay. No demise.