Gamers alternatives to Windows 8

[OG Viking]

About 3 weeks ago I got a PC with Windows 8.1. I've given Win8 a chance but I don't get used to it. It doesn't work well with old software and the GUI is weird anyway.

 

I know there are alternatives, Mac and Linux, but how well are games working on those systems? If I got a Mac, could I just assume that most games exists in a Mac version? And what about Linux?

Edited January 7, 2015 by OG Viking

[sivispacem]

Windows 7. Titles available on Linux and OS X are few and far between.

[utack]

I dualboot Linux and Windows 7 for now. More and more games make their way to Linux (Borderlands, Bioshock Infinite, Metro Redux..) but Windows is still the #1 OS for that, because MS pulled quite a trick with DX being exclusive to it.

I'd wait until MS announces if DX12 is Windows 10 only with installing a new OS.

Edited January 8, 2015 by utack

[GN 92]

I still love my w7 ultimate. Go for it.

[TheMcSame]

Well if W8 isn't to your liking then go with 7 or just wait for 10.

[OG Viking]

I would love to get W7, but W7 isn't on the market any more. I would prefer XP over W8, but my XP CDROM won't install on new computers.

 

I want the latest hardware so a second hand computer with W7 isn't likely.

 

Linux users can simulate Windows and run Windows games that way? I'm not sure how well it works though.

 

 

Windows 10 is a further development of W8 with the Metro bullsh*t, so if you don't like W8 you will most likely not like W10.

Edited January 9, 2015 by OG Viking

[Straypuft]

I would love to get W7, but W7 isn't on the market any more. I would prefer XP over W8, but my XP CDROM won't install on new computers.

 

I want the latest hardware so a second hand computer with W7 isn't likely.

 

Linux users can simulate Windows and run Windows games that way? I'm not sure how well it works though.

 

 

Windows 10 is a further development of W8 with the Metro bullsh*t, so if you don't like W8 you will most likely not like W10.

Which market are you looking at? Weekend farmers market in town square?

Windows 7 is still being sold online at many places

[hornedturtle]

I would love to get W7, but W7 isn't on the market any more. I would prefer XP over W8, but my XP CDROM won't install on new computers.

 

I want the latest hardware so a second hand computer with W7 isn't likely.

 

Linux users can simulate Windows and run Windows games that way? I'm not sure how well it works though.

 

 

Windows 10 is a further development of W8 with the Metro bullsh*t, so if you don't like W8 you will most likely not like W10.

The main problem wasn't that it looked like sh*t, it just ran like sh*t. Win 10 looks promising spec wise if their pr team isn't lying.

[OG Viking]

Which market are you looking at? Weekend farmers market in town square?

Windows 7 is still being sold online at many places

Yes of course, where else?

 

What I mean is, shops don't sell new computers with W7 any more. When I ask why, they say Microsoft has ended W7, and they ended W7 on October 31st last year.

[tranceking26]

I would use Windows 7.

 

If it helps, I got my laptop with Windows 7 on amazon, it was a bit pricey, but my point is, if you specify Windows 7 in the search, you can still buy brand new computers with it installed.

[Straypuft]

 

Which market are you looking at? Weekend farmers market in town square?

Windows 7 is still being sold online at many places

Yes of course, where else?

 

What I mean is, shops don't sell new computers with W7 any more. When I ask why, they say Microsoft has ended W7, and they ended W7 on October 31st last year.

 

check newegg for copies of windows 7, buy a copy and install it on the computer you have that has 8 on it

[OG Viking]

 

 

Which market are you looking at? Weekend farmers market in town square?

Windows 7 is still being sold online at many places

Yes of course, where else?

 

What I mean is, shops don't sell new computers with W7 any more. When I ask why, they say Microsoft has ended W7, and they ended W7 on October 31st last year.

 

check newegg for copies of windows 7, buy a copy and install it on the computer you have that has 8 on it

 

I can't/won't buy computers from abroad for three reasons.

1) I'll not get Scandinavian keyboard. We use an extended version of the Latin alphabet.

2) Customs and import tax, plus a processing fee I'll have to pay.

3) It'll be expensive and complicated if I need service on the computer.

 

 

Edit

Sorry I mis-read your post. You didn't say buy a computer with W7 from Newegg, just the OS itself. I guess Microsoft can't deny stores to sell W7 if they have physical copies in stock. But I'm not pleased with paying twice for Windows. But it may still be a better option than using W8. I don't think I can sell an unused W8 OEM license.

Edited January 10, 2015 by OG Viking

[Straypuft]

 

 

 

Which market are you looking at? Weekend farmers market in town square?

Windows 7 is still being sold online at many places

Yes of course, where else?

 

What I mean is, shops don't sell new computers with W7 any more. When I ask why, they say Microsoft has ended W7, and they ended W7 on October 31st last year.

 

check newegg for copies of windows 7, buy a copy and install it on the computer you have that has 8 on it

 

I can't/won't buy computers from abroad for three reasons.

1) I'll not get Scandinavian keyboard. We use an extended version of the Latin alphabet.

2) Customs and import tax, plus a processing fee I'll have to pay.

3) It'll be expensive and complicated if I need service on the computer.

 

 

Edit

Sorry I mis-read your post. You didn't say buy a computer with W7 from Newegg, just the OS itself. I guess Microsoft can't deny stores to sell W7 if they have physical copies in stock. But I'm not pleased with paying twice for Windows. But it may still be a better option than using W8. I don't think I can sell an unused W8 OEM license.

 

keep the w8 license and use it to upgrade to w10 if the chance arises, depending on when windows 10 is released, if soon, you could get a free upgrade from 8 to 10, or at least deeply discounted

[reiniat]

About 3 weeks ago I got a PC with Windows 8.1. I've given Win8 a chance but I don't get used to it. It doesn't work well with old software and the GUI is weird anyway.

The GUI is better once you get used to it, and everybody complains how old software doesnt work..... It has never happened to me, most programs work well on compatibility mode, and most of the troubleshooting ive done has been the same i did in Win7 (like Bioshock stereo mix, or setting up MS-DOS for Rayman 1, or installing emulators).

I honestly believe Win 8.1 is the best windows since XP.

 

That being said, if you dont like it, yes the easiest solution is Win 7. Steam OS might be a nice alternative for gaming, but i wouldnt expect it to take off until 2016, and maybe not even then, or ever.

Edited January 12, 2015 by reiniat

[TheMcSame]

 

About 3 weeks ago I got a PC with Windows 8.1. I've given Win8 a chance but I don't get used to it. It doesn't work well with old software and the GUI is weird anyway.

The GUI is better once you get used to it, and everybody complains how old software doesnt work..... It has never happened to me, most programs work well on compatibility mode, and most of the troubleshooting ive done has been the same i did in Win7 (like Bioshock stereo mix, or setting up MS-DOS for Rayman 1, or installing emulators).

I honestly believe Win 8.1 is the best windows since XP.

 

That being said, if you dont like it, yes the easiest solution is Win 7. Steam OS might be a nice alternative for gaming, but i wouldnt expect it to take off until 2016, and maybe not even then, or ever.

 

^^^^^^^^^

 

I've only had 2 compatibility problems. 1 with some old software to remove CDFS partitions from USB sticks (if you haven't guessed I still haven't removed it) and one with Vice city (the game doesn't react to input from the mouse) which can be fixed by downloading a .dll file and putting it in the game files (might I add that windows 7 also has this problem).

 

 

 

Things work fine with W8 for the most part and the windows compatibility does the job. The only things you're going to have trouble with is really old software that few use.

Edited January 12, 2015 by TheMcSame

[OG Viking]

old software that few use.

But you can't know that few use old software. And if they don't use it, it could be because they are unable because of incompatibility.

 

I barely get San Andreas working, and that's thanks to hacks, or so-called patches. But it doesn't work 100%.

[TheMcSame]

 

old software that few use.

But you can't know that few use old software. And if they don't use it, it could be because they are unable because of incompatibility.

 

I barely get San Andreas working, and that's thanks to hacks, or so-called patches. But it doesn't work 100%.

 

And why wasn't SA working? The game wouldn't respond to input from the mouse? That's a simple .dll download and much like Vice city, this problem occurs in W7 as well. Other than the little mouse bug (which I fixed), SA runs fine. You can't expect a game that came out 9 years ago to run flawlessly on every OS from release to the end of time. Same will go for GTA V, 10 years after release there will likely be a few compatibility issues.

 

In all honesty I don't see why it seems too hard to just go out and buy a W7 key. Don't want to pay twice? Well you're going too have to put up with 8 then unless you pirate 7.

[Andreaz1]

Can't you get an OEM version of 7 though? Webstores here still seem to sell them and they're cheaper than the full version. Unless you are planning on upgrading your PC soon I think it makes sense (and if you are, just upgrade first and get 7 afterwards). It'll last you a few years and then you can upgrade to 10 if you want to. I don't like 8 either, I'll stick to 7 for as long as I can.

Edited January 12, 2015 by Andreaz1

[OG Viking]

And why wasn't SA working? The game wouldn't respond to input from the mouse? That's a simple .dll download and much like Vice city, this problem occurs in W7 as well. Other than the little mouse bug (which I fixed), SA runs fine.

Yes the mouse is the most persistent issue. When the game is sort of working, it means I've already installed a mouse fix. Without it, the mouse would not work at all. But still the mouse won't always work without zapping in and out of the game briefly. This is discussed elsewhere, I won't go into details here.

 

There are other issues too, like problems with launching the game (when the game resolution is different from that of Windows), and it won't work on more than one processor. I'm not blaming Windows for this, it's probably caused by a poorly coded game.

 

I don't know if W7 works better with old software with no compatibility modes activated, but at least I think it offers more compatibility modes than W8 does. In W8 I can run programs as XP SP3, Vista and 7.

 

 

 

You can't expect a game that came out 9 years ago to run flawlessly on every OS from release to the end of time. Same will go for GTA V, 10 years after release there will likely be a few compatibility issues.

I don't expect it will work on every new OS. I have to adapt to the situation and not get an OS that is incompatible with important games.

 

 

 

In all honesty I don't see why it seems too hard to just go out and buy a W7 key. Don't want to pay twice? Well you're going too have to put up with 8 then unless you pirate 7.

I think we're about to get off topic, and it's my responsibility too. This topic is intended for OS discussion, not so much about my willingness/unwillingness of acquiring keys, legally or otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can't you get an OEM version of 7 though? Webstores here still seem to sell them and they're cheaper than the full version. Unless you are planning on upgrading your PC soon I think it makes sense (and if you are, just upgrade first and get 7 afterwards). It'll last you a few years and then you can upgrade to 10 if you want to. I don't like 8 either, I'll stick to 7 for as long as I can.

OEM versions are cheaper, but you have to buy it with a computer? I'm using a laptop so upgrading is limited to new hard disks.

 

It's possible to buy new computers here with W7, but the availability is very limited. If you are picky on the hardware you'll likely get W8 whether you like W8 or not.

 

For some time now, every second Windows version have been positively received. We'll see if this continues.

Edited January 13, 2015 by OG Viking

[hornedturtle]

Some sites that build custom gaming rigs still offer windows 7.

[TCA]

 

 

 

Which market are you looking at? Weekend farmers market in town square?

Windows 7 is still being sold online at many places

Yes of course, where else?

 

What I mean is, shops don't sell new computers with W7 any more. When I ask why, they say Microsoft has ended W7, and they ended W7 on October 31st last year.

 

check newegg for copies of windows 7, buy a copy and install it on the computer you have that has 8 on it

He'll have to format his drive though. Because can't downgrade from Windows 8 to 7, will have to be fresh.

[Andreaz1]

 

Can't you get an OEM version of 7 though? Webstores here still seem to sell them and they're cheaper than the full version. Unless you are planning on upgrading your PC soon I think it makes sense (and if you are, just upgrade first and get 7 afterwards). It'll last you a few years and then you can upgrade to 10 if you want to. I don't like 8 either, I'll stick to 7 for as long as I can.

OEM versions are cheaper, but you have to buy it with a computer? I'm using a laptop so upgrading is limited to new hard disks.

 

It's possible to buy new computers here with W7, but the availability is very limited. If you are picky on the hardware you'll likely get W8 whether you like W8 or not.

 

For some time now, every second Windows version have been positively received. We'll see if this continues.

 

As I said though, there are sites here that sell OEM versions of 7 still, no need to buy a whole computer. I have no idea where you are from but you mentioned Scandinavia so I'll just leave this link here for you and you can see for yourself https://www.komplett.se/search?bn=10335&category=10335_Programvara&q=*%3A*&subcategory=10339_Operativsystem Edited January 13, 2015 by Andreaz1

[OG Viking]

He'll have to format his drive though. Because can't downgrade from Windows 8 to 7, will have to be fresh.

Any reason why dual boot wouldn't work?

[TCA]

 

He'll have to format his drive though. Because can't downgrade from Windows 8 to 7, will have to be fresh.

Any reason why dual boot wouldn't work?Drive has to be partitioned. Windows 8 on main partition and windows 7 on the new one.

http://www.partition-tool.com/resource/windows-8-partition-manager/dual-boot-windows-7-and-windows-8.htm

Edited January 17, 2015 by TCA