To upgrade or not to Upgrade (Windows 7 versus 8.1)

[SlipperyDuck]

apparently Win9 will be one OS to rule them all, as in will run on Desktops and Mobiles x86 and ARM and be the SAME OS - time will tell.

[Skouperd]

apparently Win9 will be one OS to rule them all, as in will run on Desktops and Mobiles x86 and ARM and be the SAME OS - time will tell.

Hi Lee, I must say that I am a tad bit concerned with this approach of software developers. I really like the vision to have a single OS to rule them all, but I also appreciate the complexity to make something like that work. Looking at something basic, like say input devices (keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, phone, whatever), you will have to create a software layer that sits between the kernel and the user interface. I appreciate those layers already exists in the form of DirectX etc, but I am just scared that they may be forced to introduce so many different layers and different coding path ways that the pure size of the OS may become so bloated it ain't even funny. I am not a big linux fan, but that is one thing they are quite good at, write a piece of software that does one job, but it does it exceptionally well. Trying to do too many things always means you have to sacrifice something over something else.

Any event, time will tell. Microsoft have intelligent people working there so maybe they will figure a way out how to truly write a single OS that can indeed rule them all. From a pure technical point of view, I am scared about the complexities of actually doing it. I think Windows 8 demonstrated exactly how difficult it is to try and force a specific UI onto the market, so let's see how things develop in this space.

[Megageth]

Win9 will be crap.
Win9.1 might be good.

I personally dont feel upgrading from 7 to 8 is worth the $. Worth it to buy 8 if you are building a new system or really need an extra 5-10fps which is what it may translate to in games performance on certain rigs.

[Morphza]

What happened to the days of... "Oooh sexy.... its definitely good!"