My HP Pavillion Windows 7 64bit computer is getting long in the tooth (had six computers and none lasted to three years let alone past that.)
I use them for reading, You Tube viewing, shopping. Possible future banking. Sole experience with gaming is pretty much Solitaire. (Don't judge.)
Anyway, since July, Microsoft has been a pain with their daily pointing out that I haven't upgraded to Windows 10.
I don't want a fancy-schmancy Windows 10. I'm happy with my old transom window. Besides, am seeing lots of reports that Windows 10 comes with a peeping tom. No thanks.
Since all of my previous computers went to Computer Heaven (or Hell, I don't doubt) I've never had to directly purchase an os. My preference is to get a small computer with Windows 8.1 installed as part of the package solely for the fact that it would give me an additional two years of security update leeway. New 8.1 computers are fading fast as everything is now coming with Windows 10.
Is it possible to get a Windows 10, purchase just the Windows 8.1, and then install 8.1 over the 10? Everything I see on YT just has for taking a Windows 10 back to the original 8.1 or 7.
Is it possible to still purchase just the os?
ComicsLover, have you considered just jumping ship and picking up a new MacBook Pro? I currently have two laptops, a Win 7 Sony (still too lazy / too busy / a little scared to update to Win 10) and a recent MacBook Pro. If you're concerned about privacy, maybe a Mac OS would be a good option for you. I run MS Office on both machines.
I realize that this post doesn't answer your question, just thought that I'd toss it in. I really enjoy using both operating systems. Maybe I'll soon bite the bullet and upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10, yet I'm not in a big hurry. Or, maybe I'll keep this old Sony Win 7, and get another MS machine to run 10.
By the way, my Win 7 machine is now 5 years old, closing in on 6. Could give up the ghost any day, yet I keep it clean and it seems to still run like new.
Although the "Retail software end of sales" date was September 1, 2015, there is a footnote in the Windows lifecycle fact sheet (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/lifecycle?T1=winxp) and Windows 8.1 computers can be purchased until the end of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled date of October 31, 2016. The EoS date for Windows 7 Pro preinstalled is the same date, October 31, 2016:
Quote* Note that when the retail software product reaches its end of sales date, it can still be purchased through OEMs (the company that made your PC) until it reaches the end of sales date for PCs with Windows preinstalled.
In addition to checking the OEM websites, you might also want to check Amazon, Newegg, etc.
QuoteI use them for reading, You Tube viewing, shopping.
You might want to move away from Windows. As JDBush61 pointed out there is iOS to consider. My best friend moved from Windows to an iMac and is happy with her decision.
There are nice versions of Linux that can be put on computers or even a computer with Linux Mint ready to go
http://www.amazon.com/MintBox-FITLET-GB-C64-D4-M64S-W-XL-BMint-CompuLab-Mini/dp/B00TQQ95L4/ref=sr_1_3?m=A3J2VUK9571N8X&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1450192609&sr=1-3
I browse on an Android tablet. I purchased a 7" one because portability was one of my "must have" features but there are larger sizes. I have a bluetooth keyboard paired with it for the times I want to do a lot of typing. But just to read and watch movies, the touch, spread and pinch features are fine to enlarge and shrink.
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Tp avoid Windows 10 being forced on you with a Win 7 or 8.1 computer, you can download and run GWX Control Panel. It is an exe so nothing gets installed. It simply checks your computer settings.
http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/
Blog for usage
http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/08/using-gwx-stopper-to-permanently-remove.html
He keeps updating it as MS changes things so you may want to keep an eye on the blog page to see if/when a new version is available.
Here's an article that Richard Hay wrote about GWX Control Panel: Use GWX Control Panel to stop Windows 10 upgrade prompts (http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/use-gwx-control-panel-stop-windows-10-upgrade-prompts)
My first computer was an IBM Windows 95. It started smoking (not tobacco) about 2.5 years in.
My second was a Sony WinME. Same amount of time and good riddance to what had to be the worst OS in existence.
After WinMe I got fed up with MS and tried a 2005 Mac Mini. LOVED the OS. Loved it! Machine lasted 2 years. I tried again. Machine lasted two months.
Mac: wonderful OS, but overpriced and bad quality control with their hardware.
Back to Windows and my current HP. Windows 7 is not bad at all and so far the machine is not giving me any indication of trouble, but....past history is making me antsy. Plus, I want something before the only thing available is Win10 with its spyware/your content belongs to us and did I not read back in July where Microsoft was thinking of making all of their software 'for rent'?
Anyway, I did decide to look at Macs since I haven't been over to their site in years.
Mac Mini's are lowered in price -but- only because they made the innards....lackluster. If they'd just upped the price and had better hardware I'd have given it a second glance.
All-in-One machines are bad. My sibling had a good laptop....all the way until the screen backlight died well before the rest of the machine would have. Cost to replace the screen was ridiculous not to mention the time it would have been in the repair shop--and that's assuming they didn't 'lose' it there or in shipping either way.
At any rate I purchased a low-cost laptop two years ago. Rarely use because the battery died one year in despite using it something like ten hours max during the time I've had it. (Also Win7)
There's also the issue that there are still websites (like my workplace) that don't cater to Mac users. I could never get onto my workplace's employee pages with a Mac and looking it up again....still can't.
Imagine that Linux would be far worse as far as sites not recognizing it.
(You know, sometimes I think that if it weren't for the fact that more and more necessary stuff is online only I'd trade tech for a .7mm ballpoint and a notebook.)
Might just go with the HP mini. It's $300 at the moment. Slow, but I'm not playing Halo or anything so not like will have the embarrassment of my online gaming warrior being the only one using a walker and a pea shooter.
Quote from: ComicsLover on December 15, 2015, 05:13:28 PM
Plus, I want something before the only thing available is Win10 with its spyware/your content belongs to us and did I not read back in July where Microsoft was thinking of making all of their software 'for rent'?
No, Windows 10 isn't spyware. See No, Microsoft is not spying on you with Windows 10 (http://www.zdnet.com/article/no-microsoft-is-not-spying-on-you-with-windows-10/#ftag=RSSbaffb68). I've seen other reports about the "spying" -- or rather lack thereof -- such as when looking to add what he referred to as "spy urls" to WinPrivacy, Bret said, "I was rather unimpressed at the amount we actually found." (See was rather unimpressed at the amount we actually found.)
Regarding "for rent", the software has always been licensed. We own our computer but purchase a license to the OS. That said, yes, Office 365 is subscription-based. Also scroll down to the "I heard that after a year Microsoft is going to start charging for subscriptions. True?" section of Windows 10: You've got questions, I've got answers (http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-youve-got-questions-ive-got-answers/).
Thank you, Corrine, for those links!
I'll be taking a closer look at them over this week. You may just have greatly expanded my computer choices. :D
I'm still leaning towards a Harry Potter II, but now I can also look at Windows 10 machines.
Eh...and also start checking out those vids on what to expect from the OS as far as differences.
I'll stop repeating the scare messages out there. :-X
Besides, wearing tin foil hats messes up my 'do.
Based on my experience with my own "Harry Potter" devices (laptop and desktop from 2008 and year old 7" tablet), when its time for me to get a new device, that will likely be the route I'll take. If there is a Best Buy or some other store in your area that sells computers, why not stop and look at the Windows 10 devices, regardless of the OEM. It will give you a bit of a hands on before making a commitment.