Windows 7 vs. Windows 8

Topic: Contrasting differences, resemblance and evaluation of two computer operating systems, Windows 7 and Windows 8. The release of Windows 8 has divided the online community in two contradictory groups. Some users appear to enjoy the new features and performance of the newest Windows operating system, while others recommend choosing its well-received predecessor Windows 7 (Mikoluk, 2013). The purpose of this essay is to examine some of the primary characteristics of these operating systems.

These comprise of: user interface, essential built-in software components, system requirements and finally, performance of two systems based on various computer test results. This essay has been organised in the following way, firstly it looks at vital characteristics of operating system user interface, it continues by analysing essential built-in software components, then proceeds by highlighting system requirements and finally, it will outline the performance of two systems based on various computer test results.

User interface is an outer layer and one of the key components of the operating ystem, which can be characterized and described by numerous aspects such as design strategy, start menu layout and touch screen functionality. Windows 7 keeps basic principles of conventional Windows interface building on “Aero” visual style features, such as subtle animations and translucent glass windows enabling a wide range of desktop personalisation possibilities (Bott et al. 2011). Incorporation of the Metro design language for Windows 8 introduces a completely new tile-based design strategy, which is radically different from traditional Windows representation ocusing on only what is needed ” reducing to the essence and celebrating content. ‘ (Clayton, 2013). Windows 7 start menu keeps the familiar two-column layout with the Start button located in the left corner of the taskbar (Coward and Knittel, 2010).

Whereas in Windows 8, the start menu is replaced with a Start screen, where well-known desktop icons have been substituted with large tiles and “Live” tiles displaying real-time information and is missing the Start button (Boyce and Tidrow, 2013). Moving to touch-screen characteristics, Windows 7 software operates with imited amount of touch gestures and its targets originally designed for a miniature arrow cursor are too small (Pogue, 2013).

In contrast, Windows 8 is built with focus on touch input, featuring all the latest touch screen technology innovations and introducing an expanded number of available gestures as well as a touch-friendly interface with large targets (Cirque, 2012). and security applications. Internet Explorer 8 comes as a preinstalled attribute of Windows 7 exclusively for US customers featuring the familiar “Aero” visual style user interface with add-on browser extensions as well as integrated Web Search box and abbed browsing (Stanek, 2010).

Windows 8, on the other hand, comes with latest Internet Explorer 10 browser promoting the minimalistic Metro user interface, moving away from add-ons; counting on site developers to enrich the browsing experience for users by enabling feature detection technology (Boyce and Tidrow, 2013). Internet Explorer 10 Start screen includes web search box combined with address bar and also offers multitasking with tabs (Microsoft, 2013).

Moving to Security Management, Windows 7 features include built-in Firewall network security system and Windows Defender spyware protection; however for the better defence it s advisable to additionally install Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus software (Bott et al. , 2011). In Windows 8, security is also maintained by Firewall and extended confguration of Windows Defender, which replaces Microsoft Security Essentials (Microsoft, 2013).

When considering similarities, both operating systems have identical minimal hardware requirements, which enable the two to run on wide range of machines (Microsoft, 2013). At he Microsoft Worldwide conference 2011 in California Tami Reller underlined: In both of our Windows 8 previews, we talked about continuing on ith the important trend that we started with Windows 7, keeping system requirements either flat or reducing them over time.

Windows 7 and Windows 8 software is compatible with computers consisting of: not less than 1 gigahertz processor or faster, at least 1 gigabyte of free RAM for 32-bit versions or minimum 2 gigabytes for 64-bit versions, a free hard disc space of 16 gigabytes for 32-bit systems or 20 gigabytes for 64-bit systems as well as Microsoft DirectX9 graphics card with WDDM driver (Egan, 2012). Turning to the criteria of performance, there are significant differences in the timings hat operating systems require for essential operations such as: booting up, shutting down, waking up from sleep mode and 3D graphics implementation.

As stated by Walton (2012), Windows 8 continues to expand on the effectiveness of Windows 7, which has proven to be a fast and productive operating system, by showing a number of improvements compared to its precursor. Muchmore’s test results (2012) revealed that the booting time for Windows 8 is significantly reduced by almost a half compared to Windows 7; 17 and 38 seconds correspondingly. He also reported that he shut down time showed similar improvements; the latest version of Windows took 10 seconds, while the older operating system was 2 seconds slower.

According to Muhammad (2013), Windows 8 is also faster waking up from sleep mode with only 10 seconds required for this operation which is 3 seconds ahead of Windows 7. However, Windows 7 3D graphic performance was moderately faster, although both operating systems showed very similar results (Walton, 2012). differences in both operating systems. Firstly, the most obvious difference is that Windows 7 represents traditional Windows interface, while the most recent operating ystem promotes innovative Metro design strategy with large tiles instead of familiar icons.