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This topic is not for general argument about the merits of Win8 and Win7. It also is not about what one should emphasize in forming a preference for Win8 or Win7. The topic also is not about the traits or personalities of those that post on our forums or their strong and weak points.
This topic deals only with the relative efficiency of Win8 and Win7 in performing specified tasks. I am hoping that you will identify a task and attempt to assess the relative efficiency of Win8 and Win7 in performing the task. I suggest that you assume a single user and ignore the extra step in getting to the Win8 start screen (three steps--for example, power up, bypass first screen, and sign in) versus getting to the Win7 desktop (2 comparative steps--power up and sign in). I am starting the relative efficiency analysis by considering the simple task below. Assume the task begins on the desktop for Win7 and on the metro start screen for Win8. Throughout, for simplicity, I hope that you will work with efficiency as I have done for consistency--essentially defining efficiency in terms of steps.
(1) In Win7 (starting on the desktop) (see second edit below), if I want to open a recent file in Word 2013 and subsequently open a recent file in Excel 2013, then I click on a Word taskbar shortcut and then click the file name on the Word start screen (2 steps). I then do the same with Excel (2 steps). Total steps = 4.
(2) Under Win8 (starting on the metro start screen), if I want to do the same thing as fast as possible, then I click on the Word tile and click the file name (2 steps)(assuming I have arranged my start screen so that I don't have to scroll right to get to word--which would require an extra step). After doing so, I am on the desktop. From here, I click on an Excel taskbar shortcut and click on the file name (two steps). Total steps = 4. As an alternative, I could have gone initially from the start screen to the desktop, but I would have ended up with 5 steps.
(3) And, if I had wanted to emphasize the metro interface, then, after opening the Word file in (2), I would access the charm bar, click the start screen, click on Excel, and click on the file name. This approach takes two more steps than if I had gone directly to the Excel taskbar shortcut as above when on the desktop. That means total steps = 6 (4 + 2).
If I emphasize the first approach in (2), then neither OS has an efficiency advantage. If I emphasize the alternative in (2), then Win7 has an efficiency advantage by a small margin. If I emphasize (3), then Win 7 has a larger efficiency advantage.
Feel free to extend my example by adding one or more tasks to my basic task. Also, I performed my task, under both systems, the way I would do them currently. If you have a more efficient way to perform my task under either OS, then please chime in. I am sort of a clunky user. And, finally, if I have made any task counting errors, then please let me know. I may make some edits in what I have said at time marches on. I will not intentionally make edits that will bias "things" in favor of one OS or the other.
I hope this topic can be a fun and interesting one--without the acrimony that arises in many of our topics.
I need a question. So, which is more efficient as judged on the basis of actual tasks performed by you--Win8 or Win7? Eventually, I will provide my own answer based on my understanding of what your say.
Edit 1: I had an extra step under Win8 from the start menu. I revised my step counts accordingly.
Edit 2: In carrying out the Win7 part of an efficiency analysis, it seems like it usually would be acceptable to use the Win8 desktop provided that you wouldn't need to use the Win7 start menu or have a good 3rd party substitute for it on Win8.
This topic deals only with the relative efficiency of Win8 and Win7 in performing specified tasks. I am hoping that you will identify a task and attempt to assess the relative efficiency of Win8 and Win7 in performing the task. I suggest that you assume a single user and ignore the extra step in getting to the Win8 start screen (three steps--for example, power up, bypass first screen, and sign in) versus getting to the Win7 desktop (2 comparative steps--power up and sign in). I am starting the relative efficiency analysis by considering the simple task below. Assume the task begins on the desktop for Win7 and on the metro start screen for Win8. Throughout, for simplicity, I hope that you will work with efficiency as I have done for consistency--essentially defining efficiency in terms of steps.
(1) In Win7 (starting on the desktop) (see second edit below), if I want to open a recent file in Word 2013 and subsequently open a recent file in Excel 2013, then I click on a Word taskbar shortcut and then click the file name on the Word start screen (2 steps). I then do the same with Excel (2 steps). Total steps = 4.
(2) Under Win8 (starting on the metro start screen), if I want to do the same thing as fast as possible, then I click on the Word tile and click the file name (2 steps)(assuming I have arranged my start screen so that I don't have to scroll right to get to word--which would require an extra step). After doing so, I am on the desktop. From here, I click on an Excel taskbar shortcut and click on the file name (two steps). Total steps = 4. As an alternative, I could have gone initially from the start screen to the desktop, but I would have ended up with 5 steps.
(3) And, if I had wanted to emphasize the metro interface, then, after opening the Word file in (2), I would access the charm bar, click the start screen, click on Excel, and click on the file name. This approach takes two more steps than if I had gone directly to the Excel taskbar shortcut as above when on the desktop. That means total steps = 6 (4 + 2).
If I emphasize the first approach in (2), then neither OS has an efficiency advantage. If I emphasize the alternative in (2), then Win7 has an efficiency advantage by a small margin. If I emphasize (3), then Win 7 has a larger efficiency advantage.
Feel free to extend my example by adding one or more tasks to my basic task. Also, I performed my task, under both systems, the way I would do them currently. If you have a more efficient way to perform my task under either OS, then please chime in. I am sort of a clunky user. And, finally, if I have made any task counting errors, then please let me know. I may make some edits in what I have said at time marches on. I will not intentionally make edits that will bias "things" in favor of one OS or the other.
I hope this topic can be a fun and interesting one--without the acrimony that arises in many of our topics.
I need a question. So, which is more efficient as judged on the basis of actual tasks performed by you--Win8 or Win7? Eventually, I will provide my own answer based on my understanding of what your say.
Edit 1: I had an extra step under Win8 from the start menu. I revised my step counts accordingly.
Edit 2: In carrying out the Win7 part of an efficiency analysis, it seems like it usually would be acceptable to use the Win8 desktop provided that you wouldn't need to use the Win7 start menu or have a good 3rd party substitute for it on Win8.
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My Computer
System One
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- OS
- Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- System Manufacturer/Model
- DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
- CPU
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- ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
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- 16 GB Corsair Vengeance
- Graphics Card(s)
- EVGA 570 SC
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- Gateway
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- Dual Boot:
Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
- PSU
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- Case
- Cooler Master 932 HAF
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- Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
- Keyboard
- Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
- Mouse
- Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
- Internet Speed
- 20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
- Other Info
- Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner