What about computers without Directx 9 support ?

I'm running Windows 7 on a centrino 1.6 GHz notebook with a slow Intel GME 82855 graphic card. The notebook got a hard time because the CPU is always getting pretty hot, it is doing all the GPU work.

I know that Windows 8 will not support this graphic card better than 7, but will it run smoother in this laptop?

Honestly, no.

I have a laptop that's old. Win 7 was on it and it got by so-so, not bad, not great.

I put 8 on it and although it was useable, it downgraded performance to where after using for about 2 weeks, I decided I had to do something with it.

I then installed Ubuntu 12.04 beta x86 to it yesterday. I was playing with it before and it's pretty damn good. It even plays YouTube videos well @ 480p. On Windows 8, it wouldn't play at all and everything was just about frozen from trying too hard to play @ 360p.

Thanks for the feedback.

This computer is used by kids (child care), but it also got a HP color laser printer with a complex driver, I don't know how it could go with Linux.

You'd be surprised maybe if you look into it. Ubuntu installed all the drivers with the OS besides the modem which it easily installed for that once at desktop.

I wasn't really saying you should put it on your laptop. I was more or less giving a comparison to performances between it and 8 so you can get a general idea.

While I think it is pretty good, I don't think its for kids to use that only know Windows. On the other hand, if it is setup right, it wouldn't be too much of a challenge. It has Firefox, music/video play automatically by default and it has a software center to add just about any function you can imagine.

You're welcome.

Honestly, I think it would be fine. I've tried that on a desktop, and graphical performance is usable at best. You really can't game, even pinball.

Honestly, comparing 7 to 8 on the same desktop though, 8 is better. It's more streamlined, and more prettier. It will let you use the Aero interface, to an extent. It still has the same animations as 7, the same color customization as 7, but without transparency. If you did that with 7, you'd be stuck forever in a pasty blue scheme that just looks...bleh.