Which version of 8.1 do you think is best?

rafael1979

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In general terms, all things considered; gaming, working, net surfing etc..., which version
of 8.1 do you think is the best? So far I haven't had any issues with Pro, taking into account all the
complaints about other versions I see on the net I would say that Pro is probably one of the best.
For multimedia and gaming it is probably the best compromise.

I would like to know what do you guys think
of your respective versions of 8.1. How are they working out for you? Any issues? Why have you chosen
that version in particular? What are its strong and weak points?
 
Pro just coz I got it for 9.99 as an upgrade from Windows 7 when Win 8 was launched. But if I had a choice, I would buy Windows 8.1 Core

Why? Coz I don't need the bitlocker, hyper-V, or the stupid auto encryption of your HDD/SSD if supported. Thank the lord my LiteoOn SSD doesn't support it.

To be honest, they're very similar. Other than accessing the group policy editor. I cannot see a diff. between Windows 8 Single Language that came on my laptop and the Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center that I'm running now
 
The same for me, I bought Pro version, because it was for 30€ at that time, but I would pick Core.
Pro version contains more features, therefore more files, services load and take system resources.
I always found funny, that gamers like to buy heavy 7 Ultimate version instead of Home Premium.
 
The same for me, I bought Pro version, because it was for 30€ at that time, but I would pick Core.
Pro version contains more features, therefore more files, services load and take system resources.
I always found funny, that gamers like to buy heavy 7 Ultimate version instead of Home Premium.

Indeed, 99% of Gamers I see on forums have Windows 7 Ultimate installed. Not knowing that it contains a lot of bloatware like BitLocker and what not which might actually slow them down.

That is why I bought a separate license for my laptop of Windows 7 Pro for the times when I get fed up with Windows 8
 
There are only 3 editions of Windows 8 and one of those, Enterprise, is not a retail product and not normally available to home users. That leaves only Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. Pro is superior in every way except one. The code base is identical and the only difference is features. The only downside to the Pro version is cost and depending where you buy and special promotions that may be available that may not be much. You have to balance the added features against the higher cost.
 
The same for me, I bought Pro version, because it was for 30€ at that time, but I would pick Core.
Pro version contains more features, therefore more files, services load and take system resources.
I always found funny, that gamers like to buy heavy 7 Ultimate version instead of Home Premium.

Indeed, 99% of Gamers I see on forums have Windows 7 Ultimate installed. Not knowing that it contains a lot of bloatware like BitLocker and what not which might actually slow them down.

That is why I bought a separate license for my laptop of Windows 7 Pro for the times when I get fed up with Windows 8

The gamers have ultimate because they think they are l33t and most likely pirated their version of Windows anyway.
 
I have 8.1 Pro 64 on my main computers so I'll have to go with 8.1 Pro 64.
 
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im running enterprise right now ,and i see now difference with it than win8 core or pro, now having said that ,i don,t do much with them besides some dvd burning and a few other things .as for speed all seem to be the same to me .and i don't thing any of the extra options pro and enterprise have cause it to behave any different than 8core
 
In general terms, all things considered; gaming, working, net surfing etc..., which version
of 8.1 do you think is the best? So far I haven't had any issues with Pro, taking into account all the
complaints about other versions I see on the net I would say that Pro is probably one of the best.
For multimedia and gaming it is probably the best compromise.

I would like to know what do you guys think
of your respective versions of 8.1. How are they working out for you? Any issues? Why have you chosen
that version in particular? What are its strong and weak points?

Pardon, but when you say Pro, it's like saying John, or Dick or Sam. That's only half a name. What's the last name?

Are you talking Pro 32 or Pro 64.....huge difference!

If you want or need to run OLD software, maybe even 16 bit software, you're going to need Pro 32, because Pro 64 does not have backward compatibility to the 16 bit days.

Personally, I don't need any 64 bit OS, because I'm so old school that I still run several 16 bit programs, every day.
But there may be some games, written for a 64 bit OS that will not run on a 32 bit OS.

So whether you want a 32 bit OS or a 64 bit OS, is all dependent on what type of software you want to run. That's more than just personal preference. It's necessity. Eh?

:cool:
 
Are you talking Pro 32 or Pro 64.....huge difference!

Indeed it is!

I am sure that most computer users do not see much difference between a 32 bit and 64 bit OS. They boot up the same way, run the same software with no apparent differences, and the user interface is virtually identical. You have to know where to look and even then the differences are far from obvious. A look at the folders in Explorer doesn't reveal much difference either. There is the unfamiliar "Program Files (x86)" folder but it contains many of the same folders so few people give it much thought. If you look hard enough you would see the "SysWOW64" folder in the Windows folder but it is just one of many. It would be more than reasonable to conclude that the differences between a 32 bit and 64 bit OS could not be of any great consequence.

Reasonable, yet so very wrong.

Under the hood (figuratively speaking) a 64 bit OS is a very different animal than the 32 bit variety. The native environment presented to an application is totally alien to what a 32 bit application would expect. It is an environment in which it could not function. But many people have a large investment in 32 bit applications and there is an enormous number of such programs available that will never be converted to 64 bit. An OS that could not run 32 bit software would not sell on the mass market.

To solve this problem Microsoft created an elaborate subsystem within an 64 OS that provided an artificial environment in which a 32 bit application could run. And the masquerade (and masquerade it is) presented to 32 bit applications must be very good as many applications are very sensitive about such things and even a small difference may cause them to fail. The alieness of the 64 bit OS must be very carefully hidden from the 32 bit application. This subsystem (known as WOW64) includes a substantial portion of a 32 bit OS inside the host 64 bit system.

I recognize that most of the above is more a matter of interest than something of practical value. A 64 bit OS can run most 32 bit software with no difficulties whatsoever.
 
I say 8.1 Pro 64-bit simply because I got it as a deal way back when they were giving it away as an upgrade. Everything has worked so far that I shove at it, 32 or 64 bit. Even 16 bit with DosBox and Daemon Lite. :)
 
The latest version!
I'm using the 'leaked' version of Windows 8.1 Pro "Update 1" and it's better than any previous versions.
It might be a matter of 'Getting used to it'. Like many, I didn't like Windows 8 when it came out either.
Seems to be improving slowly but surely! :)
 
8.1 Pro running in Desktop mode. My main use is Internet browsing, along with database building.
 
I have Win8.1 OEM.. Haven't tried the others but I think less is best since I'm a gamer.. Less things all running while you're trying to game is best. Doesn't tax the CPU as much neither :)
 
Hi there
Although not available through "Retail" I like ENTERPRISE version --the Windows to GO was (and is) a great feature although using other means - I've posted elsewhere on the Forums - you can make a totally portable version of Windows running totally from an external device (USB or HDD) by using VMware on a tiny Linux host.

The Enterprise version allows easy installation of various different Language packs - so you can change Languages where required. Useful feature for me. Bitlocker encryption seems to be a nice feature too although I don't use it - and there are some decent extra networking and admin features - probably not needed for home users though.

The "Standard" edition doesn't allow this and I think the PRO version allows you to install another language but not sure if it allows you to switch once you've installed it.

I got Enterprise as I'm still on TechNet.

BTW MSDN isn't a sensible option for TechNet when you finally get kicked off TechNet - October is when mine finally dies - as it's hideously expensive for an individual subscriber. - If your work pays -- that's fine.

Cheers
jimbo
 
I have Win8.1 OEM.. Haven't tried the others but I think less is best since I'm a gamer.. Less things all running while you're trying to game is best. Doesn't tax the CPU as much neither :)

I use Windows 8.1 Pro 32bit since it uses less resources, especially ram which any game needs for better performance. Unless you've got over 4Gb of RAM I don't see the point in using Windows 8.1 64bit for gaming, unless the game itself requires it.
 
BTW MSDN isn't a sensible option for TechNet when you finally get kicked off TechNet - October is when mine finally dies - as it's hideously expensive for an individual subscriber. - If your work pays -- that's fine.

Cheers
jimbo

Yeah, the Microsoft solution is just for people to use the "evaluation" software that they make available. They never had any intention whatsoever for hobbyists to purchase MSDN subscriptions to get access to their software.

Technet was never meant for permanent installations either. The only thing I don't like about the evals is that they only have a particular flavor available (for example, Enterprise....they don't offer evals of Pro or standard edition).
 
I have Win8.1 OEM.. Haven't tried the others but I think less is best since I'm a gamer.. Less things all running while you're trying to game is best. Doesn't tax the CPU as much neither :)

I use Windows 8.1 Pro 32bit since it uses less resources, especially ram which any game needs for better performance. Unless you've got over 4Gb of RAM I don't see the point in using Windows 8.1 64bit for gaming, unless the game itself requires it.

I've got 16GB RAM on my computer.. Gaming isn't the only thing I use the computer for. Since it's the only computer I have, it's my hub for everything. Movies, games, music production, photography, graphics, and eventually video recording/editing.. Gaming is what it's used for mainly at this point until I can put some more upgrades in for audio and other hardware.. :)
 
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