Raising this dead article as Microsoft now delivers extended support pricing details for those who choose not to migrate to the newer version of Windows. The one they were told they’d not ever have to migrate to
The last [good] version of Windows.
That would be 7. With 10 Microsoft went heavily into the snooping business.
8.1 is a faster version of 7 that also has some compatibility with apps that are said to require 10. Just disable those metro things and use your favorite app for start menu.
I’m glad I have finally seen someone else who appreciates windows 8 (or at least is willing to admit it). People just lose their shit when there are any changes to the start menu, but the best start menu is to not have one at all.
Windows 8 has way better hotkeys (limit seaeching to files, programs, or applications) compared to the unified search in newer versions.
Actually I’m a fan of having a start menu but I also used some other apps and launchers, even a dock (RocketDock is one of the most useful apps for me and it’s a shame it never received the x64 version).
Used 8.1 for years and didn’t need to reinstall it even once. I appreciate it for its technical side. From what I understand it was developed together with the mobile version so it’s somewhat lighter on resources. It also lacks aero which adds to that.
And the thing of it is, millions of non-tech savvy people would not mind about having to move to Windows 11 and would do so in due course if Microsoft didn’t deliberately cripple it so it won’t run on a wide swath of not-too-old hardware.
I must be in the minority that actually prefers 11 to 10
My PC is 10, my laptop for work is now 11. It’s the same. I guess I’m just not a power user but it operates exactly the same for me. I wouldn’t update from 10, but I wouldn’t not buy 11.
Technically both are 10, but I do like the new UI on 11.
Are you saying 11 is just a reskinning? Or are you saying my laptop is 10?
Windows 11 does report its version number as 10. The latest release of Windows 11 is 10.0.22631.3374 but I don’t know enough to say it is just a reskinning of Windows 10.