With Windows 8, you need new hardware

[nsane.forums]

Microsoft's new OS has been met with a wide range or reviews and opinions but one thing to keep in mind before you upgrade, to get the most out of the platform, you will need new hardware.



Windows 8 has drawn a lot of emotional arguments across the Internet, from those who hate it, to those who think it is the next best thing since sliced bread. While each of us will have an opinion on the OS, what we really need to be looking at is the hardware.

Windows 8, unlike any Windows OS before it, will largely be dependent on innovative hardware, as opposed to performance based specifications that boost raw performance. Windows 8 has been designed to fill two purposes, traditional input and touch input and when you have a device that only does one, or the other, you don’t see how Windows 8 is truly a giant step forward for a desktop OS.



When Windows 8 was launched, for the most part, the hardware did not match the capabilities of the OS. Most vendors were pushing goods that were basically repackaged Ultrabooks with Windows 8 which is why were heard murmurs of Microsoft being pissed the OEMs dropped the ball. Yes, there were a few early devices but even those products had limited reach do to availability issues.

The difference for Windows 8, unlike 7, Vista or XP, is that without the right hardware, the OS was a bit bunk. Simply upgrading your OS on your old hardware was no longer enough, what you need is new hardware that is very slowly starting to arrive. We can see the first attempts with the Surface RT/Pro and also the likes of the Lenovo Helix and Yoga.



But, not all consumers are willing to put down the cash to upgrade their machines. Rightfully so, but if you want to truly get the entire value out of Windows 8, new hardware is required as the Start screen is for touch, full stop.

And this is where the division line comes in with Windows 8. On existing hardware, Windows 8 is not preferred platform. Yes, there are certainly advantageous reasons to upgrade from Windows 7 but to avoid the common mistake that many early adopters are experiencing; you need new hardware that embraces the platform, not a platform that embraces the hardware.

Fortunately, there are tons of options now available in the market with more coming in the near future. Some of the more exiting options are the Lenovo Helix, HP’s Envy X2, or the Sony Via Duo 11.

Windows 8 is about bringing a new sense to the Windows platform and when you upgrade or buy a device that limits Windows 8 to only mouse and keyboard, you are missing half the experience.

View: Original Article

[Levo]

And considering the fact that all these would be first generation touch pcs ,nobody realy comments on the quality of the screen in terms of wear and tear with prolonged touch usage.

Wouldn't that be another factor in choosing products and also its pricing.

Now like graphic cards and processors we may also have to bear with newer upgrades half yearly of touch screens, as that technology hasn't really matured and is in its infancy.

[shorty6100]

Um, no, not really. I have the same hardware since Vista.

[dcs18]

With Windows 8, you need new hardware

False!!!

Theoretically all 3 of the above mentioned OS have identical hardware requirements.

In actual practice though, Windows 8 is usable on more older hardware than even Vista & Windows 7 - the reason [unfortunately] is due to the absence of Aero. :showoff:

[rach]

with new hardware, you can't install anything else except windows 8 :hehe:

[a2ms]

With Windows 8, you need new hardware

False!!!

Theoretically all 3 of the above mentioned OS have identical hardware requirements.

In actual practice though, Windows 8 is usable on more older hardware than even Vista & Windows 7 - the reason [unfortunately] is due to the absence of Aero. :showoff:

I think you didn't RTFA... it says the *new hardware requirement* is a touch screen.. because it is part of the experience, which makes sense.

[dcs18]

With Windows 8, you need new hardware

False!!!

Theoretically all 3 of the above mentioned OS have identical hardware requirements.

In actual practice though, Windows 8 is usable on more older hardware than even Vista & Windows 7 - the reason [unfortunately] is due to the absence of Aero. :showoff:

I think you didn't RTFA... it says the *new hardware requirement* is a touch screen.. because it is part of the experience, which makes sense.

If one gives the benefit of doubt to your interpretation of the OP (that new hardware was meant to refer to Touch Screens) - the facts do not change at all (most of the members, here using Windows 8 are running it on systems without Touch Screen facilities.)

It's with awe that I can testify Windows 8 worked fine for me on a very old hardware T42 and continues to work awesome on my latest QuadCore i7 (with no pretensions of Touch Screen in either case) - in fact, it has been performing far better than any other OS.

It does not require new hardware (Touch Screen or otherwise) - on the contrary, I'd feel sorry for a Touch Screen User to be to be attempting to run any other OS (provided the User even managed to install any other OS in a Touch Screen system fueled by ARM.)

[hallucinojerk]

I have the same hardware since XP. Fortunately, I found a driver for my printer. ;)

[dcs18]

with new hardware, you can't install anything else except windows 8 :hehe:

LOL, to a large extent your statement is quite true - new OEM hardware, like laptops come shipped with UEFI & GPT (that does bring an appreciable degree of limitations on most of the other OS.)

[SPECTRUM]

Windows 8 makes me remember Gnome 3 (the most hated ui in the Linux scene) that is designed for touch screens too.

and about you need new hardware for Windows 8, is totally true...

for example there is people using Windows XP SP3 in some machines that still works good, for example: Athlon XP, Sempron, and some and Pentium 3 or 4.

and Microsoft says... "Upgrade to Windows 8 right now!" but is impossible to do that in this computers, because these CPUs don't have SSE2.

seems Microsoft don't care about computers that still works good, they just want to get your money.

[Kalju]

Salesmen jokes. The only one that you can not use, is the touch screen, when the computer is old. And that's all about this. But I by myself do not want anyway to fumble the screen with dirty hands.

[dcs18]

about you need new hardware for Windows 8, is totally true...

for example there is people using Windows XP SP3 in some machines that still works good, for example: Athlon XP, Sempron, and some and Pentium 3 or 4.

and Microsoft says... "Upgrade to Windows 8 right now!" but is impossible to do that in this computers, because these CPUs don't have SSE2.

True!!!

SSE2 was implemented way before XP SP3 - it was an instruction set that was introduced in 2001. XP SP3 made it's appearance only 7 years later, in 2008.

Those people who harbor the hope of harvesting an ancient CPU that dates back more than 12 long years in technology with the dream of matching it with the latest cutting-edge OS may need to be awakened - that dream is known in sane circles as a pipe-dream.

seems Microsoft don't care about computers that still works good, they just want to get your money.

Yes, quite true again, they succeed, too - but why blame Microsoft!!!

The world is full of suckers living in a coma - such people don't have my sympathies (let me know if you want to know the reason why.)

[iankernal]

Microsoft's new OS has been met with a wide range or reviews and opinions but one thing to keep in mind before you upgrade, to get the most out of the platform, you will need new hardware.

Windows 8 has drawn a lot of emotional arguments across the Internet, from those who hate it, to those who think it is the next best thing since sliced bread. While each of us will have an opinion on the OS, what we really need to be looking at is the hardware.

Windows 8, unlike any Windows OS before it, will largely be dependent on innovative hardware, as opposed to performance based specifications that boost raw performance. Windows 8 has been designed to fill two purposes, traditional input and touch input and when you have a device that only does one, or the other, you don’t see how Windows 8 is truly a giant step forward for a desktop OS.

When Windows 8 was launched, for the most part, the hardware did not match the capabilities of the OS. Most vendors were pushing goods that were basically repackaged Ultrabooks with Windows 8 which is why were heard murmurs of Microsoft being pissed the OEMs dropped the ball. Yes, there were a few early devices but even those products had limited reach do to availability issues.

The difference for Windows 8, unlike 7, Vista or XP, is that without the right hardware, the OS was a bit bunk. Simply upgrading your OS on your old hardware was no longer enough, what you need is new hardware that is very slowly starting to arrive. We can see the first attempts with the Surface RT/Pro and also the likes of the Lenovo Helix and Yoga.

But, not all consumers are willing to put down the cash to upgrade their machines. Rightfully so, but if you want to truly get the entire value out of Windows 8, new hardware is required as the Start screen is for touch, full stop.

And this is where the division line comes in with Windows 8. On existing hardware, Windows 8 is not preferred platform. Yes, there are certainly advantageous reasons to upgrade from Windows 7 but to avoid the common mistake that many early adopters are experiencing; you need new hardware that embraces the platform, not a platform that embraces the hardware.

Fortunately, there are tons of options now available in the market with more coming in the near future. Some of the more exiting options are the Lenovo Helix, HP’s Envy X2, or the Sony Via Duo 11.

Windows 8 is about bringing a new sense to the Windows platform and when you upgrade or buy a device that limits Windows 8 to only mouse and keyboard, you are missing half the experience.

View: Original Article

Yes you are absolute right..i agreed with your post..

[MidnightDistortions]

Meh i've seen people install current OS's on ancient systems before. The only thing that might need an upgrade is the graphics card. It depends on the PC itself. I can't see Windows 8 running on a desktop that was built in 1995 but even if you did manage to get it on there why would you even go through all that time and effort when the desktop itself is probably going to die at any moment.