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Windows 7 vs. Windows 8 Comparison: Old Meets New
Find out about Windows 7 and 8 features and improvements
14 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
If you are still wondering what are the differences betweenWindows 7andWindows 8, then it’s time to put a stop to that, as we have compiled a guide showcasing what has been improved inWindows 8compared toWindows 7.Windows 8, the newestoperating systemreleased byMicrosoft, one that carries theMicrosoftFlag into uncharted waters and promises to assure in a new age in mobile and computer communications.
Of course, like every product, it has received good reviews and bad remarks.
Some are still wondering if the new wayMicrosoftis heading is not what users want, after all, the newOScomes with a completely renewed user interface and with lots of new improvements and features.
Despite all the new aspects ofWindows 8, some still want to downgrade to the old version,Windows 7, anoperating systemthat has been around since 2009 and proved its worth time and time again. So, which one is the best, in a head-to-head battle,will the newWindows 8take outWindows 7?
Or will the old beat the new? Let’s see how this battle of generations will go and who will be crowned theMicrosoftking. Also,if you want to downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 7 or 8, you can check this article.
Windows 7 vs. Windows 8
Because the first thing users will see when installingWindows 8is the new Modern UI and other visual improvements, we will first look at the surface changes, and later, we will delve deeper into the performance and other lower-level improvements thatMicrosofthave implemented in their newoperating system.
A step-by-step comparison will reveal whichoperating systemis better on each level of operation and when we will be done, we will compare results. Now, let’s begin!
1. Look and Functionality
Windows 7has not gone astray from the look we were accustomed to.
Although it received some improvements over its predecessor,Windows Vista(one ofMicrosoft’smore rubbishoperating systems), it kept to the wide lines and anyone who looked at it would realize from the get-go that it was aMicrosoftOS.
The same is not true aboutWindows 8.Microsoftseemed to have tossed legacy out the windows (get it? out the “windows”?) and went with a completely revamped UI.
We previously covered all the major visual improvements thatWindows 8brings to the table in our “getting started withWindows 8” article.
Winner: This is a very personal decision, each having a different opinion on which of them looks best, but as far as innovation goes, I would say thatWindows 8is the winner here.If you’re looking for the best Windows 10 skin packs for Windows 7 and 8, you canfind here the best options.
2. Windows Explorer
InWindows 7, Windows Explorer was something that no one gave attention to.
It was the medium for every action you would do on your computer, and until then, it was virtually unchanged, keeping pretty much the same aspect since Windows 95.
It did receive some upgrades, but nothing so eye-catching that we would call it a big improvement.
Yet again the story changes inWindows 8. One of the most striking improvements brought byWindows 8is the Explorer Ribbon. This is where all the different formatting and viewing tools are located, making them more accessible.
Other explorer upgrades can be seen in the newTask Managerand the copy/move window.
On the other hand, one change here has left users wondering whyMicrosoftwould do such a thing: they have removed the Start Orb.
Winner: I don’t think anyone would have a problem withWindows 8taking the prize here. Windows Explorer has definitely become more useful and it has a great aspect.
3. Other elements
AlthoughWindows 7has the old elements that we are all used to it, they present themselves at their pinnacle. They work as they should, and the visual features are awesome (compared to the other versions before it).
But apart from this, there is not much innovation here, as opposed toWindows 8.
Microsofthas implemented some new elements that makeWindows 8truly unique: the Charms bar. This element is present throughoutWindows 8and it allows users to search their computers or do accomplish other tasks.
This is somewhat of a replacement for the start orb, but opinions differ on how well it can accomplish the task.
Winner: For those who prefer the Charms bar,Windows 8would be the winner here, but some might want to use the old start orb, and for them,Windows 7is still the way to go.
4. Personalization
Windows 7had some great personalization features. Allowing you to add more than one desktop background and they would change automatically.
Also, you could add transparency to Windows and desktop gadgets. All these awesome features madeWindows 7a greatOSand it offered many customization options.
Windows 8has some new features, but it also dropped some of the old features. For instance, you now have an entire Personalize Panel from where you can change the visual aspects of your Windows OS.
Also,Microsofthas removed the desktop gadgets and window transparency features.
Winner: I can’t be subjective here, the lack of window transparency is something thatMicrosoftshould have implemented, so the winner isWindows 7.
5. Integrated Elements
Windows 7did not have many integratedprogramsfrom the get-go. Only the usual Windows utilities and Internet Explorer, which we have nominated to be the best Internet browser to download other browsers with.
But that’s about it, and what was the biggest problem is that it was no simple way to download some otherprograms. This being said, let’s look at what its competitor has to offer.
Windows 8, right from the start has a bunch of apps pre-installed. Of course,Internet Exploreris still there, but it does not suck as much as before. But what is the best feature: the Windows Store.
This is where you can download apps and get started. You can find here almost all the apps you need for utilizing Windows.
The only bad part is that you still have to install all theprogramsyou need in Windows Explorer because the apps are separate from the desktop.
Winner:Windows 8
6. Moving to the Clouds
AlthoughWindows 7had some cloud integration features, they could only be used if you manually installed cloud services like DropBox, Box.com, or other storage services.
So, as you can see, not many integrated cloud storage options. This is somewhat understandable because when Windows 7 was released, cloud storage was not a big deal.
But now it is, andMicrosofthas jumped on the opportunity to improve its SkyDrive, which is preinstalled onWindows 8and it offers users 7 GB of space.
This is a great initiative forMicrosoft, because they were kind of falling behind in regard to cloud storage, and withWindows 8, SkyDrive integrates seamlessly.
Also,Windows 8allows users to log on to their computer using aMicrosoftaccount that can sync their settings and other information to a server and have it ready for them if they choose to reset their computers.
Winner:Windows 8
7. Compatibility
As far asWindows 7is concerned, it pretty much was limited to computers and laptops. This however is not true forWindows 8.
The Modern UI was specially designed for touchscreen devices, allowing users to quickly open programs and jump between them.
Also, the multi-monitor support is very well designed and much faster to set up.
ARM compatibility letsWindows 8run not only on computers anymore, but on mobile devices also, this makes for better cross-devicecompatibility.
This single feature is probably its most powerful aspect, allowing Windows to run on multiple devices.
I guess, in this regard,Microsoftis covering all bases and they are trying to get into the race for mobile devices, right alongside Google and its Android OS and Apple with iOS.
Winner:Windows 8
8. Security
Your system security is rather important, so you want to make sure that your system is secure and free from malware. To ensure the security of your system, it’s important to install a good antivirus, and this is where Windows 8comes out ahead of its predecessor.
Windows 7 doesn’t have a built-in antivirus, so you’ll need to download Microsoft Security Essentialsor any other antivirus software. We recently wrote about thebest antivirus solutions for Windows 10, so be sure to check them out. On the other hand, Windows 8 comes with built-in antivirus software that should provide decent protection to your system, so you won’t have to use a third-party antivirus.
Windows 8 also supports Secure Boot on the UEFI system thus providing extra protection to your bootloader.
Winner: Windows 8
9. Price
Price is a very important aspect of anydeviceor software. And here is whereWindows 8lands the finishing blow toWindows 7.Microsoftallows any user to upgrade toWindows 8for only $40 (or $70 forWindows 8Pro).
This will definitely driveMicrosoftsales up and users will be far more likely to spend so little and get so much than to take out of their pocket over $100 for a copy ofWindows 7.
Winner:Windows 8
10. Performance
In terms ofperformance, we will useWindows 7as the starting point and we will compare different aspects of eachoperating system.
To better show the improvements inperformancethat are present inWindows 8, ZDNet has done a side-by-side comparison of the two operating systems, on the same computer and has created a pretty good comparison table that clearly shows the differences between the two.
Here is the test computer that the comparison was made:
After the tests were done and the results were in, here is what the benchmark has revealed:
Windows 8has a faster boot time thanWindows 7and it also performs slightly better in benchmarks. Although, from a gaming perspective, they are about the same.
The differences come when we look at the other stats of the twooperating systems. As seen in the graphs below,Windows 8performs much faster on specific tasks, such as copy time, file compression, and boot or shutdown speed.
Here are the benchmark results, so you can have a look for yourself:
These stats are, of course, based on testing in lab conditions, so they might not apply to everyone.
Also, they can widely depend on your system and on the amount of information stored on your hard drive, and the number of programs that you have installed.
But, regardless of what the numbers say, I can attest from personal experience thatWindows 8is faster thanWindows 7on many different levels, but I cannot say thatWindows 7is too slow either.
Winner:Windows 8
11. System requirements
Although I don’t think anyone has ever looked over the system requirements for anoperating systembefore, we do have to take them into account for the purpose of this article.
Windows 7
Windows 8
So, from a requirements standpoint, the two are not different. They both require the same components to work, so we will have no winner here. Of course, apart from x86 processors,Windows 8offers support for ARM processors.
Winner: Tie
A quick recap:
After seeing all the pros and cons of eachoperating system, your decision will definitely be easier, but just to give you one more extra hand, here are some highlights of the battle:
Windows 7pros
Windows 7cons
Windows 8pros
Windows 8cons
Running the numbers
So, we covered all the major aspects, we looked at all the features and we decided who is the winner for each category.
Before we begin adding, we will have to make some remarks: in aspect, we will consider a draw, due to the fact that each of them has a different look, and so, they will appeal to different people.
Now, let’s see who wins the most points:
Windows 7earns points for aspects, different elements, personalization, and requirements, so it gets an overall score of 4/10Windows 8 has on its side aspect, windows explorer, other elements, integrated services, cloud storage service, compatibility, price, performance, and requirements.
This totals up to a verygood score of 9/10.
But is this outcome surprising? I would say not and it would have been a surprise if it was any other way.Windows 8is, after all, the “new and improved”operating system.
I only wish they taught more about us computer users. It is true that for touchscreen devices, thisoperating systemwill be absolutely awesome and it will give users many great features.
Update – Windows 10: upgrade or not?
WhenWindows 10has been launched, many users were very skeptical about it.
In fact, they thought that this wasWindows 8+ the traditionalstart menuandCortana. Despite that, since its launch, Windows 10 proved that upgrading it’s worth it.
The best components fromWindows 7andWindows 8are bundled into Windows 10.
There are many features added to Windows 10 that may push a non-upgrader over the edge :
Windows 10 vs. previous versions
WhileWindows 7, 8, and 8.1 versions were paid for, their users can upgrade to Windows 10 without any cost. Even if there are some that say it’s not free anymore – you can do it for free, just checkour article.
Another major reason to upgrade to Windows 10 and leave behind previous editions is the support offered byMicrosoft: the company announced that Windows 10 will be supported longer than any of the 7,8 or 8.1 versions.
Other reasons why Windows 10 is more flexible than previous versions are:
You can find more arguments and information in the following titles:
–Windows 10’s market share eclipsed Windows 7 in October 2017
–Windows 7 market shares drop below 40 percent and Windows 10 takes over
–Windows 8 vs Windows 10: Worth the Upgrade?
Bottom Line
If now is the time that you wanted to see a definitive winner, I am sorry to disappoint you.
Picking anoperating systemis pretty much based on personal options. If you were to rely strictly on the benchmark scores and you want anoperating systemthat is blazing fast, thenWindows 8is the one for you.
Also, if we were to look only at the features it offers,Windows 8has a bigger dish of toys thanWindows 7, so this would be a chapter where it also takes the prize.
However, some of its visual changes might not appeal to everyone (including myself) and because theoperating systemwas designed for touchscreen interfaces more than for regular computers, I can see many still sticking toWindows 7for a while.
The decision is up to you: which do you prefer?
Do you choose Windows 7 or Windows 8? And now that Windows 8.1 and 10 have been also launched, how does that change your opinion or you’ll rather stick with good oldWindows 7?
More about the topics:windows 7,windows 8
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
