win8 'Back by popular demand.': HP goes back to Windows 7

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

 

It looks like HP are not convinced of Windows 8.x gaining traction. You can now buy their PCs and laptops with Windows 7 again on their US website. 

 

I can't say I'm too surprised - despite what some Neowin community members think many normal users are not at all keen on Windows 8.x, even over a year after its launch.

[margrave]

It's not selling as it was suppose to. I'm not surprised at all since Dell has been doing this too. Have to try to sell something.

[User6060]

didn't the same thing happen with vista and xp if I'm not mistaken? 

[firey]

didn't the same thing happen with vista and xp if I'm not mistaken? 

 

I believe so, you could pay an extra 50$ or something for them to wipe vista and put on windows XP.

[MorganX]

Understandable for enterprise sales. I would recommend that consumers go with Windows 8.1.

 

Oddly enough, with mobile devices our enterprise users are taking to it quite nicely. Still not ready for enterprise desktop IMO, but when it is, it probably won't be as bad as it once seemed, at least not for end users.

[djdanster]

Before the MS Windows 8 apologists come and trounce this thread....

 

HP have clearly done their research otherwise they wouldn't have done this!

[Phouchg]

But of course! Why settle for Win8x if you already have Win9x (in concept).

 

/stolen joke

[Ace]

HP have clearly done their research otherwise they wouldn't have done this!

 

HP know that people are inherently lazy and fear change of any kind.

 

Will they still be selling Windows 7 PCs to consumers in 2017-2020? I doubt it.

[He's Dead Jim]

I'm sure PC world had a W7 Laptops for your business range on their UK website long after 8.1 was the standard

[LittleNeutrino Veteran]

I really do not see why so many people have issues with windows 8. Its not like with vista there were performance issues.

[+Red King Subscriber²]

They could just advertise Windows 8 as Windows 7 with optional features, but they don't and it alienates some people.

[Eric Veteran]

I don't see much value in this. They're missing the point. People aren't deciding against buying desktops and laptops because of Windows 8. They're buying portable devices.

[Phouchg]

I really do not see why so many people have issues with windows 8. Its not like with vista there were performance issues.

Pretty much anything with mechanical hard drives, especially loaded with bloatware, sooner or later gets performance issues.

 

I don't see much value in this. They're missing the point. People aren't deciding against buying desktops and laptops because of Windows 8. They're buying portable devices.

I figure portable devices are selling only 1) where people can afford them to follow the trend and 2) where people cannot afford anything else. I work in retail and such portable device (namely, tablet) sales are as shyte as they can be, while enterprises keep buying desktops and people keep buying laptops in increasingly greater numbers. Now, of course, it's not a great deal of market, but I feel obligated to note that the "portable device" statement is not accurate everywhere.

[Raa]

If the sales are there, why not?

[jakem1]

Before the MS Windows 8 apologists come and trounce this thread....

So only haters are allowed to post in this thread?

[Knife Party]

Before the MS Windows 8 apologists come and trounce this thread....

 

HP have clearly done their research otherwise they wouldn't have done this!

get ready to be flamed.

[djdanster]

So only haters are allowed to post in this thread?

 

Don't twist my words.

[Rickkins]

HP know that people are inherently lazy and fear change of any kind.

 

 

Seriously....?? Ya don't think maybe it's because it turns out that consumers aren't the rubes microsoft thought they were and they've rejected tifkam as the (blank) that it is.....???

 

It's not tifkam, it's just misunderstood. It's the peoples' fault.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Don't forget that this doesn't mean that they have stopped offering Windows 8. They just seem to understand that everyone is different and prefers different things.

[Lord Method Man]

Good call by HP.

[vcfan]

Don't forget that this doesn't mean that they have stopped offering Windows 8. They just seem to understand that everyone is different and prefers different things.

 

it has nothing to do with that. this is part of the "war" hp declared on Microsoft recently, which I find pretty humorous. first, they armed themselves with chromebooks and android tablets. it seems the plan has quickly crumbled.

[DConnell Member]

Good call by HP.

 

A better one would be making decent computers. It doesn't matter what version of Windows is running on the computer if the hardware itself is junk.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

it has nothing to do with that. this is part of the "war" hp declared on Microsoft recently, which I find pretty humorous. first, they armed themselves with chromebooks and android tablets. it seems the plan has quickly crumbled.

I've not seen anything about this "war" other than HP moving towards Android devices while also pointing out that Microsoft moving in to hardware makes them competitors, but since I can't find any specific mention about why they have made this decision, your guess is as good as mine. Personally I would consider it more of a business move than an act of agression. Offer Windows 7 as well as Windows 8 to cater to your customer's wants.

EDIT: I should probably reword that last bit as you're not saying that HP have done this as an act of agression, you're saying that they are going back on their plans with Android. But still, I may as well leave it.

[Luc2k]

it has nothing to do with that. this is part of the "war" hp declared on Microsoft recently, which I find pretty humorous.

I bet HP would feel quite silly if they knew W7 is a MS product.. They need new strategists, like those scroogled guys. They're brilliant!

[LimeMaster]

This isn't surprising at all. OEMs have always offered the option to buy a laptop or PC with the previous version of Windows pre-installed. :)