New Computer Build -- Win8 or Win7?

[CSMR]

I would go with Win7. I just installed Win8 today and quite like it, but Win7 is very good and unless you feel Win7 is inadequate in specific ways compared to Win8 then it is not worth the trouble to get used to the new interface. By the time Win9 comes around the interface may be very different.
(For me the key features of Win8 were: improved internal parental controls, which were malfunctioning for me on Win7; ISO mounting, since daemon tools was giving me some problems in Win7; better UEFI support and a few desktop tweaks.)

The in-built PDF reader sounds like a good idea what with Adobe's security track record , though SumatraPDF works for me.

The built-in PDF reader is no good because:
-It is metro only, so not suitable for desktop.
-It is lacking in features compared with other PDF readers.
-The display of text is terrible.

In PDF readers, there are those who have good text display (Adobe Reader, now joined by Foxit), and those with bad text display (all the rest as far as I am aware). The difference between the two categories is the presence (good) or absence (bad) of sub-pixel anti-aliasing. Just look any two side by side and the difference obvious.

 

[lakedude]

I believe the W8 user license is much better for the end user. Not that anybody reads those things or cares...

 

[Compman55]

My Vote is : Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.

My firm belief is that win7 is more refined. When you buy a pickup truck in 2009 and by the tail end of 2012 it has 21,000 miles on it, is there a need to rush out and buy a new 2013 model when the old one is in perfect shape?

Less issues with 7 at least with the stuff I am using it for. Older DX8 games are not working well on win 8 for me.

 

[blankslate]

Windows 8 + classic shell from sourceforge for an entirely new computer, if you don't have any programs you have to use that are known to have issues with Win8

Classic shell lets you bypass the new interface and into a familiar win7 like desktop if you prefer or you can just keep it handy while you get used to the new interface...

but charms bar? wth.... If I was upgrading to win8 I'd just install classic menu and forget about the new interface.