HP is giving the people what they apparently want: new Windows 7 PCs

Windows 7 HP back by popular demand
Windows 7 is getting special treatment on HP's website

HP is actively promoting Windows 7 over the newer, more controversial Windows 8, even going so far as giving customers discounts for buying PCs with the older OS.

The PC maker has been emailing customers advertising the discount, saying that Windows 7 is "back by popular demand."

Specifically, it's Windows 7 PCs for $150 (£91, AU$170) less than its Windows 8 machines.

In addition HP's retail website currently features Windows 7 PCs much more prominently than Windows 8 PCs, in the laptop section and especially in desktops, where it's not displaying any Windows 8 machines at all.

Time for a change

It's unclear why HP is emphasizing Windows 7 over Windows 8 so adamantly.

But it may be right about the "popular demand" thing; Windows 8 launched to severe criticism from all sectors of the tech industry, from consumers to reviewers to developers.

Even Microsoft's own employees have admitted that Windows 8 is "the new Vista," referring to the oft-maligned Windows 7 predecessor Windows Vista. And a Samsung executive said much the same thing early in 2013.

While in TechRadar's definitive Windows 7 review we called it "the best Windows operating system ever."

Windows 9 is launching in 2015, and many Windows users are hoping for some drastic changes to Microsoft's OS.

Via The Verge

Michael Rougeau

Michael Rougeau is a former freelance news writer for TechRadar. Studying at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Northeastern University, Michael has bylines at Kotaku, 1UP, G4, Complex Magazine, Digital Trends, GamesRadar, GameSpot, IFC, Animal New York, @Gamer, Inside the Magic, Comic Book Resources, Zap2It, TabTimes, GameZone, Cheat Code Central, Gameshark, Gameranx, The Industry, Debonair Mag, Kombo, and others.


Micheal also spent time as the Games Editor for Playboy.com, and was the managing editor at GameSpot before becoming an Animal Care Manager for Wags and Walks.