Windows 7 or Windows 8 for X3

Hello,
 
I'm getting a new computer for X3.  I would appreciate any advice on going with either, win 7 or 8.
 
Thanks in advance,
 
George

Windows 8 works here.  :  )

Using windows 7 64bit here with X3 and loving it!

Thank you all for your quick answers.  Much appreciated!

I seem to recall that some early tests showed Sonar X2 ran a little faster in 8.
I'm still using 7 but will upgrade some time. Not really straining resources right now.
I'd certainly use 8 in a new install.

John
I am very happy with Windows 8 and X3.  I do think its smart to go with the most current OS however, I don't think choosing Windows 7 is a poor choice just not a smart one. 

The good thing about forums is that you get a wide variety of opinions.  The bad is that you have to filter out the rubbish information from the good & even at times, take things with "a pinch of salt" otherwise you may never do what you intended to do!
 
While I agree with some of John's statement, I don't agree with the statement that "it's smart to go with the most current OS".
 
The one thing that history has taught us is that installing the latest piece of software is definitely not smart as there are inevitably bugs in there which may or may not be encountered so you're playing "Russian Roulette" when you install a brand new piece of software.  History has taught us that in fact the smart thing to do is wait for about 6 months for all the "smart Alex's" of the World to use the software & find the remaining bugs & install the software after the first update.
 
Hence why we find that Microsoft are about to release Windows 8.1!  Hence why Sonar X3 is already on revision A & shortly will be updated to B!
 
Then there are other issues like the fact that some hardware vendors are NOT quick to update their drivers to run with the newest & latest OS.  I've seen lots of posts where people have upgraded OS then realised that their hardware isn't supported on that OS.  So installing the latest OS without checking that you have all the correct drivers is neither smart or wise.  Some users also say, it's fine as I'll install the Windows 7 drivers under Windows 8!  While this may work sometimes, this can also cause system instability & is one of the main reasons Windows becomes unstable & you get the BSOD (wrong or incompatible drivers).
 
However, once the software has bedded down, then I agree with John as it's likely that the most current software has been enhanced & optimised to run with each other so in that context, it is a smart move.
 
If you look at the technical testing which has been done, there is no denying that Windows 8 runs more efficiently & is quicker in almost everything it does compared to Windows Vista & 7!  We've tested configurations where I work so I've seen the difference but it's hardly surprising as they got rid of the Aero interface which was a huge overhead on the OS.  By comparison you should see how quick & efficient Windows Server 2008 R2 runs!  Why, because it's basically Windows 7 with all the consumer rubbish & Aero removed.  Funny that...
 
Personally, my new rig has Windows 7 pro 64-bit which I'm sticking with for a while as I'm not a huge fan of that thing formally called Metro & also don't agree with Microsoft's current vision which was to install a mobile focused OS on a desktop computer.  Mobile & desktop computing should have some differences as what is happening now is that consumers are moving to mobile devices like smart phones & tablets whereas the desktop market is becoming for specialist groups or power users, as it was in the early days before computing desktops became mainstream.
 
As a specialist/power user, I want a full desktop experience & I don't want to use something which looks like two GUIs which have been badly implemented.  That Metro thing doesn't work seamlessly with what's left as a desktop experience with a ridiculous "Lego land" style interface sliding across my screen like a portcullis every time I go to launch a program.  And those apps are just rubbish as they're more or less stuck in a fixed resolution & they don't multitask properly so what's the point of it running on a powerful desktop computer which begs for a full multitasking environment?
 
Don't get me wrong, on a phone, tablet or any other mobile device, I get it & I'm with them!
 
So it is on this basis that I think there needs to be some distinction between a mobile OS & a full desktop experience just like Apple do with IOS for mobile devices & their MAC range of computers.
 
Microsoft are only running scarred because they want to ensure that Windows doesn't become irrelevant in the future in what's becoming a mobile computing world & I think they're going about it the wrong way as they're alienating power/specialist desktop users.

Thanks to all for this very useful information.

You should have come here and asked about it. There is an easy way to make the transition with Classic 8 start menu or Start 8. 
 
I boot directly to my desktop. I only goto metro if I want to run an app or start a program for the desktop that is not on the taskbar.  I could also use the Classic 8 menu system too. 
 
BTW Windows 8 still starts up very quickly. 
 
 

To find anything you simply type its name. Of all the Windows 8 is very easy to learn and understand. There is no fluff in it either.

That is a very good point Paulo. I was lucky that all my gear has Win 8 drivers. 

Who cares what MS wanted. As long as it is possible to add utility to Windows then it could be argued that is what MS wants.  Heck I haven't use IE for years because to me it sucks, for example. From what I understand Win 8.1 will add direct boot to desktop. Is that indicative of what MS wants?
 
Thing change sometimes what was once an add on becomes a built in feature. I have always customized my workspace going back to DOS. 
 
 

W8 has better multi-core management. Increased speed.
 
The only real reason to not go w8 is lack of stable drivers for your existing audio card.
 
Once a computer is properly configured for its intended use, and user, all the drool about lack of start menu, and 8 is only for touch, is revealed to be just C R A P.
 
I think the Start-menu-metro-shortcut-wall is way stoopid. My music computer displays nearly 90 shortcuts.  This is just plain dumb. I prefer a well organized hierarchical menu.
 
So, on the desktop is a shortcut to open the windows explorer to display the actual start menu folder. Just like the old days.
 
I support about 40 computers (xp, vista, 7 and 8) for a dozen small businesses and home users. Most users/owners never attempted to configure the old start menu, or deleted all the factory debris on the desktop, or remove all the showroom stickers.
 
Very few of my clients ever need to use the start menu: new or old. I configure the desktop, and taskbar to contain links to most all the tasks they perform, I add utilities (PDF reader,...) and default programs to use the correct (desktop) versions of these tools.
 
It takes me 6-8 hours to setup a new computer. This includes creating the factory restore disks, updating the OS, installation and updating of additional programs (office, FF, Thunderbird), transfer of data, configuring UI for intended use, disk cleaning and disk imaging.  Onsite: install printers, network, internet access, shared folders, and data transfer,...
 
Got updated audio device drivers? Get w8. Drivers never gonna be updated? Get a new interface, and w8.