WINDOWS 8.1 COULD BE A VIABLE OPTION TO CONSIDER AFTER WINDOWS 7 REACHES THE END OF ITS ESU IN JANUARY 2026
Windows 8.1 has matured significantly over the years and can be seen as a natural continuation of the Windows 7 legacy.
It strikes a balance between modern features and modest system requirements making it notably lighter than Windows 10.
Key advantages and features include:
- Built-in support for DirectX 11.2
- Native USB 3.0 and NVMe compatibility
- Improved handling of high-DPI displays
- Significantly less telemetry and bloat compared to Windows 10
According to [Wikipedia]
, extended support for the Windows 8.1 codebase is scheduled to end in October 2026.
Fortunately, just like Windows 7, Windows 8.1 already has an ESU bypass tool available called [Bypass ESU Blue]
which can help extend its usability beyond official support timelines and receive enterprise grade updates to home machines.
To fix atrocious Windows 8 metro decorations and styling we have to use [Classic Shell]
or [Open Shell]
.
So, in a nutshell, Windows 7 addicts have plenty of time to think this through until they come up to a final conclusion of their own.
To migrate to Windows 8.1 or go straight to the Linux.