Windows 7 Still “Best Choice” at HP Despite Microsoft’s Windows 8 Push

Microsoft launched the Windows 8 modern operating system nearly two years ago, but some of its partners are still selling PCs running Windows 7 these days, obviously in an attempt to benefit from the demand for a more familiar desktop and working environment.

As re/code is reporting today, HP started sending out emails to newsletter subscribers to inform about a brand new Windows 7 PC sale just in time for the back-to-school frenzy that’s about to start across the United States.

“Windows 7 PCs on sale, just in time for school,” HP’s emails read, pointing out that Microsoft’s old operating system which was the last one to have a Start menu is powering both desktops and notebooks.

Even though HP is one of Microsoft’s top partners, the company keeps selling Windows 7 to give buyers more choices when it comes to the operating system powering their devices. Redmond obviously advises everyone to purchase a computer with Windows 8, but it’s no secret that many prefer to stick to Windows 7 because of the familiar look and feel that still comprise traditional elements such as a Start button and Start menu.

HP however is not alone in its effort to capitalize on the popularity of Windows 7, as some other manufacturers are still selling devices running this particular operating system. Dell, for example, which worked with Microsoft in the past on quite a lot of projects, is also selling PCs running Windows 7, and a simple search on Google also returns similar options from other OEMs.

In the meantime, Microsoft is working to address criticism in Windows 8 and hopes that the next full version of Windows will resolve the majority of issues, thus boosting adoption of its modern operating system, while also increasing new PC and tablet sales.

Windows 9 is projected to receive a wide array of improvements, beginning with the traditional Start menu and ending with innovative options such as a desktop build of Cortana, the personal assistant that’s currently offered exclusively to Windows Phone 8.1 users.

At the same time, Microsoft is also working to remove Modern UI elements from the desktop and thus restore full functionality of the original Windows desktop without any touch-optimized features, a move that’s clearly aimed at those who want to stick to a mouse and keyboard as the main input method.

Windows 9 is projected to see daylight in April 2015, but Microsoft might introduce a preview build as soon as next month in order to allow developers and other users to see what’s to come in the next full version of Windows.