It’s finally here, folks. Microsoft is ending support of Windows 7 tomorrow, stopping security updates for the aging platform. Redmond has been ramping up its efforts to convince people to upgrade to Windows 10 ahead of the cutoff.
Interestingly, Microsoft has also started advising people to buy brand new laptops instead of upgrading from Windows 7. According to the company, there could be driver issues when upgrading from Windows 7.
“For most Windows 7 users, moving to a new device with Windows 10 Pro is the recommended path forward. Surface devices are faster and lightweight, and more powerful and more secure, with an average price that’s considerably less than that of the average PC eight years ago.
We recommend that you don’t install Windows 10 on an older device, as some Windows 7 devices are not compatible with Windows 10 or could experience reduced feature availability.”
To spearhead its pitch for customers to buy new machines rather than upgrade, Microsoft has opened a dedicated page. The portal acts as a guide for consumers by taking details of their preferences. Based on the information it will suggest relevant Windows 10 laptops.
Here are the options:
- Use: Work, School, Gaming, Home
- Performance requirements: High-Performance Features (Run multiple programs, Professional video and photo editing, Playing games, Digital Pen support, LTE connectivity) and Everyday Use (Windows Hello Secure Login, Touchscreen, Battery life, Video Streaming, Basic internet tasks)
- Screen Size: 12-inch, 12-14-inch, 15-17-inch, larger than 23-inch
- Brand: Including HP, ASUS, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Surface, Samsung, and more.
Using the Website
We decided to fill in the form based on the following criteria:
- Home use
- High Performance (Run multiple programs)
- Windows Hello
- Video Streaming usage
- USB, USB C, Thunderbolt, and HDMI ports
- 12-14-inch screen
- And “No Preference” for the brand
- Finally, I added performance as the most important attribute to me
When the selection is complete, the website offers the following blurb with a list of the best matched laptops.
“You said a computer that can run multiple programs, has Windows Hello, and that can support streaming was most important to you. You also wanted a computer that has USB, USB-C, HDMI, Thunderbolt 3.0, has a 12-14 inch screen, and you had no preference on brands. Based on current availability, here are some PCs that have some of those and a few other features you might like. Check each device for its feature capabilities and specifications.”
The website also presents the best match, which in my case was the ASUS ZenBook 13 UX333FA. Interestingly, that laptop would almost certainly not be my choice if I was shopping. It is also worth pointing out that any person looking for a new laptop can use this portal to help them.
Last Updated on April 9, 2020 12:04 pm CEST by Luke Jones
