If I were you, if you must upgrade, upgrade to Windows 7, not 8.

I don't know for certain if you can even upgrade to 8 without a special touch screen monitor/display. W8 has touch screen capability.

I just purchased a new computer and specifically bought one that still offered W7 because of all the bad rap W8 is getting.

Jodi-

I also bought a new computer with Windows 7. I heard too many horror stories about 8.

I use windows 7 you can definitely still get them with windows 7 but you have to shop for them. If you just go to places like best buy you will find most all of them will be windows 8.
Windows 7 is fine and probably would be a bit easier to get accustomed to than 8 because on the surface 8 is fairly different. The touch screen only comes into play if you have a monitor or laptop that is touch screen able you don't have to at all. You can use it on any regular monitor just like the other versions of windows.

What I would suggest is if you are going to go with windows 8 why not wait a few months till they come out with the updated version so that you will not have to be faced with doing a big update on your computer shortly after you purchased it.

I do not discourage buying windows 7 it is still a great system but it will reach it's end of life before windows 8 does so that is something to consider.
XP sp3 will be at end of life soon in April of 2014, which means that Microsoft will no longer support it and you will no longer be getting any updates for it through your windows update, including any security updates so it could there fore be more susceptible to vulnerabilities. It will continue to function as normal just with out any Microsoft support. So anyone still using XPsp3 needs to be thinking about that and what they want to do. If you would prefer to have something with windows 7 consider that there will be less available the farther along we go.
Try googling new computers with windows 7 to find some available options.

For those that get windows 8 there is a little program called classic shell that will make it look and feel much more like what you are used to. There will be a learning curve of course there is with any new OS but it is just something we have to learn. It does have some very good features. You will find those that absolutely hate it and those that love it, you just have to decide for yourself and going to a store that has some you can try would be a good idea.
If you are set on one with windows 7 go for it don't let anyone pressure you into something you don't want, it is your decision.
If you want to have a system that will be supported for the longest time frame that would be windows 8. The latest articles say that the release date for 8.1 the updated version of 8 is October 17. I personally would never try to tell someone what to buy with their money, but instead to do your research and get out there and look at the options and make an informed decision, windows 7 or 8 will be much better than XP sp3 which will soon be unsupported.
Here is an article about that which might be helpful
Windows 8.1 release date, news and features

Buy a new laptop with windows 8 on it. windows 8 laptops are, at least, 1/2 the price of 2 years ago. I buy a new laptop with every new windows version. This is my new Windows 8 Asus laptop, and it only cost $400.00

I have a stack of laptops on a shelf, each one with an old Windows version.

if you upgrade, you're going to have to save and reload your files, and reinstall user software, like MS Office, your browser, etc and all your files.

And, since you're going from all the way from XP to WIN8, you may have to purchase new user software.

Much faster and easier this way.And you have can move files you still use to the new laptop, and use the old one as a back up for files you don't think you'll use, and yet not hav them take up space on the old XP system.

I liked windows XP the best, then moved to 7 and now I have 8. I am not having a problem with 8, although I heard bad things about it. But that's what I've had from July, and for what I use it for, it works the same.

I replaced my old XP SP3 desktop with a WIN7 desktop about 6 months ago. I had read so much about both WIN7 and WIN8, and I chose to go with "the lesser of two evils," WIN7. I find it to be confusing, but less so than what I had read about 8. I just don't understand why "they" made it that way. I've gotten used to it now, but still liked XP better.

I bought my first PC about 20 years ago, and have always had HP desktops. I have no reason to want a laptop, because I do my computing at home, sitting in a comfortable chair. I did get a new (back-lit) monitor with it. On their website they still have a few WIN7s, and the prices are good, plus they are a good company to deal with.

Sue

I don't think she was considering upgrading her current pc to a newer version of windows but updating by getting a new pc with a newer OS. I would not recommend trying to put one of the newer versions of windows on a very old pc it would have to be checked for compatibility before hand and likely would have a lot of things that would need to be changed and updated if it would work at all.

Some other articles and videos that help explain and give you a look at what it is all about.

Windows 8: 8 Things You Need to Know
Is Windows 8 for you?
#8. Getting Started With Windows 8 - Pro's N Con's

and the new 8.1 coming out soon
MEET WINDOWS 8.1 PREVIEW
For those with windows 8 if you want to upgrade to 8.1
Microsoft makes Windows 8.1 more DIY-friendly with full versions
Microsoft Windows 8.1 free to Windows 8 users, $119.99 and up for others
First look at Windows 8.1

for those that are used to smart phones or tablets will see some similarities with this version of windows and how our phones and tablets work.
I think the touch screen options are great, I am so used to them on my phone and tablet when I get back on my desktop I keep trying to pinch my monitor LOL! It does not like that.
My thought is don't be afraid of the new technology it gives us a chance to work out those brain cells.
But again don't let someone else tell you what you need!

There is Windows8 and Windows8RT. I mistaking bought RT. It is not compatible with anything but Microsoft apps. No iPod capabilities.

As far as the operating system I haven't had any problems. We have a touch screen surface tablet that meets our needs. I personally like docking it to the keypad which makes it a mini laptop. The tablet is convenient as all I have to do is pass it to anyone sitting around the table to look at what's on it. It weighs less than a pound. No looking over your shoulder as with a PC or a bulky laptop.

I do not know if you can still get 7 in a new computer or not, but that is what I have and like it. I have been told that 8 is a lot different.

We just bought an Acer PC with Windows 7 from our local computer store. They delivered it yesterday, set it up, transferred the data and verified that the peripherals worked. When we checked Dell's web site last week they had some PCs with 7.

Even though 8 is the latest OS DH spends hours on the computer every evening for work and he wanted a seamless transition. He didn't want to have to relearn anything and since he'll be retiring in a few months this one is fine.

This post was edited by maire_cate on Thu, Sep 19, 13 at 8:16

Thank you so much for the information. It was very helpful. Yes, I am going to have to buy a new computer as the one I have is very old. Not looking forward to change but hopefully it won't be as difficult as I thought.
Lois

The Dell outlet has some great deals on systems with Windows 7. You can google dell coupons and see if you can get more of a discount.

I haven't used Windows 8. Use Windows 7 for home and work pcs.

I had to buy Win 8 on March 13th after my XP died. I wanted a desktop and there were none left with 7 - at least where I looked. I hate it with a passion - and all I use is the Internet, E-mail and Word. The Word that I had to buy is 2013 - hate it too. I have Internet 10 - our Internet provider does not support 10 - heck it just started supporting Win 8 last month. Firefox does not support Internet 10 - or at least it didn't a month ago. I am sorry I did not buy a Mac. Be careful with printers, flashdrives etc. that you buy - the stuff sold to me worked only up to Win 7 - so I had to use downloads - and make frequent calls to my new best friends at HP. If you buy a program such as Word 2013 I suggest you buy it from Microsoft not from a regular store or you might have a problem with your one-time use. Hope you like it if you have to get it. My husband hates it - his office is staying with Win 7 and Word 2010 as long as possible.

" Firefox does not support Internet 10"

What are you referring to, what does this mean?

I am using Windows 7 on a desktop. There were a few things I had to relearn, and the commonly used software have a new interfaces. It took me awhile before I got comfortable with the new Office suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Schedule) I use mostly Word and Excel.

The last operting system for the old X86 structure was XP. A completely new system series began with Vista which many people did not like. Win7 was and is good. Win8 adds features for touch screens and tablets. The touch screen parts are not used unless you have such equipment.

Beginning with Vista, only a few of the older programs are compatible so expect to retool your software. I had only 2 programs that I was able to carry forward. These were GemCad and RayWin32, programs for designing gem cuts and evaluating their light return.

I tried installing an emulator to run the older programs, but it was awkward, slow, and not worth the bother. Also, when you run an emulator on top of your resident sysem, it needs a separate virus protection software of its own.