Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro with Update (x64) vs Windows Server 2012 R2 with Update (x64)

[Alexander Marchuk]

Hi guys. I`ve recently got Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro with Update (x64) and Windows Server 2012 R2 with Update (x64) through DreamSpark. I have lenovo g570 laptop with KINGSTON SV300S37A120G SSD. I use it for my study at the university (Visual Studio, etc.) and a couple of low-requirement videogames (arcanum, VTM-B). So to which of the 2 aforementioned versions I may switch and why?

 

[kanewolf]

I wouldn't recommend either of them for a laptop. Server 2012 is going to be more of a resource hog and not be as well supported for commercial desktop apps. Windows 8.1 Embedded is intended for Point of Sale (POS) devices like cash-registers.

If you have toy hardware, you could install either but if your laptop is your main productivity device I wouldn't recommend either.

 

[Entomber]

Neither of those are suitable for a laptop that you want to play videogames with.

If you are a student, you can get Windows Student Edition for like $40-50

 

[austex]

I hope I'm not too late on this one. Windows 8.1 pro embedded is the same as windows 8.1 pro, it just has some additional features that can be turned on (they're off by default) that add functionality for embedded systems (thin clients, etc).

I've been using 8.1 pro embedded on my laptop and desktop for a year now and I haven't run into any problems. Same goes for other users:
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1898203/upgradin...

As a note I've also played games without issue (bf4, witcher 2&3, chivalry, eve online, etc).

TLDR: you'll be fine with Windows 8.1 pro embedded. Enjoy!

 

[Alexander Marchuk]

Thanks for your answers, but now with the free upgrade from win7 to win10 that's no longer an issue.
P.S. austex's answer in my opinion is the best.

 

[zeeshan_1991]

"Windows 8.1 Embedded Industry pro with update" does not Qualify for free Upgrade to Windows 10.