Windows 8 certainly wasn’t a big hit in terms of driving personal computer sales but Windows 8.1 did address many of the issues that people had with the new OS and its interface. It is very interesting then that HP has decided to go and do a prominent campaign on their website announcing the return of Windows 7 to its consumer laptop and desktop PCs. The company is probably hoping that this will drive sales in a slumping PC market as the company recently fell behind Lenovo as the largest seller of personal computers.

So will this campaign succeed in bringing back consumers to the PC? I actually think it will. I have had many people ask me how to purchase a computer with the Windows 7 operating system. Often they have to be directed to purchasing a business class system (as Windows 8 has not been adopted by many IT departments), purchasing an older PC that was shipped with Windows 7 or purchasing a new system with Windows 8 and then buying and installing Windows 7 over that hardware.

I think another big driver of this is the recent trend in the policies that are cropping up at more companies. Rather than the company supplying its employees with computers, mobile phones and tablets, they instead let their employees bring their own into the work to use. Some companies may even provide stipends to their employees for the purchase of the equipment. Of course, even with the policies for people to bring their own, there are often still software requirements forcing many people to use Windows 7. As corporate styled computers tend to cost more, consumers are more likely to opt at purchasing consumer driven systems where HP’s Windows 7 offerings may find some traction.

As amazing as this offer of purchasing a new computer with Windows 7 is from HP, it really isn’t something that is that uncommon. Many companies that specialize in building and design gaming specific computers continue to offer Windows 7 standard. In addition, there may be lesser known options when ordering from some of the major companies to either downgrade to Windows 7 or opt for no OS at all to install your own. In addition to all this, the current offer from HP only applies to two laptops and three desktop systems which are all customize and buy options. This means you won’t be able to go to a retailer and just pick up an HP machine with Windows 7.

Most likely this is a temporary campaign by HP as many consumers are probably better off moving up to Windows 8.1 to keep with current technology rather than clinging to the older OS unless it is required of their work.