Hewlett Packard is recommending Windows 7 as a preferred option for new PCs, saying the older software has been brought "back by popular demand" and it saves as much as $150 over PCs running Microsoft's newest operating system.

Hewlett Packard, one of the biggest PC makers around the globe, is taking a different approach in pushing the sales of its PCs. The PC maker is promoting computers running Microsoft's older and much popular Windows 7 operating system over the controversial Windows 8. The company says the older desktop OS is "back by popular demand" and saves as much as $150 over new PCs running Windows 8.

HP updated its website's top savings section with the new change, offering a wide range of HP Pavilion Notebook PCs, Envy Desktop and Notebook PCs with Windows 7 operating systems. The 2009's Windows 7 has taken the front page on the company's website, while the Windows 8.1 machines has been pushed back.  

HP's new marketing strategy is a good move for company's PC sales.  Windows 8 has struggled to find takers among non-touch PC owners. Windows 7, on the other hand, gives the users of non-touch PCs an ease to handle multiple functions.

An earlier study from last year revealed that Windows 7 had a bigger user-base compared to the latest Windows 8. The web analytics firm called Net Application found that Windows 7 was dominating the PC market with 46.42 percent in October, which went up silghtly to 46.64 percent in November. Windows 8 accounted for a smaller 2.64 percent in the PC market share in November.

The new promotion coincides with Microsoft willingly ending support for Windows XP in April, hence users have a cheaper and safer option now. While Windows 8 would be a radical change for XP users, Windows 7 will serve as the best option.

HP is the first OEM to use Windows 7 as a selling point over Windows 8. If the attempt proves to be successful, it is likely that other PC makers will also bring similar deals for customers.