Full Version: Upgrade to the new MS O/S
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#1]
30 Mar 2007
To: ALL
Has anyone upgraded to there latest o/S incarnation? Do you like it and do you think it is worth it? If networking 3 computers, do all 3 have to have the same O/S?
Thanks,
Dave
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#2]
30 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#1] 30 Mar 2007
Are you referring to Vista?
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#3]
30 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#2] 30 Mar 2007
I just bought a laptop with Vista and I don't like it a bit.
It may be the "old dog" thing.
But you can network it with XP.
EDITED: 30 Mar 2007 by MIKEN
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#4]
30 Mar 2007
To: Mike (MIKEN) [#3] 30 Mar 2007
Mike,
Hope you don't mind me asking why you don't like it?
Dave
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#5]
30 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#4] 30 Mar 2007
I have a thing about unnecessarily having to learn new software. It seems like I have to almost start from scratch with this program--nothing is familiar. I will admit that this laptop is a backup for me and I haven't had time to work with it. But my laser is not currently compatible with it.
I haven't located an easy way to find windows explorer for example.
Don't be surprised if you can't connect some of your equipment.
I just told my wife yesterday that I wished I hadn't bought it.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#6]
30 Mar 2007
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#4] 30 Mar 2007
This was the word on the street, before Vista hit the street:
http://engravingetc.org/forum/index.php?webtag=EE&msg=5881.1
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#7]
30 Mar 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#6] 30 Mar 2007
At least Dell has ONE product line that you can still buy with XP (looking at another pc for my mom). It looks like they're eyeball-deep in the Vista thing.
Ouch.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#8]
30 Mar 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#7] 30 Mar 2007
The Linux developers are seeing much more interest in their OS, as as result of what they regard as Microsoft shooting themselves in the foot with the (premature) release of Vista.
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#9]
30 Mar 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#8] 30 Mar 2007
Microsoft has a habit of premature, uhhh..., releases.
Windows 3 was stable when version 3.1 came out. Windows 95 was never stable, and Windows 98 was worse. Finally with Win98 SE (second edition) there was a stable version. WinME was a waste of CD plastic. WinXP was OK after SP1 but was finally good after SP2 (almost 3 years after the initial release).
I personally plan to avoid Vista for at least a year or more.
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#10]
30 Mar 2007
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#9] 30 Mar 2007
Once I have confirmation that all my drivers and programs work reliably with Vista, then it will be an option.
Until then, no stinkin' way.
From: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#11]
30 Mar 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#7] 30 Mar 2007
Cody,
When you get a chance, let me know which product line that is! Daddy spent quite a bit of time last weekend trying to get Dell to sell him an XP system with no luck. Gateway would sell him one but couldn't deliver it in time for this particular customer's installation.
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#12]
30 Mar 2007
To: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#11] 30 Mar 2007
XP is still available on Dell's business computers (not home computers), except the Dimension line.
It's available on the Optiplex series, the Precision series, and the XPS series (which are technically part of the Dimension series, but are designated as high end game machines).
For laptops you can get it on the Latitude and Precision series, and the top two models of the Inspiron series, again only in the business models. All the home models are Vista.
From: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#13]
30 Mar 2007
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#12] 30 Mar 2007
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#14]
30 Mar 2007
To: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#11] 30 Mar 2007
http://www.dell.com/content/products/results.aspx/optix?c=us&cs=04&dt=SmallGrid&l=en&s=bsd
This is the address that I found it on....
From: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#15]
30 Mar 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#14] 30 Mar 2007
From: Mike (MIKEHUNTER) [#16]
30 Mar 2007
To: ALL
Vista is very pretty, but in being so, eats processor power and memory - you MUST HAVE a recent CPU and 2Gb memory to run it (and your applications) smoothly. It also has some really stupid bugs.
Networking is a doddle. I'm using Home Premium and as soon as I plugged in the network cable it was away - much easier than XP Professional. (The other computers on my network are all running XP Professional)
Loads of peripherals/drivers won't work - existing scanners are no-go! Even my laser printer would not work until Canon came up with a new driver. Fortunately Epilog is on the ball and if they have not updated the drivers on their website then they will send them by return.
Corel Graphics X3 needs SP2 to run - so presumably earlier versions don't work at all.
I persuaded my CAD program (TurboCad V12) to run, but it is not good and I'm hoping for an update soon before I go mad.
Photo programs seem to love Vista - especially Lightroom, but watch out for wierd problems with colours if the new Windows Colour Management is turned on.
EDITED: 30 Mar 2007 by MIKEHUNTER
Message 6475.17 was deleted
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#18]
30 Mar 2007
To: Mike (MIKEHUNTER) [#16] 31 Mar 2007
I wonder if a Vista ready/capable/formated computer would run XP? Keep your original XP disks, and just format the drive....putting XP back on the new machine.
Message 6475.19 was deleted
From: Mike (MIKEHUNTER) [#20]
31 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#18] 1 Apr 2007
I'm sure the new machine would run XP - and very fast too!
Buyers of the Business version of Vista are ENTITLED, under the Microsoft licence agreement, to "downgrade" to XP Professional. This does rather show how confident MS are about their new OS!
(I'm running home premium without the entitlement)
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