Full Version: Upgrade to the new MS O/S
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)
From: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#21]
1 Apr 2007
To: ALL
If you go to www.HP.com and choose the medium/small business tab, you can have it with XP.
Personally, I will never buy another Dell.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#22]
1 Apr 2007
To: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#21] 2 Apr 2007
Rebecca,
Why is that? Dell is about the only thing I WILL buy.
From: RALLYGUY (RALLYGUY1) [#23]
1 Apr 2007
To: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#11] 1 Apr 2007
Hi Jeannette,
If you check the Dell outlet http://www.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh you will find plenty of high powered xp options there.
At least for a while yet.....
Good luck,
Brian
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#24]
1 Apr 2007
To: sunny (SUNSHINE5555) [#21] 2 Apr 2007
I'm with Chuck. My Dell's have outperformed any others I have had. When my CD drive went years ago while warranty, the sent someone down to replace it. I followed their ratings for about 5 years, (a while ago), and they rated the best in performance, compliance, and lack of service for all makes.
What problems have you had, and why do you not like them?
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#25]
1 Apr 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#24] 1 Apr 2007
Ditto.
We now have 5 of them, and will be buying #6 this week.
I used to swear by Gateway, but they decided to send ALL of their tech support overseas. That's not all bad, but I don't hear so well, so I have an extremely hard time understanding 2nd-language English. Then they refused to talk to me about one of my machines (had 3 of them at the time). I never called back again....now we have 5 Dell's, and are very happy with them. When we need support, we get someone in Tennessee (they have their own brand of English there, but I can understand it!).
For our situation, a 3-year lease works very well. We also get their Gold Tech Support for the pc's / laptop that run the engravers. That way, if something breaks with it (usually operator error), we're up and running VERY quickly.
Our personal machines are bought outright, with standard warranty/support.
When Dell stops giving us the level of support we need, we'll go elsewhere. Right now, they have a very happy customer. B-)
EDITED: 1 Apr 2007 by BOBTNAILER