Msoft and Vista

Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 13:27
ThreadID: 43725 Views:2262 Replies:7 FollowUps:9
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I have read on many forums problems people are having with Vista. If you go to any of the 'big' stores they tell you that this is is the best thing since sliced bread (they want your money). That may be so - the sliced bread bit - BUT before heading down that path everybody needs to remember that Window 98, 2000, me and XP have all been out for ever and the drivers for all products hace been designed around these operating systems. So now along comes a completely new OS - it is back to the drawing board for all 'gadget' makers ie GPS and so on. Our IT people warned us and advised not to touch Vista for at least another 6 months until companies update their software. But thanks to all you people who have decided to dive into the deep end - you will discover the problems, sweat and whinge a little and we who have a little patience will benefit later in the year with a product that is compatable with all devices.
For what it is worth
Cheers
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Reply By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 13:42

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 13:42
I'm still waiting for someone to tell me how Vista will make my "computing experience" better than XP?

Mike Harding
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 18:54

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 18:54
It wont, unless you get it "Free" with your new purchase in that case its cheaper than forking out for OLD technology until then stick with XP.

I have Vista on the new laptop, its ok, works with all the things apart from a few little errors that dont matter.
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Reply By: Juzzy - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 13:59

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 13:59
aaahhh yes - an old favourite - wait until all the bugs are ironed out and drivers are written before buying.

but if no one buys it, then no one will find bugs and no one will write drivers.

= catch 22

it's surprising we aren't all still driving the Ford T Model, since we just *know* the new Ford A Model will have issues...

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Follow Up By: Juzzy - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 13:59

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 13:59
last bit got chopped off.

[tongue firmly in cheek]

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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 21:32

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 21:32
So your happy to pay more than premium $$ for Beta software? cause thats all it is.
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Reply By: Member - Fred L (NSW) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 14:21

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 14:21
Too true juzzy but I will let somebody else do the dirty work for me and talking about the Model T era - those were the days when the did the Cape York trip without GPS, Air con, fancy campers etc etc and apart from the odd mishap with a croc - still got there!
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Reply By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 14:40

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 14:40
I've just bought a laptop with Vista. As I haven't been trying to port anything from old system to new it's not so bad. Just a few minor things like - McAffee couldn't load until download of updates to make it talk to Vista. New Hp printer couldn't be installed until download of updates from HP. As I'm on dial up the first time I tried to download updates for HP printr took 7 hours and was 62% downloaded when I timed out (no new words used only old ones!). So, how did I get around this - I took the laptop, printer etc al back to where I bought it (large retailer) approx 70 klms from where I live and I sat in the Tech Specialist room whilst they did the downloading of upgrades for me - on their highspeed broadband the HP printer one took 17 minutes. They were very helpful and patient - considering they are the Customer Service desk as well - and some people who came and went in the couple of hours I was there left me gob smacked at the language, attitude, nastiness etc etc. Having me come back (twice) gave them some input into what was not happening with Vista - things like MYOB, Quicken have not been updated to cope with Vista (even tho they knew Vista was coming out for 9 months prior).
Vista does not like to talk to XP - I sent a Word document as an attachment in an email and it couldn't be opened by someone with XP. So this nice IT guy explained to me how the XP guy can update so our computers can speak. This young fellow who has been so kind doesn't look any older than 12 - he's awesome watching him work. If anyone needs to know the XP to Vista upload, let me know.
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Follow Up By: Juzzy - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 15:54

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 15:54
Word not talking to XP isn't correct. You probably have the new Office 2007 (Word, Excel, etc) version and are trying to send it to someone with Office 2003 (or earlier). Vista and XP are irrelevant in this context.

When you save the file in Word 2007, click the big button in the top left of the screen and use "Save As" and you can then choose to save it in the earlier formats (eg Word 2003).

The Office 2007 uses a new format to save it in (XML - well XML is not new, but the format for Office is) and Office 2003 uses a properietary Microsoft format.

Hope this helps.

One of the issues with upgrading to Vista from an earlier version of windows (as compared to upgrading to XP from an earlier one before which was relatively simple) is that Microsoft have made a lot of changes to the operating system under the hood. Sure, it looks all nice and pretty, but there are a lot of security features and areas that programmers didn't have to worry (or consider) for the past 10 years and are now being forced to adopt something new - something which breaks previous code.

This causes a lot of maintenance and when you are working with a Beta version, can not always be sure that Microsoft won't go and change something further on you. Not only that, but it also cost a lot of time and money for most of the software companies out there to know what will not work and fix it (not easy!), test it, trial it, etc. Programmers can't expect to just know this stuff, they have to learn it and it takes time.

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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 19:04

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 19:04
yes thats right Office 2007 uses XML and adds an x to the file extension for its files so word files are filname.docx excel filename.xlsx and so on thats why word 2003 and before have trouble.

Microsoft have always stuffed around so the you end up having to upgrade and not many of their file foemats are FORWARDS compatable, 2007 will read 2003 files tho.
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 21:32

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 21:32
Brilliant thinking M$.. change the format of Word docs etc. so you bleep up 99% of the planet who have no idea on computers. Genius is the word? Or create a new industry for yourselves with training people again to reinvent the wheel.
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Follow Up By: Blaze - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 23:30

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 23:30
I haven't tested it yet myself but John R tells me Office 2000 is not compatible with Vista. This sounds right to me though. We have had heaps of problems with some software not being compatible with Vista. I think the real bummer is the ones that aren't doing just a patch but making end users buy a whole new version....eg MYOB and QB.
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Reply By: Max - Sydney - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 18:41

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 18:41
A big purchase for my retirement and big trip around the block in 1998 was a lap top. The bloke said "... blah blah blah... don't get it for 6 months until all the bugs are gone" about Windows 98.

So for its whole life my laptop had an obsolete version of Windows - 95. I suspect I could have used the laptop at least a few months more if ti had 98 - certainly 95 was well past its support date when i got a new computer.

I really reckon the common wisdom is b***sh*t - I might have had to download a couple of updates and some drivers but that's hardly big deal. I'd go for Vista now and handle the odd problem. After all its been through alpha and beta trials - probably a few million users!

Max
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 19:05

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 19:05
Thats dead right Max if u get it on the laptop dont go with OLD versions, The main issue with Vista has been upgrading, not new installs.
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Reply By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 19:12

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 19:12
Get a big HDD and dual boot it...
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 21:33

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 21:33
Linux and XP? good thinkin 99!
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Reply By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 07:46

Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 07:46
Thanks Juzzy and Bonz - it was Office 2007 causing the prob that time. I should mention that HP site advises people on dial-up wanting to get their updates should ask for the CD. So when I did that, they haven't invented it yet either and when I asked Support what I should do next - they (the overseas support group in island country - very politce and nice) suggested I go to someone else's house who had broadband and download that way. I just laughed.
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