----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
I was going to stay out of this....really I was...it's just too
silly...and total BS. Ed Burkhead did a very good job of debunking the
worst of the misinformation so I will try not to repeat what he has
pointed out.
_FIRST and FOREMOST_
If you use email for any length of time you are going to get email
includes with the phase “PLEASE EMAIL THIS TO ANYONE YOU KNOW ....”
This is the first sign that everything you just read is total BS. The
goal of this type email is to see how far and how fast it can spread,
it's like a virus, but contains no malicious code...who needs a virus to
spread the crazy rants when you can just add the phrase “PLEASE EMAIL
THIS TO ANYONE YOU KNOW ....”
_NEXT...._
“ With 512MB because the vista version on the computer is an abbreviated
version called BASIC...”
Is it a bad thing that there is a version that will run on systems that
only have 512mb of RAM? Or that there are other version(s) with more
features that require more RAM? I play a lot with LINUX too, and one of
the things that the LINUX community LOVES about LINUX is that there are
distributions that are geared towards systems with less RAM and slower
processors, and there are distros and features that can take advantage
of all of the hardware you can throw at them. Choice, it's a good thing.
If you don't want or need the features in VISTA that need more RAM, then
you have the choice to use Vista Home Basic and stick with 512mb. My
wife runs Vista Ultimate on her laptop ( last years Compaq Presario
R4000) with 768mb and it runs great. Personally, I've always preferred
1gb (or more) even with XP, or Linux
Guess what...that new Blu-Ray or HD-DVD movie will not play in last
years DVD player either....guess they should be condemned.
_BOGUS ALERT!..._
“print drivers will only be upgrade by each printer mfg going back 18
months so if your printer is Older than that, you will have to purchase
a new printer “
Whoever wrote this has not looked at the extensive list of printer
drivers that have shipped with Vista. My 10+ year old HP LaserJet 4
works great, and there are many, many models of out of production
printers that will still work with Vista. Now there are “entities” out
there that want and really need for you to buy a new printer....it's
your printer manufacturer, not Microsoft. There are also many printers
that are not supported by Linux or MAC OSX, no difference here. You know
what? In many cases, if you are using inkjet printers, the ink
cartridges in the printer cost as much or more than the printer. If this
applies to your printer, next time you run low on ink, replace the
printer with one that is supported by the OS of your choice.
_Lol...NEWBIE ALERT....._
“If your new computer comes with vista ......... all the chips and video
cards, sound cards etc will only work with Vista installed so that Is
definetly not an option..”
Total BS, I don't know of a single piece of hardware that is only
supported under Vista. If you are a hardware manufacturer, why would you
build hardware that ONLY worked on the NEW operating system that is just
hitting the street? IT will NOT HAPPEN. Someday when Vista and it's
later derivatives have enough desktops to justify it, some vendors will
no longer write drivers to support XP...but that day is a LOONNNGGG way
off. Your current hardware will likely be thrown out before that.
_NONSENSE, LUNITIC RANTINGS..._
“THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THIS INFO BEFORE PURCHASING PRODUCTS THAT WILL
CONTROL THEM AS VISTA IS DOING.... THIS IS INSANITY THAT THE COMPANIES
CAN HAVE THIS MUCH CONTROL OVER US.”
Obviously you are in control here, he even mentions different versions
of Vista with different HW requirements...you choose based on your
needs...or you may stay on XP...or you may select another platform
and/or OS completely. I'd say the guy is an idiot, but I am sure even he
does not believe his rantings, it's just his attempt at social
engineering. Trust me...upgrading to Vista does not mean that you have
been assimilated. :-)
_WAY TOO SILLY TO COMMENT ON...._
So I will...
”So I guess we all have to dig deep in our pockets this next year to
Upgrade everything we own to Vistas specifications... Thank you very
much bill gates, your jerk”
I'm sure that when the new Nintendo or Wii shipped , this guy didn't
call the founders of those companies jerks....He's calling BillG a jerk
because new technology was developed...silly, childish nonsense. He
doesn't “HAVE” to buy anything..it's his choice. There may be many
reasons someone wants to call BillG a jerk...but come on, releasing new
software is the least one of all.
Now it would not be fair for me to post this and not admit my biases. I
do use XP and Vista, and I also have Linux running on at least 3
machines at home ( we're a family of computer nerds I guess, with at
least 9 systems...most running 24x7). And I'd love to have a Mac-Mini ,
I should probably scour over Ebay. But I am a long time (nearly 12 years
now) employee of Microsoft. That means that you can and should take all
my comments with a grain of salt, think for yourself. Even if you
disagree with nearly everything I have said....please consider the most
important point...the first point I made. When you see ““PLEASE EMAIL
THIS TO ANYONE YOU KNOW ....” in any piece of email, regardless of the
topic. Just say NO...until you have verified the facts...and even then,
sleep on it first...I did.
Regards,
Mitch
Charles Waldo wrote:
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Ed
I could not have said it better myself. I have been working in the
computer industry for 20 plus years and you where right on (as usual)....
Chuck
N94191
*/Ed Burkhead <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/* wrote:
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
Don,
Thanks for posting that message on FLYIN. (The right place for
such a discussion.) This is important to all of our computer-using
community.
I think about 2/3rds of the points in the message are bunk or
hoaxes but some of those points have some validity.
Me, I’m not planning to upgrade any of my current computers to
Vista. Heck, only my best one could even handle it at all and I’d
need a couple of upgrades on that.
I think XP will keep me happy for quite a while. Comments
interspersed below.
Don’s friend wrote:
Ok, here is the vista update as many of you are writing to me with
suggestions...
1) as of January 30th all computers with XP were ordered back to
manfg to get Vista on them
I think he must have meant the new computers in the stores.
Indeed, many manufacturers keep selling with the old operating
system for years because knowledgeable buyers often won’t buy a
new operating system in the first year it’s out. */Very/* few
businesses will change their computers over to the new operating
system in that first year.
XP has tome time left to go.
2) I took my vista computer back to Walmart as did many other
customers, we were told that
Since the machine was basically working they would not take them
back and they had no
More computers with XP on them
Apparently, this guy was dissatisfied with his cheapie machine
loaded down with a heavy operating system and way too little RAM
memory. Perhaps it would have been fine with a bunch more RAM.
Whenever you are short on RAM, your computer will be a dog. This
affects performance more than speed, in my experience.
I got bit by this when I upgraded my laptop and my daughter’s
computer to XP Home. The memory on both those computers is
insufficient for XP which really needs 512 MB RAM. My laptop is
limited by its hardware to 256 (and it’s full) and my daughter’s
computer had an old motherboard which was limited to 196 MB. They
run pretty well after they finish loading but it takes forever to
load XP Home and for it to settle down ready to run.
With XP, 512 isn’t bad but it’s happier with 1 GB. With Vista, I’d
at least double those numbers.
If you buy a computer with Vista, you can go out and buy a
consumer copy of XP and I’d be mighty surprised if you had any
problems running XP on your new machine – at least for quite a
while. Remember, 99.9% of all computers out there are running XP
or something older.
If you are buying a new computer and want XP, I’d buy from a
vendor that offers it with a choice of operating system.
3) called emachine and they are not allowed to sell or put XP on
anymore machines after Jan 30^th
That’d be a strange contract with Microsoft. That’s what happens
when you go with a bottom feeder manufacturer.
4) even though Microsoft says a minimum of 1GB RAM, eMachine
(Gateway) can sell the computer
With 512MB because the vista version on the computer is an
abbrviated version called BASIC and I would have
To pay $239.00 more for the PREMIUM VERSION or $399.00 more for
the ULTIMATE VERSION.
When you buy a computer with an operating system already
installed, you’re usually getting Windows at a reduced OEM price –
sometimes a really reduced price. But that’s true too if you buy
the computer from a company that offers options for the operating
system.
If you buy from a consumer vendor that only sells Vista (at the
discount price), you’ll have to pay full consumer price to get one
of the better Vista options.
5) print drivers will only be upgrade by each printer mfg going
back 18 months so if your printer is
Older than that, you will have to purchase a new printer to work
on Vista.
This might be a real bite for some Vista buyers. I have an older
wide carriage photo printer that works perfectly and I’m not
planning to replace it in the near (couple of years) future.
But my scanner has driver problems with XP because it’s too old.
It does work with the XP built in scanning functions, but not with
as nice of software as came with it, originally.
6) digital camera users will have to go thru the same thing
waiting for new drivers to become available
From your camera mfg.. And depending on the camera, mine is two
years old and will not get new
Drivers so I will have to replace my camera
This may be one of the least important worries. Unless you have a
/really/ old camera or a /really/ cheap one, you have a memory
card. Just put your card into the new computer’s card reader and
it’s treated like a hard drive – just copy the pictures up to your
real hard drive then clean off the card. Be happy.
True, some image manipulating software may not run on future
computers. This is mostly only a problem for hyper-perfectionists
who shoot in RAW format. RAW format needs special software to be
understood, edited and converted. If you get to the point where
you can’t get conversion software, you may loose the use of old
formats which are in a camera’s RAW format or any proprietary
format. (I’m still looking for software to convert some of my very
old Kodak DCS proprietary format pictures.) Files in JPEG (.jpg)
format should be safe for the long term.
7) getting thru to any of the tech supports for any computer
related product is almost impossible I am
So frustrated about holding two and 1/2 hours only to get hung up
on....
You pay for tech support with every purchase. If you buy cheap,
you’re buying cheap or no tech support, says the guy who has done
years of computer manufacturer call-in tech support. I recommend
pre-made computers from companies who get good ratings for their
tech support. (Sorry, I haven’t been watching the ratings in the
last few years – I assemble my own from parts now-a-days.)
And lastly, if your new computer comes with vista you cannot
format it and use a copy of XP
Because all the chips and video cards, sound cards etc will only
work with Vista installed so that
Is definetly not an option... So I guess we all have to dig deep
in our pockets this next year to
Upgrade everything we own to Vistas specifications... Thankyou
very much bill gates, your jerk
This, I think, is mostly bunk. It’s possible that some
manufacturer will include some parts that won’t be supported with
XP. These will be either bottom-feeder companies or good companies
where you have an operating system choice and you */choose/* a
Vista optimized machine. I think it’ll be a while before this
becomes a real problem.
But, if you buy factory made, buy it with the operating system you
want and make sure it works with any essential accessories before
you buy. If you buy from a computer integrator local company, be
sure you pick a competent one and be sure you’re not buying the
first build of any package.
For now, you get what you pay for. If you buy cheap, you get cheap.
Ed
============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
==============================================================================
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
==============================================================================
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
