Compatibility Problems with Windows Vista
After converting the office in one go to an entirely Windows Vista and Office 2007 environment, we are now starting to run into compatibility issues.
Some of our bedrock programs simply won’t run on Vista at all. The alternatives are to search out new versions which do — and go through yet more learning curves — or run our XP machines alongside the Vista boxes. The latter is what we’re doing, despite the huge increase in desk space required.
Even more seriously, none of our printers work with the new Windows either, and we can’t find updated drivers on the net. This means using the XP boxes for all paperwork — less now than it used to be, but still substantial.
Ultimately, we’re going to have to upgrade our printers too, but not yet. There’s no guarantee that machines currently in the stores will have Vista compatibility at present.
So we’re stuck here in a curious hybrid situation, with humming boxes and hundreds of cables perched and strewn everywhere. To combat “electronic smog” we’ve imported lots of spider plants (very good apparently), and are considering ionizing machines as well.
By the time we’ve finished, there may not be room for humans at all. Probably just as well.
Who says new technology gives “greater convenience”?
Mind how you go.
My son is wanting a new PC laptop. After hearing about all the headaches you’ve been through as well as how Windows XP is going to be fazed out by Vista, I advised him to wait. It seems that Microsoft is pulling an Apple, but on a grander scale.
By Deborah on April 22nd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I’ve no complaints about how Vista works, Deborah. Once you get used to its “intuitive” way of working, it’s a really good experience — much faster and slicker than XP.
The question you have to ask yourself is, how much legacy stuff do I want to bring over? In our case it’s a great deal. If it’s only a few .doc files, there’s no problem.
I’ve now decided to use the problems as a springboard to upgrading everything. But not every upgrade is out there yet, so it’s a slow process.
I would advise your son to go over to Vista, though, if it’s games and schoolwork he’s mainly interested in.
By John Evans on April 23rd, 2007 at 8:30 am