On 1/31/08, Bob Blick wrote: > clearly you are not an average home or business user. True. > But people like me need people like you to work out > the bugs, because I don't like it when computers need > to be coaxed to work. How well does MPLAB run on Vista > 64? How many versions of it have you installed? Was > that fun? MPLAB doesn't run on Vista 64, and since the ICD 2 doesn't run on Vista at all I keep an XP laptop next to my dev bench. This would be akin to keeping an older OS around because you wanted to use a printer that didn't have updated drivers. Although in my case I keep it more for the extra screen realestate and ability to perform more work on two computers than simply for backwards compatability. > When I sit at a computer I want the time to be > billable hours. Then you will always have to wait at least 2-4 years after an OS release before considering moving over to it. This is especially true if you want to have only one system and have it do everything you need to do. Hardware drivers for it aren't out yet, software doesn't support new features, and some software simply doesn't work, few people know how to deal with it so you'll get more blank stares than you'll want. There are three groups of people where Vista is concerned: 1. Regular home users that use the software that comes with their PC, and don't have a lot of software baggage they have to move each time they upgrade. They typically buy a new machine rather than upgrade the old one. (ie, you don't need backwards compatability) 2. Work users that have a lot of software which they must continue to use through any upgrade, and typically try to keep to one windows machine. They typically continuously upgrade a single machine when needed and buy a new one occasionally. (You need backwards compatability, but you don't want to deal with it if it's not trivial) 3. Power users that can afford to keep more than one machine, and generally phase into an upgrade slowly - they can be early adoptors and always have access to the latest technology. They typically perform major upgrades to existing PCs, and/or buy/build new machines as needed. (You may or may not need backwards compatability, but you're willing and able to support your backwards compatible needs using a variety of methods and resources such as time) Vista is ready, right now, for #1 and #3. It isn't ready for #2. I suppose what I'm saying is that Vista in and of itself isn't a bad operating system, those that are claiming it is and pledging never to use or develop for it are rather short-sighted, and remember history poorly. Vista is just a tool like any other tool. It doesn't do certain things, it does do certain things, ti will eventually do most things. I don't understand why all the negativity. "I've got the microsoft Vista screwdriver, but the triwing bit which I use all the time doesn't fit, but it does fit the XP screwdriver. Therefore Microsoft failed, the vista screwdriver is completely useless, and quite frankly I really only ever liked the 2k screwdriver." The only bad part in all this that I see is difficulty in getting new, complete machines with on older, preferred OS. Once MS stops allowing downgrades, then some people are going to be in a pickle. I recommend that if your business or livelihood depends on a particular set of software and operating system then (aside from diversifying!) consider using virtual machines where possible, and keep a physical machine or two around for older hardware and drivers (which don't always run under virtual machines). Older XP systems will be available on the used market for years to come, so it shouldn't be paralyzing. -Adam -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist