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new computer Vista

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marlonenora | 17:37 Thu 29th Mar 2007 | Technology
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Went to buy a new computer today and they all had Vista Windows on them I am still on 98, the sales man said my printer(canon smart base 360) might work on it might not, so Im thinking will I need new camra new phone new printer. I dont no very much about any of this, but what happend to ME windows. He said XP has finished, are they going to say in a couple of months down the line that Vista is no good and there will be something else. I just dont no what to do.
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I would suggest you either:

a) buy an apple mac (they are different, and will take a little bit of getting used to, but it's better and easier in the long run)

b) get a computer with XP on (may well be not from PC World or similar highstreet store)

Stay clear of Vista for as long as you can.
The real problem is that Vista has been a major rewrite of Windows and many things that worked under previous versions will not work under Vista.

It has also been released too early and should probably have had another 6 months of development before being released.

But Microsoft are not going to admit that Vista is no good, they will just keep fixing it till they get it right, which may take 6 months or more.

The reason your printer may not work is not that Vista is "bad" but that the company who supply the printer need to update their drivers so they work under Vista.

Companies will do this for a printer that is a year or two old, but not one that is older than that. So there are hundreds of devices (not just printers) that will not work under Vista because nobody wants to update the drivers.

Of course the printer company would rather sell you a new printer than write a driver for an old one.

See if you can find a company or person who will pre-install Windows XP for you, that is probably a better bet than going down the Vista route at the moment.

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Thank you for your answer, I think I will do that, look for computer with XP on.
There's nothing wrong with Vista, it's just stick in the muds trying to put you off. they were all just the same about XP when it first came out. I have 2 laptops in the family, both with vista and no problems with either.

it is totally unreasonable to expect Microsoft to be backwards compatible with every device from every manufacturer. it is their responsibility to keep up with the operating systems not vica versa.

No there won't be another operating system in a few months as you ask, Vista is here to stay whether these chaps like it or not.

As for "apple", that suggetion is simply ridiculous. A great deal more expensive for a badge on the front of a machine. Mac is not without it's problems, just like everything else.
A quick look on the Canon site shows that they do appear to have Vista drivers for your machine, so you should be OK.

http://software.canon-europe.com/products/0010 031.asp
Vista is here to stay? Like XP was a couple of years ago you mean?

Vista may well not be "bad", but the fact is that many people have perfectly good printers / cameras / software that do not need replacing. Whether it's microsoft's fault or not, upgrading to vista will be a lot more expensive than just the new OS for a lot of people.

I would stick with XP for a little while longer
I'm sorry but I really don't see why one would need to buy new this that and the other. There is a capability within Vista to run anything yopu like in "Compatability mode" for windows XP.

How many people out there aren't currently using XP? I know that marlonenora isn't but not many others as a percentage of the whole i'd guess.

As for Vista not staying around, In Microsofts words..there are so many lines of code in vista they think it most likely that any new developemnets will be in the form of upgrades to vista rather than new OS's
Vista is just XP with stuff slapped on. Calling it a new OS is just marketing. There's nothing wrong with Vista per se... it's just that they've copied features from elsewhere, but copied the wrong features. And they've gone about other things the wrong way (their UAC is totally wrong, and everyone else can do it right). Plus they've embedded DRM into the OS itself, slowing down the OS. If you have a dual core machine, part of the second core checks to make sure that the first core isn't doing anything wrong. The compatability problems aren't what annoy me about it. That is always going to happen whenever new things are developed -- it's just a fact of life.
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Thank you all for your answers, alot of it I dont understand,DRM OS?
I feel I am in a mine field, Im going to stay as I am for a while because its giving me headache, and I dident get any sleep last night for thinking about it, done my head in.
Thanks again
OS = Operating System. This is the main software on a computer that runs the rest of the programs. Examples being Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DOS, Symbian (on personal organisers) etc.

DRM = Digital Rights Management. Back in the days before CD/DVD burners, ripping software, file-sharing and multimedia computers it was relatively difficult to copy music, movies and TV shows. Now it is pretty easy to copy whatever you like on to your computer. (Believe it or not currently illegal in the UK even if you are copying a CD you have already bought to your own machine). Obviously many people then share around their media to others. DRM covers a host of methods to stop this happening and to protect the rights of the copyright holders. Unfortunately, as well as preventing what most would agree to be unfair usage (making your entire media library available to the entire internet) DRM can sometimes prevent what most would consider fair usage (putting a track you have legally downloaded and paid for onto another device that you own). Also, given Microsoft's scant regard for personal privacy, there is the worry that reports could be made as to what you are playing/viewing. There is also the consideration that most copyright owners would like you to have as few rights as possible over your media, allowing them to make you pay as much and as many times as possible. So on the whole while DRM might sound like a fair idea, in practise it doesn't turn out to be fair to the consumer. On the other hand, if you don't use your machine for media it's not really a concern.

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