Should Microsoft Protect Our Investment In Windows Software?

When I moved from ME... a dog of an OS if ever there was one… to XP which I
thought highly of, I only had compatibility issues with one program: my OEM
video player which worked fine using the backward compatibility mode.

So it was shocking for me to make the move to Vista and find hundreds of
dollars of my software was incompatible... Nero 7, WS_FTP Pro, Zone Alarm
Pro, System Mechanic 6, Ghost Recon, and some other less recognizable ones.
NONE of these work using backward compatibility settings. And since I’m not
yet done reinstalling old software who knows what else won’t work.

So is it reasonable for consumers to expect Microsoft to PROTECT our
investments in Windows software? Some here seem to think it's perfectly
reasonable for consumers to expect some of that investment to be lost.

ulTRAX wrote:
> When I moved from ME... a dog of an OS if ever there was one… to XP which I
> thought highly of, I only had compatibility issues with one program: my OEM
> video player which worked fine using the backward compatibility mode.
>
> So it was shocking for me to make the move to Vista and find hundreds of
> dollars of my software was incompatible... Nero 7, WS_FTP Pro, Zone Alarm
> Pro, System Mechanic 6, Ghost Recon, and some other less recognizable ones.
> NONE of these work using backward compatibility settings. And since I’m not
> yet done reinstalling old software who knows what else won’t work.
>
> So is it reasonable for consumers to expect Microsoft to PROTECT our
> investments in Windows software? Some here seem to think it's perfectly
> reasonable for consumers to expect some of that investment to be lost.
>

Reasons MS released the Vista Virus:

1. MS Greed
2. Hardware makers' greed
3. Software makers' greed
4. OEM computer makers like Dell and HP's greed

They do not, as is evidenced by your experience, WPA, WGA and DRM care
what you think nor how much money you lose.

Sick of the this crap? Ubuntu has all the programs you list above
(except Registry Mechanic, which isn't necessary) and more, all FREE,
including the operating system that you can install on as many computers
as you like. Go to www.ubuntu.com and download it and burn it to a CD
and run the CD to make sure it recognizes all your hardware. Or, you can
order the CD and they will pay the postage for you to get it.

--
Alias
To email me, remove the word "shoes" from my email address

ulTRAX wrote:
> When I moved from ME... a dog of an OS if ever there was one… to XP which I
> thought highly of, I only had compatibility issues with one program: my OEM
> video player which worked fine using the backward compatibility mode.
>
> So it was shocking for me to make the move to Vista and find hundreds of
> dollars of my software was incompatible... Nero 7, WS_FTP Pro, Zone Alarm
> Pro, System Mechanic 6, Ghost Recon, and some other less recognizable ones.
> NONE of these work using backward compatibility settings. And since I’m not
> yet done reinstalling old software who knows what else won’t work.
>
> So is it reasonable for consumers to expect Microsoft to PROTECT our
> investments in Windows software? Some here seem to think it's perfectly
> reasonable for consumers to expect some of that investment to be lost.
>

No, it is not reasonable. You are a grownup. Use the operating system
that works for your programs, hardware, tasks. Do the research ahead of
time and make an informed consumer choice.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Its always a hit and miss, you can't alway have it all. By the way, the
latest version of NERO 7 with all updates applied is suppose to be
compatible with Windows Vista. As for other software, the only
recommendation is to also check for patches and updates which is not a
guarantee. Windows Vista includes a Upgrade Advisor which you could have
used to determine if your apps were ready before deploying Vista.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"ulTRAX" <> wrote in message
news:B5BCBB52-2F12-4686-AAD5-...
> When I moved from ME... a dog of an OS if ever there was one. to XP which
> I
> thought highly of, I only had compatibility issues with one program: my
> OEM
> video player which worked fine using the backward compatibility mode.
>
> So it was shocking for me to make the move to Vista and find hundreds of
> dollars of my software was incompatible... Nero 7, WS_FTP Pro, Zone Alarm
> Pro, System Mechanic 6, Ghost Recon, and some other less recognizable
> ones.
> NONE of these work using backward compatibility settings. And since I'm
> not
> yet done reinstalling old software who knows what else won't work.
>
> So is it reasonable for consumers to expect Microsoft to PROTECT our
> investments in Windows software? Some here seem to think it's perfectly
> reasonable for consumers to expect some of that investment to be lost.
>

I suppose your suggestion would make sense if one had the time to research
the topic.... But not everyone does. My old XP PC died and was not worth
fixing. I do web design and had to get back on line ASAP so I bought a Vista
PC concentrating more on researching PC specs. I never would have thought MS
would have been SO disdainful of protecting consumer's investments in Windows
software as it has been with Vista. Am I wrong? Please provide examples from
other radical changes in OS… say from ME to XP. My experience was that not
only was XP a true UPGRADED OS but it DID protect my investment in Windows
software. Bottom line is after 10 months Vista STILL seems like a beta
release. It’s just not ready for primetime.

If need be I have an XP disk and may “downgrade�… and I do find it
interesting that MS is now offering “downgrade rights� to some Vista users so
they can move back to XP until Vista is truly ready. How’s THAT for a sign of
confidence.


"Malke" wrote:
> No, it is not reasonable. You are a grownup. Use the operating system
> that works for your programs, hardware, tasks. Do the research ahead of
> time and make an informed consumer choice.

ulTRAX wrote:
> When I moved from ME... a dog of an OS if ever there was one… to XP which I
> thought highly of, I only had compatibility issues with one program: my OEM
> video player which worked fine using the backward compatibility mode.
>
> So it was shocking for me to make the move to Vista and find hundreds of
> dollars of my software was incompatible... Nero 7, WS_FTP Pro, Zone Alarm
> Pro, System Mechanic 6, Ghost Recon, and some other less recognizable ones.
> NONE of these work using backward compatibility settings. And since I’m not
> yet done reinstalling old software who knows what else won’t work.
>
> So is it reasonable for consumers to expect Microsoft to PROTECT our
> investments in Windows software? Some here seem to think it's perfectly
> reasonable for consumers to expect some of that investment to be lost.
>

Reasons MS released the Vista Virus:

1. MS Greed
2. Hardware makers' greed
3. Software makers' greed
4. OEM computer makers like Dell and HP's greed

They do not, as is evidenced by your experience, WPA, WGA and DRM care
what you think nor how much money you lose.

Sick of this? LinuxUbuntu has all the programs you list above (except
Registry Mechanic, which isn't necessary) and more, all FREE, including
the operating system that you can install on as many computers as you
like. Go to www.ubuntu.com and download it and burn it to a CD and run
the CD to make sure it recognizes all your hardware. Or, you can order
the CD and they will pay the postage for you to get it.


--
Alias
To email me, remove the word "shoes" from my email address

In message <BFE7418F-AA61-496B-BE06-> ulTRAX
<> wrote:

>I suppose your suggestion would make sense if one had the time to research
>the topic.... But not everyone does.

Sure. I had the same problem when I went out and bought a sports car, I
didn't find out until later that it only had two seats and my family of
four didn't all fit at once.

Sure, if I had time to research the topic I'd have known, but I'm just a
consumer, why should I have to think?

>"DevilsPGD" wrote:
> Sure. I had the same problem when I went out and bought a sports car, I
> didn't find out until later that it only had two seats and my family of
> four didn't all fit at once.
>
> Sure, if I had time to research the topic I'd have known, but I'm just a
> consumer, why should I have to think?

Thanks for a response that ventures into the nonsensical. In your view
there's NO difference between trying to find out whether Vista is compatible
with thousands of programs and knowing that sports cars ALWAYS come with two
seats.

Do any of the fanatical Vista defenders intend to make an intelligent
response to my original post? So far the only intelligent response is from MS
itself which has admitted in offering so-called "downgrade rights" back to XP
that Vista does NOT protect the investments in software that consumers have
made.

One wonders if the Upgrade Advisor is the solution or admission on MS's part
that there were going to be many problems with "older" software. To date I've
found it essentially worthless. As for Nero I've moved on to Nero 8.

>"Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:
> Its always a hit and miss, you can't alway have it all. By the way, the
> latest version of NERO 7 with all updates applied is suppose to be
> compatible with Windows Vista. As for other software, the only
> recommendation is to also check for patches and updates which is not a
> guarantee. Windows Vista includes a Upgrade Advisor which you could have
> used to determine if your apps were ready before deploying Vista.

Upgrade Advisor is not an excuse, its essential in helping the end user
upgrade or migrate to Windows Vista smoothly.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"ulTRAX" <> wrote in message
news:0DB38AA1-A36A-46A9-891E-...
> One wonders if the Upgrade Advisor is the solution or admission on MS's
> part
> that there were going to be many problems with "older" software. To date
> I've
> found it essentially worthless. As for Nero I've moved on to Nero 8.
>
>>"Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:
>> Its always a hit and miss, you can't alway have it all. By the way, the
>> latest version of NERO 7 with all updates applied is suppose to be
>> compatible with Windows Vista. As for other software, the only
>> recommendation is to also check for patches and updates which is not a
>> guarantee. Windows Vista includes a Upgrade Advisor which you could have
>> used to determine if your apps were ready before deploying Vista.
>
>