thu 19-apr-07
Considering the state of the world. Don Imus, Virginia Tech, the Attorney General, Iraq and goodness knows what else... It seems pretty petty of me to complain about my new improved computer.
The biggest issue remains all manner of iPod and MP3 problems. I found some x64 drivers that if installed might allow iTunes to burn CD's. But, I don't have a clue what the drivers will do to other functionality.
Also, OverDrive will not work with my version of Windows Media Player. And my Windows Media Player does not recognize my old Creative "Plays For Sure" mp3 player. Now, this may seem trivial - but these things need to work for me to download audiobooks from the library. And, I am a HUGE fan of downloaded audiobooks from the library. But, if I had gotten a MAC I wouldn't have had this function either.
Tomorrow, I plan to get on the line with tech support at my broker and see if we can get my trading software working.
On the plus side. The handwriting recognition on the machine is very good for a passive digitizer. It is a pleasure to read long documents and web pages with the computer in tablet mode.
But, I still don't think that Vista (at least x64 version) is ready for prime time. Wait for Service Pack 1. Or buy a Mac.
| Works | But |
| Kaspersky AV | Do we know if any AV really works. |
| Thunderbird | Web links fail sometimes. Free |
| Firefox | Some plugin funkiness. Free |
| BP Diary | It is a cute little japanese freeware thing for tracking blood pressure reading. Works fine. |
| Open Office | Works fine. Open Source. Free |
| The Gimp | Works fine. Open Source. Free |
| EverNote | Seems to work. Freeware. |
| Roboform | Worked fine. Needed to get latest version. |
| Google Earth | Works great. It loves the big fast machine. Free |
| Dreamweaver 8 | There are two updates to this. I could install the first one but not the second. And - the install process kills off windows help. Fortunately, I blundered into a Register Hack to repair the damage. And FTP doesn't work. Revision: FTP works sometimes now! |
| WS-FTP | Have to download a patch. And, Vista insists that the program will not work. Put, it doesn't. If it didn't you wouldn't be reading this. |
| iTunes | It installs. But, it will not burn a CD and no way will I trust plugging my iPod into the machine. Free. |
| IFranView | You have to fight to get it to install. Free. |
| EditPad Lite | Needed a newer version. Heck mine was from 1994. Free |
| TaxAct 2006 | But - Even after installing it keeps asking permission to continue. Sort of like in the Mac Ad. |
