[HCARC] Win 8

[Gary and Arlene Johnson]

As I tried to say in my posting there is no BAD WIndows 8 or Bad Windows 7 
or XP or Vista or whatever - just different uses for the software.  I NEED a 
machine running XP for my XYL as that is the only software that her Bernina 
software will recognize.  Hence, I need to preserve this computer and her 
laptop as computers that can interface with Bernina and possibly with her 
Janome Embroidery Machine - otherwise it's about $12K worth of new 
Embroidery Machine (I don't want to go there any time soon, short of running 
an Embroidery Business - no thanks).

So, for doing the normal internet stuff I guess I need 2 new machines or a 
machine and a tablet, one for each of us to use for Web stuff and I need to 
figure out what programs (logging, etc)to use with the radios that are 
compatible with my ELECRAFT K3 and Yaesu 450AT and the new Windows 8. 
Doubly important with the K3 as it is very much software defined.

Thanks for the help,

Gary J
N5BAA
HCARC Secretary 2013

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerry Sandstrom" <kerryk5ks at hughes.net>
To: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
Cc: "Hcarc reflector" <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2013 7:30 PM
Subject: Re: [HCARC] Win 8


> Gary,
>
> There are a number of issues.  First of all, at some point Microsoft stops 
> supporting the older versions and what that really means is no more 
> updates including ones for security.  Right now, I think XP's days of 
> support are numbered.  Second,  there are always new features/capabilities 
> added to the new software that are difficult to impossible to use with the 
> older software.  Third, some of the older software will not run on the 
> newer operating systems.  XP was the last that would run the old 16-bit 
> software. I have heard that Win 7 Pro will still run old software but the 
> other versions of Win 7 won't.  I haven't heard anything about Win 8 in 
> that regard, but at best it will be the same as Win 7.  That is important 
> because a lot of the older ham radio software was written to run on the 
> older operating systems.  You may have to get a new version of some 
> software to run on Win 7 or 8.
>
> So where does that leave us.  I have kept my XP computer and that is the 
> one I use for ham radio applications.  I have some old FORTRAN programs, a 
> BASIC interpreter and a FORTRAN compiler that run just fine but won't run 
> on VISTA or anything newer..  I have a terminal rogram that runs fine but 
> isn't available for VISTA, 7 or 8.  I don't use that computer on the 
> internet very much so I'm not as concerned about lack of security updates 
> for it.  I will keep that running as long as I can.  If you have some ham 
> radio programs that you like, you need to determine if they will run on 
> the new operating systems or if there is an updated version for the new 
> operating system. Then you can make part of the decision.
>
> The computer I'm using now is running VISTA as does my laptop.   I can run 
> programs like VOACAP and NEC on those computers so I'm fairly happy with 
> them.  I expect VISTA will be supported for a few more years so no 
> decision required.  These two computers are the ones I am most likely to 
> have on the internet and I get the security updates so that part is fine. 
> There are probably some new features that I can't use, for example, 
> neither one has a Blu-ray drive.  I don't miss that.  If I want to watch a 
> Blu-ray movie, I've got a Video Disc player for that.  I don't download 
> videos so thats not an issue although i believe i could on the VISTA 
> computers.
>
> My wife's laptop is running Win 7 and is doing well.  She is on the 
> internet a lot and she is fairly safe with that computer.
>
> When she or I get a new computer, it will have whatever the current 
> operating system is.  At that time I will evaluate what if any software I 
> lose if I get rid of one of the other computers and will act accordingly.
>
> By the way, software isn't all you stand to lose.  Perhaps you've noticed 
> that new computers don't come with floppy disc drives or ZIP drives.  I 
> think that some of the new ones don't even come with CD, DVD or Blu-ray 
> drives.   If you have any data saved on these media or any software on 
> these media, be sure you keep a capability to read the data.  I still have 
> a functional 486 computer running DOS so I can still get data off my 5 
> 1/4" floppies, 3 1/2 " floppies and I have an external ZIP drive that 
> plugs into USB ports.  There are numerous magnetic memory cards around now 
> that are used by various cameras and other things as well as numerous USB 
> drives.  Be sure that you don't lose the capability to access those media 
> if you change computers.  I expect that at some points normal omputers 
> will have almost no memory and few resident programs and no drives.  Your 
> data will be stored "in the cloud" as well as your software.  When you 
> want to do anything, your computer will connect to the "cloud' and your 
> programs and data will be there and that's where it will run.  Your 
> computer will be just be a smart terminal.  That will be fine as long as 
> nothing happens to the "cloud".  But perhaps you should ask where they are 
> going to find all the bandwidth for that kind of an operation!  That is 
> why tablets and smart phones are worthwhile.
>
> The Touch-screen question is partly one of individual preference.  Where 
> are Touch-screens used now?  To make choices on terminals at places like 
> banks and stores where you must select from a few options and you don't 
> enter any data via the Touch-screen.  To enter data using automated test 
> equipment where you must select from a limited number of options and you 
> aren't entering any data, the data is collected automatically.  On mobile 
> devices like tablets and smart phones where you have a limited number of 
> choices and you aren't entering data.  I just don't see the utility of a 
> touch screen for a desktop or a laptop.  If you still have a keyboard and 
> mouse, the touch-screen is redundant - but thats just personal opinion.
>
> In order for an individual to make a decision on a computer operating 
> system, I think he/she has to consider whether or not current software 
> will run on the new OS or not, how much the computer will be used on the 
> internet and the associated security issues, what new features a new 
> computer and OS will add and how much those mean to you, and finally what 
> existing media you use and the ability of the new computer and OS to 
> access that media.
>
> From a philosophical view, you need to be sure you understand what "cloud 
> computing" really means.  In particular you won't really own your software 
> (not that you do now!), it will be "in the cloud" and you will be paying 
> to access it on a use or time basis and your data will be stored "in the 
> cloud" and you will be paying to store it there and won't really have 
> access to it except through the "cloud".   Your access will be through a 
> broadband/high speed comm link that you will also be paying for on a time 
> or data basis.  I strongly believe that when you elect to use mobile 
> devices, you are committing to "the cloud".   I expect new operating 
> systems will be optimized for the smart mobile terminals like smart phones 
> and tablets at the expense of traditional laptops and desktops.  I think 
> its a very bleak outlook.  Of course our government will not be trying to 
> pry into the data that freedom loving citizens have placed there!
>
> Have fun,
>
> Kerry
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----
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