Is Windows Vista getting any better?

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Told you it wasn't that bad. Did you turn off User Account Control?

[David P. Valley]

I now have Vista on my laptop and desktop and I'm getting use to the switch from Windows XP. I had to download several patches for old software but I seem to be in control again.

Also, I don't like the fact that all Vista users must now purchase Microsoft Word and Excel. They give you a trial version but after 60 days, your programs can no longer be used unless you purchase them through Microsoft. Another monopoly.

[David P. Valley]

http://www.informationweek.com/news/...leID=192501131

[Dominic J. Maricic]

I don't understand? Why do you have to purchase Microsoft and Excel? You can use something free like Open Office

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

I don't understand? Why do you have to purchase Microsoft and Excel? You can use something free like Open Office

Because all my saved documents are in Microsoft Word and Excel. I'm not able to revise my documents if I do not purchase these programs.

Is Open Office compatible to Microsoft Office? IOW...Am I able to convert a Microsoft Office document into an Open Office document?

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Yes you can convert everything to Open Office (or even leave it in the original doc format), you can also save documents back to word documents. You will find that on heavily formatted documents you might lose a little formatting but that can be cleaned up. I've installed Open Office on 500 computers at a school where they were all using MS Office and other than some teachers griping everything went well. All features are about 95% the same as well. You can download it at http://www.openoffice.org . Open office can also open word perfect, works, and tons of other formats. Many states are switching all government offices to using Open Office now.

Also, if you still have your CD's from Office 2003, you can install it on Vista. Just right click on the setup.exe on the CD and click Run As Administrator and it should install ok.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

Yes you can convert everything to Open Office (or even leave it in the original doc format), you can also save documents back to word documents. You will find that on heavily formatted documents you might lose a little formatting but that can be cleaned up. I've installed Open Office on 500 computers at a school where they were all using MS Office and other than some teachers griping everything went well. All features are about 95% the same as well. You can download it at http://www.openoffice.org . Open office can also open word perfect, works, and tons of other formats. Many states are switching all government offices to using Open Office now.

Also, if you still have your CD's from Office 2003, you can install it on Vista. Just right click on the setup.exe on the CD and click Run As Administrator and it should install ok.

Dom,

It's too late now. I purchased the software already.

I wish I had asked about this Microsoft issue earlier.

Oh well, Microsoft wins again.

[Michael Larson]

As Dominic says, Open Office is compatible with past versions of MS Word.

I have not used MS Word for over 4 years and have used Open office to open, edit and save in the desired format every document posted here on the message board. That includes, power point presentations, spread sheets and documents.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

Told you it wasn't that bad. Did you turn off User Account Control?

No, what's that and why should I turn it off?

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Originally Posted by kshepard

No, what's that and why should I turn it off?

That's the thing that controls the messages that keep popping up and asking you if it's ok to do everything (butt of the joke in all the Mac ads). When you have 20 things on your computer going on at once like I do, it can get very annoying. If you can live with it, you're computer is technically a little more secure. I nixed it the first day I got Vista as it was driving me nuts.

[Russell Buchanan]

Hey Dom, what kind of school has 500 computers?

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Hey Russell,

Actually the school has about 650 total. 500 run on Edubuntu (a form of Ubuntu linux). It's an all boys catholic high school with 1200 students. A 2000 graduate is head of technology for all the FedEx-Kinkos in Southern California (about 300 stores). They run on a 3 year life cycle for their computers and were previously just sending the computer to recycle after Kinkos stores were done with them. He called me and instead me and a few of the guy drove 24 foot UHaul down to the beach to pick them up. Took 5 hours to get that thing loaded. The 2 hour drive home was scarry as hell beacuse the truck was so low to the ground and heavy that even driving up the off ramp the truck rocked back and forth.

Anyways, we installed 5-15 computers in each of the classrooms depending on the teachers needs plus added a few new labs. The computers were all P4's, most of the 2.4ghz-3ghz machines.

The nice thing is he's going to try and keep doing it every 3 years. We actually had quite a few extra machines as well which we gave to several local elementary schools.

Total cost of machines = $0. Total cost of software (Ubuntu Linux + Open Office) = $0.

Only thing they had to buy were the monitors which we found some good deals on.

[Russell Buchanan]

awesome contribution from Kinkos and goodwill on your part.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Yes, extremely awesome on Kinkos part. I just hope our connection is still working there in 3 years to get the next round donated It's a shame that they actually recycle the computers in most areas of the country rather than giving them to schools!

I went to the High School and actually started teaching there and running their computers when I was 18 and going to college. Very strange to be teaching guys I knew who were only a year younger than me! Since they are a private school you technically didn't even need a bachelor's degree at the time (now you do, and need to be working on your masters or credentialed). I'd take early morning or night classes and work the rest of the time.

I still try to help out there as much as I can. I do their website and go in a few times a week to help out with things.

[Russell Spriggs]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

I still try to help out there as much as I can. I do their website and go in a few times a week to help out with things.

That must be in your spare time, right?