| If you should talk to a tech about Vista, most will tell | | | | You could suddenly find that your video card is not |
| you to hold off for awhile. Not that there is anything | | | | supported. You just spent $200 on Vista and now |
| really wrong with Vista, but because there is a | | | | you have to purchase new hardware. |
| severe lack of driver support. Many of the devices | | | | In fairness to Microsoft and the other manufactures, |
| you normally use are behind in issuing new compatible | | | | they have made this information available. If a little |
| drivers. | | | | time was spent reading about the compatibility |
| The problem affects many consumers because all | | | | issues, many surprises could be avoided. Microsoft |
| the big box stores are only selling Vista loaded | | | | makes available on their web site a list called the |
| machines. It is not uncommon to get your new | | | | Hardware Compatibility List or the HCL as we techies |
| computer home only to find out printers, scanners, | | | | call it. Just Google Microsoft Vista HCL. |
| cameras and other accessories will not work. We are | | | | This list is compiled by Microsoft and only contains |
| also finding that Vista does not always work well in | | | | hardware that has been approved. A little time spent |
| mixed network situations. We have been dealing with | | | | with this list can save a ton of grief, pain and money. |
| this since the January release. | | | | For those of you who don't have time for fun and |
| This means that your office network may not be | | | | games, XP is still available. It will be available for at |
| able to work with a Vista operating system. A few | | | | least another year, but you cannot get it at the big |
| clients have bought Windows XP and loaded it on | | | | box stores. To get XP you will have to seek out |
| their new Vista computers in order to network with | | | | your local computer shop (like us). They will have |
| the office computers. They also changed operating | | | | Retail and OEM software and will still be able to build |
| systems in order to use the network printers and | | | | you a new XP machine. |
| scanners already in place at their office. | | | | So, bottom line, if you have that itch to go out and |
| Complicating this further, Vista is a "technology | | | | get a Vista machine. Be prepared for some of |
| break". This means many older accessories and | | | | accessories not to work. If you upgrade, be |
| software simply will not work and the manufactures | | | | prepared for driver and hardware issues. Most of |
| have no plans to update. This means you will have to | | | | these problems can be avoided if you first do a little |
| buy new accessories. The situation is more critical if | | | | homework and check the HCL. Do this BEFORE you |
| you purchased Vista to upgrade an existing machine. | | | | put your money down. |