I would quickly like to revisit the column from last week.   I received many, many emails last week from readers who have had nothing but trials with Microsoft Vista.  Several of them, like I, have removed Vista from their computers and reinstalled Windows XP and are glad.  However, I did get one email from Bruce E. telling me a couple of interesting things.

First, Vista provides a way of setting a mode for any program loaded into it that should enable it to run on any Operating System dating back to Windows 95.  All you have to do is right-click on the original program launch icon (not a shortcut icon) and select compatibility mode.  This was also available for XP when it first hit the market.

Second, Bruce said that there is also a way to install a pre-Vista program using the compatibility mode that would allow older programs to be installed.  You work this the same way.  Insert the installation disk for the program, right click on the setup.exe file, click properties and then the “Compatibility” tab.

This is some good advice.  I haven’t tried it in Vista but have run programs in XP from older installations using the first idea.  After reading a little about it I found that your chances are good but not 100% so good luck.

Now on to a quick whine from me.  I try not to complain in the column but this one really got to me this week.  I just came into the 21st Century by becoming a member of Netflix (www.netflix.com).  If you haven’t heard of it you can order movies from your own list.  They are shipped to you when you send some back.  You view the movie, mail it back (in a prepaid envelope) and receive your next movie in your list to watch.

OK, hold on, here comes the whining.  I also order prescriptions online, pretty much the same way I order movies from Netflix.  I order VERY expensive, life supporting drugs and receive them in ten days to 2 weeks and sometimes longer.  Even though my life depends on some of them that is the best they can do.

With Netflix it is quicker…how much quicker?  Well here is an example from this week.  I dropped the returning movie off at the post office on Wednesday morning, on the way to work.  Thursday Netflix emailed me to let me know that they had received it.  Friday afternoon I received the next movie in the mail – 3 days start to finish.

Now let’s see, life supporting expensive drugs 2 weeks movies at $8.99/month 3 days…what the heck is wrong with this picture?  I didn’t whine too much but this is nuts to me and I bet you have had similar experiences.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 at 6:09 pm and is filed under Columns. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.