Windows Vista at Duke
As your pc's age and need to be replaced you will find that Microsoft
and the computer vendors have made it very difficult to get a new pc with
the Windows XP operating system but very easy to get Windows Vista. If you
are shopping for a new computer to use for work, you need to find a way to
get one with Windows XP. Your sales rep may tell you that you have the
"rights" to downgrade your new pc to Windows XP. That's all well and good,
but do you have the ability to downgrade? We have already found that it is
VERY difficult and VERY time consuming to downgrade a pc that was purchase
with Windows Vista pre-installed.
Duke OIT has put up a web page with information on Windows Vista.
Windows Vista @ Duke
Please pay very close attention to the list of compatible and
incompatible software. There are a number of programs on the list that are
very important to Duke operations, but which are not compatible with
Windows Vista. Of particular note are Lotus Notes, Paris, SAP and SAS.
Until these programs become compatible with Windows Vista, it will
not achieve widespread use in the Duke environment. And until that
happens, you will have difficulty receiving experienced and timely tech
support. As the above web site says, "Vista is a radically different
operating system from previous Microsoft releases and is not guaranteed to
work with all software." It may also not work with older printers and
other hardware.
Release Date: August 17, 2007
