The biggest deal is a few apps that are not Vista friendly, the major hiccup being my client tracking software. The company has gone to a completely web-based setup and no longer supports locally installed versions. While I have no problem with the web-based product, I have a huge problem with how they handle the upgrade from my version to the new. The fact that I paid almost a grand for the version I have is irrelevant to them, they charge the same as if I was a new client. PLUS they charge for the data conversion.
That's most of the reason I'm so reticent to change. Getting my database converted to something else will require many hours of manual entry and double-checks, using up time and patience I don't have. But now I have no choice. I think I'll do what a couple of folks in the office have done, convert to Microsoft Outlook. It seems to have little problem with the way the old tracking software exports the data, needing only a field or two manually tweaked for total conversion.
The only other app that I really hate to lose is Nero. I do a lot of DVD slideshows and music compilations with it. I'll have to check if the company offers a Vista/7 friendly upgrade at a modest price.
My old machine trucked along fine, but only because I knew how to dance around its fickle nature. Now that my hand has been forced and things put in motion, I really am looking forward to the new computer. It will be nice to work on a machine unladen by a host of idiosynchracies, hamstrung by an obsolete OS, and burdened with continuous hardware/software compatibility issues.
But I'm still dreading the conversion. (hey, I have to gripe about something...
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Also, I backup my e-mail by simply copying the .dbx files from the Outlook Express folder to my backup drive. Can I restore all my email to the new machine by simply copying those files to the Vista/7 version without a problem?
Brad