Not exactly directly related to RTTY but since we use computers to run
RTTY, I wanted to comment on an article in the April 2014 QST about the end
of Windows XP - which in my opinion had some very inaccurate statements.
The author (WA9PIE) states:
1) "....There is no upgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 7" - strange
since I just finished upgrading four Dell PC's in my shack from XP to Win7
using official MS Win7 upgrade discs. I first used the free *Windows 7
upgrade adviser* to make sure that my PC's would run Win7 before upgrading.
I also made certain that Win7 drivers existed for the hardware in question.
2) "You certainly can't upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7 or 8" - same as
above, I found this to be a totally inaccurate statement since MS sells XP
to Win7 upgrade software.
3) The author infers that the only option is to go out an buy a new PC. I
disagree, spending approximately $100 to $125 (I actually purchased two
Win7 Pro upgrade discs for $85 each on Amazon recently) on an Win7 upgrade
disc is much cheaper than spending $400 to $600 for a new lower-end PC
especially if you have multiple PC's in your shack or home. Further my old
PC's have serial ports which are nice to have for certain radio interfaces
whereas most newer PC's don't have a serial port.
4) Win7 Pro will in fact run XP programs in "XP Mode" - something that the
author fails to mention. So if you have an old XP program that you want to
use after you upgrade to Win7, it will likely run as long as you upgraded
to the "Pro" version (not Home).
Maybe the author, who is an "IT executive for a Fortune 500 retailer" wants
to promote the purchase of new hardware but I found the inaccuracies in his
article to be rather remarkable. You would think that the QST editors
would take a little closer look at the credibility of submitted articles
such as this.
73 Gordon NW7D
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