NOW READ THIS
("Security Advisory")
Submitted by: Bill Hickey
NCVA List Master
NRT-0314 VISTA Still Plagued by Incompatibilities:
If you're running VISTA and you need a multifunction printer, Brother's MFC-5860CN might
seem like a great choice. After all, it's proudly sold as "Certified for Windows Vista",
but don't plan on scanning any documents to turn them into digital files. The 5860CN is
capable of doing that, but the optical character recognition software that comes bundled
with the printer, PaperPort 9 from Nuance, isn't VISTA compatible. (Brother recommends
that VISTA owners use Microsoft Office's Document Imaging feature.) And the printer's
internet fax option? Forget about that, too. It works with XP, but not with VISTA. This
kind of VISTA support, says the research director at market research firm In-Stat, is more
like torture by small incompatibilities. And nine months after VISTA's commercial release,
it's not at all unusual. Major software publishers and hardware manufacturers are dragging
their feet when it comes to supporting VISTA, analysts say. While vendors have developed
new products for VISTA, many are leaving customers who purchased hardware and software before
they upgraded to VISTA with crippled or inoperative gear, according to an analyst with the NPD
Group. The dirty secret in the computer industry is that it has become nearly impossible
for companies to patch each of their products for VISTA, says In-Stat's analyst. The amount
of time a product is out on the market before it's replaced by a newer model is shrinking.
That means companies have many more models for which they need to write VISTA drivers or
patches. Add to that equation companies' desire to avoid supporting a product for a nanosecond
longer than they absolutely have to. The product marketing manager for the Windows VISTA
Logo Program says that Microsoft has worked more extensively with its hardware and software
partners on ensuring VISTA compatibility than it did with Windows XP. He says that over 7,000
products have been certified to work with Windows VISTA or have been given the "Works with VISTA"
logo. He points out that in May, the NPD group stated that 48 out of the top 50 consumer
applications work with VISTA. Nevertheless, the compatibility problems are apparently fueling
reluctance among consumers to upgrade to VISTA. But many software experts say consumers
shouldn't be angry with Microsoft. "Microsoft did its best under incredibly difficult
circumstances with VISTA," says an analyst with the NPD Group. "If you're going to spread
blame for VISTA headaches, there is enough to spread around the entire computer industry,"
he adds. The recommendation: If you're considering upgrading to VISTA, you should maintain
a healthy amount of skepticism about the prospects of your current hardware or software
continuing to work properly. Before you upgrade, study the support pages of the products
you depend on, or search the web for the name of your product and "VISTA Compatibility."
Otherwise, your upgrade may end up feeling more like a downgrade.
(PC World 22OCT07)