Windows 7
This new Windows 7 appears to be pretty stable. I'm considering giving it a go. Has anyone else tried it yet? 
They claim it will be fully compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible.
They claim it will be fully compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible.
Comments
I would be more interested to know if Win7 is compatible with WinXP software. Many of us decided not to move to Vista because all the problems it had. I was going back to school at the time, and our IT department flat out refused to run Vista and gave only minimal support to students who had no choice but to get laptops with Vista already installed. So, all my software is WinXP compatible, not Vista compatible. I have my fingers crossed that Win7 will be the good OS upgrade that Vista was not. And if \"they\" refers to MS, I don't believe anything \"they\" say anymore. \"They\" only want to sell new OS to keep their revenue stream flowing. MS, the company we love to hate...
For what it's worth, I read one tech article claiming that you don't want to upgrade your old computer with the new OS. They recommended getting a new computer with the new OS because of the increase in demand on the system. But that could be said for almost any major OS upgrade, I suppose. I skipped Millenium, and Vista, but I too hope that Win7 is good because my main computer is showing its age and I need a new system. I'd like to know if Win7 is worth it before I purchase a new computer.
Yup...mac junkie...no problems in over 4 years of running OSX!! :P
(that said...I do use a cheap XP Pro laptop to diddle my GNX...I just don't expect it to do anything else.)
I don't have the money to even consider a Mac right now.
I don't have to make a choice right away. When Vista came out, the timing for me was, I had a cooked CPU on my old XP laptop. I needed a new computer, so I gave Vista a go. Like I mentioned, that lasted a week, and I went back to Best Buy and they sent the prettiest girl in the store to deal with me, or I might have gone to Jail that day. :evil: I went to my computer wizard's shop and bought the laptop I have now, with XP. They were the ONLY ones, still offering a new computer with XP....at that time. History shows, MS had to eat Vista, and put XP back on the shelves. :evil:
The timing now, for me to consider a new OS, is I am nearing my yearly full clean install of XP. I surf the net allot, and I generally only get a year out of XP, before it slows down and acts goofy. Even though my securities say I am \"clean and operating normally\" something stinks. I don't know if it's corrupted registries, or hidden bugs. It's a big job wiping my hard drive clean and doing a fresh install, but it's always worthwhile. I keep all my programs and files on an external hard drive, and keep them current. I have way too much to loose, and I have personal experience that XP can crash without warning, so I suffer through this every year. Main reason for me taking an interest in 7...is the promise of better security. I hope so, or I too will be part of the droves switching to Mac.
I've never sat in front of a Mac, but with little research, I now regret that. Right now I can't afford a Mac. What I can afford is 7...if it is a worthwhile step up from XP with better securities...or I'll just do another clean install of XP, and go another year battling the bugs.
( I love those Bloodhounds...my Dad use to raise them )
Not to mention the endless, constant stream of updates, patches, virus scanner data files every week...ohmygawd.
Then I discovered the wonder of OSX. Thankfully, I was making money at the time - at this moment in time, I can't afford a pack of CD-R's - but I have been insanely happy with my macs. Not that they don't ever have a blip, but as an example, I once went nearly EIGHT MONTHS without ever rebooting my puter - I just put in in standby every night, and woke it up every morning. 8)
And THAT'S why I pay less attention to WinBlows and it's various versions than I do to the \"all Rosie O'Donnell lingerie channel\". :shock:
Speaking of which, you could probably pick up a used WinXP compatible computer for pretty cheap and use it as a dedicated platform for your GNX4 and recording music. My 7 year old Dell laptop is nothing compared to the specs of today's computers, but it is still plenty good for everything I need to do with the GNX4. We know that the GNX4 and the software bundle was built to work with XP, I just never felt the need to upgrade to Vista, or now Win7, because my programs work just fine with what I have.
If you really want Win7, you might be better off buying a new machine built and bundled with Win7 and wipe your old system and rededicate it for WinXP and the GNX4. Just a suggestion. That's what I did because I needed a new computer for school (about 3 years ago), so my old laptop was available for use as my recording platform. Worked for me.
It seems everyone I have talked to that has a Mac hasn't had the problems that us pc users have had.
I also have an old dell desktop with WinXP home that I have thought about re-building with the latest and greatest stuff. A little cheaper than buying a new Mac. Plus it might be fun to get my hands dirty.
Manitou, if you decide and do get Windows 7, please keep us all informed on its ability, problems, bugs etc.
I can't tell you why, but the guy said it had to do with hardware advances. I heard it on one of those cable computer nerd shows...don't even ask why I was watching it.
Peace,
Dobb
Um. ON topic: this is so classic Microsoft!!! I believe in Detroit they call it \"planned obsolescence\". :roll:
I've been using macs long ago at the studio, but since I bought mine a couple months ago, even my wife, when borrowed mine for an evening, decided to migrate.
Now we have 4 Wincrash computers for sale to buy another mac for our daughter.
We all at home have found all the software we used on the Pc's available for Mac, so no problem at all.
I know Shredd and others had difficulty with getting PTP to play nice with their computers. It's really too bad. I had no problems with my dedictated laptop and that is why I decided to freeze that computer/GNX4 combo until one or the other dies. For me, almost half the value of the GNX4 was the software package. Fortunately, the GNX4 still performs most of its functions without the software tie in.
Although I was a big fan of the hardware/software concept, I moved more to Shredd's point of view on my latest gear purchases. I bought the Zoom HD16CD which is a great stand alone multi-track recorder, and if you had to, you could do all your recording and mastering within the machine itself. It does come with Cubase LE 4 and the software/hardware interface works great on my system. But again, will the software still work in Win7, or the next OS put out by MS? I don't know. Maybe I'll end up with a bunch of old computers dedicated to my aging music hardware.
FYI, I too heard that you cannot upgrade your computer from WinXP to Win7. No surprise there. But, given that any PC is completely different from its cousin, that might not always be entirely true either. I'll wait to see if Win7 is a good OS or not before I decide to buy a new computer built for and bundled with Win7. All my current computers were built for WinXP and are getting pretty old. I was going to buy a new computer about a year or so ago, but I refused to get stuck with Vista, so I waited. If Win7 is another disappointment, I'll just keep what I got and let MS try again with Win8, or whatever.....
True...you can't do an upgrade directly from Windows XP. What they mean by that is you need to do a fresh install. That means removing your programs and files to an external hard drive, and do a complete clean install from a disc. I do that every year with my XP as basic SOP. I wipe and scrub the hard drive, and do a clean install...then it's like a brand new computer. It's a task. :evil: Lifespan is about one year. Reminds me of that New Year baby. :?
I like some of the stuff W7 has, and especially the better securities. My present computer with XP is good for another 4 years I'd say. I'm willing to go with this W7 OS to enjoy a cleaner better system, as I think XP sucks, even though it woiks. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, and still testing the water. Over the next 4 years, I just hope the gubbermunt doesn't get too involved in the web/net neutrality legislation. Just last Thursday, they stepped into \"help.\" G-R-E-A-T... :roll: I've yet to see gubbermunt involvement be good for the people.
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary
My GNX3000 works perfectly apart from the midi interface functionality which I cannot get to work. I don't know whether it worked under Vista as I have never tried it. I contacted Digitech to ask them about it as the drivers listed say they are for Windows 7 and they replied with this
\"The GNX3000 is not compatible with Windows 7, and since the GNX300 is a discontinued product, there will be no more development for it on our end.
Regards,
Digtech Support\"
So I am guessing the issue is purely a driver one and not down to Windows 7 but the fact that Digitech no longer support the device or write updated drivers for it.
To this end I am thinking of configuring a dual boot system with Ubuntu Studio and taking the completely free software route. I have read that it picks up the gnx3000 no problem and runs with lower latency.
I have yet to try it though so cannot confirm this.
I plugged in my USB's, and it did the rest, only problem is PTP, if anyone is even still using it, I am, and I have not downloaded the 1.4 Firmware yet, for some reason it is not available where I updated everything else from which was from the Digitech site(only 1.3 was available).
But as far as X-Edit, and the drivers, everything else was done in seconds! So as soon as I get the PTP going, I'll be fine. Like I said I'm not computer guy, but Windows 7, is pretty damn easy to get around in, I skipped the whole Vista ordeal, because I couldn't afford it until now, sounds like I'm glad I did, but if I can do it, and reading what you guys are saying, it should be as easy, if not easier than XP.
Probably catch hell for that, but maybe not knowing as much, made it easier for me, I was done in 10 minutes and jammin', not recording, I know, but go for it!
And I'm sure, since everything went so smooth, I'll be back on here soon bitching up a storm, and asking for help! So good luck everyone!
But PTP offers you the ability to convert your audio files into mp3 format. Which is nice, since Cubase LE4 does not have that feature any longer (they stop selling the mp3 plugin for Cubase LE4). So now, in Cubase LE4, you have to take your final mix and convert it to mp3 in external programs. Not a big deal, but just adds another few steps to the process, whereas in PTP you do it all there. Both programs came \"free\" bundled with my various hardware, and both programs have their strengths.
And when I compare my first music studio software which ran on a Commodore 64 with 3 FM voices, and later 6 voices with an addon cartridge, to where we have free software (PTP and Cubase LE4) that runs 24 or 48 audio/midi/VST tracks with arms full of plugins available, I just enjoy the good life.....
Got it on sale for $50.00, on Musicians Friend, cost me 58.00 in all to get it here in 5 days. I love it, and like I said, havent even plugged in yet(my back limits what I can do!), But so far fun as hell, with too much to list! I'm off to play some more, should check it out!
Not sure what Sonar 6.3LE has, but check under the options tab to see if there is anything to search for virtual instruments. I know the full versions of Sonar automatically search for new plugins when you start a project.