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Author Topic: Running typical cinema programs on Vista Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 01-22-2008 05:36 PM                        This has probably been discussed before, but I haven't found much info about that yet. Do typical cinema programs like the CP650 setup software of DRAS run on Vista?  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-22-2008 08:09 PM                     FYI: Dolby wasn't even sure about this when I called them and asked if it would work... the reply was you'd be the first to try it. And so I tried Dolby Server Client on a new Vista Machine and it would run but not correctly, the display did strange things and the computer finally locked up. I don't know if the problem was that it didn't like the Linux based Dolby program or if the Vista system didn't like JSE Runtime that makes the Server Client graphics happen. Because of time constraints I had to track down a used XP computer whilst in Ceeyenne, WY and use it instead. All was then fine and dandy. BTW: When I bought the new Vista computer the sales guy told me that many people who had bought Vista based machines... which are all thats available any longer... had to downgrade them to XP in order to get many common programs to run properly. Fortunately I was able to return the Vista machine for a refund. Mark  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-22-2008 10:07 PM                     Screw Windows Vista. Get SUSE Linux. You should be able to build a live-bootable copy of the operating system, install all the applications you need then burn them to a DVD-ROM Insert the DVD and give the correct incantation. Boot the computer into Linux. Do your work. When you're done, take the DVD out of the drive and reboot. The computer will run in Windows again. SUSE Linux is called for here because it has Windows emulation built in. You SHOULD be able to get your Windows applications to run under Linux in emulation mode. I advocate that all equipment manufacturers who have software to manage their equipment write their apps for linux and build them into a live-boot CD or DVD-ROM. That way they'll bypass all of these silly OS incompatibility issues because they packaged their software with an OS that will run it.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-22-2008 11:45 PM                     (..even a bootable CD copy of Knoppix (linux) is great too...), but do agree, SUSE Linux is something else. ..think I'll stay with XP-PRO-SP2... - Monte  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-23-2008 08:02 AM                     I've messed around with some of the Linux based OS's and its basically the same problem as Vista... some Windows based programs work and some don't. So I too will stick with XP-Pro. I've had mine up for literally months at a time with no problems. Mark  |  IP: Logged Andres Briano Expert Film Handler Posts: 162 From: Buenos Aires, Argentina Registered: Jan 2008 posted 01-23-2008 08:52 AM                        I have recently bought a laptop with Vista and had to downgrade it to XP. I´m just happy that I was able to. XP is not the only feature that has gone extinct. RS-232 ports too! And not all USB-RS232 adapters work properly for our needs!  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-23-2008 09:16 AM                        I have gotten to old to learn a new OS for absolutely no good reason at all other than to make Microsucks more money. XP Pro works fine; it's not broke; I don't need to fix it. No RS232....what are they crazy?  |  IP: Logged Ken Lackner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1907 From: Atlanta, GA, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 01-23-2008 09:37 AM                     RS232 ports started disapearing years ago. Probably because there haven't been any (at least not many) consumer devices that use it any more. Everything has gone to USB. I have heard of issues with USB-to-serial adapters. For my RS232 needs, I use a serial I/O PC card made by Socket and have not had any problems with it. I completely agree with Frank about Vista. There is no need to "upgrade" because there is absolutely nothing wrong with XP (except, perhaps, the fact that it is too damn expensive!). Good point about wasting the time learning a new OS for no reason.  |  IP: Logged Robert Minichino Master Film Handler Posts: 350 From: Haskell, NJ, USA Registered: Dec 2005 posted 01-23-2008 10:34 AM                        Most PC Card serial adapters have excellent (perfect) compatibility compared to built-in serial ports. One notable exception is some older Compaq consumer laptops that have serial ports that use non-standard voltage levels that don't work electrically with some equipment; in that case, the PC Card adapters fix that. Not all USB-Serial adapters are the same; the ones based on the FTDI chip are excellent and I haven't had any compatibility problems even with picky devices.  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 01-23-2008 12:28 PM                        XP was the first version of Windows that wouldn't run some programs written for earlier versions of windows. I was told the XP stood for expire and the person telling me that thought i was collusion between Microsoft and other software companies to force updates and now VISTA is the same some programs preform fine that were written for earlier versions and others don't! So if you are use to a particular program and doesn't work the theory is you will run out and buy the new VISTA certified version. Makes sense to me! But hey I just want my stuff to work!  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 01-23-2008 12:33 PM                     The problem with suggesting linux is that the wine "emulator" (well technically it's a re-write of most of the API and not an emulator) is more or less a crap shoot as to if a piece of software will work or not. Wine has apparently gotten better over the years but there is no way to guarantee that the program will run properly... especially with something that's for a niche market like Dolby software as the devs focus on having it interact well with commonly used programs.  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 01-23-2008 12:39 PM                        Chris most wine improves over the years while Whine never improves! Sorry couldn't resist that!  |  IP: Logged Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 01-23-2008 12:50 PM                     quote: Ken Lackner RS232 ports started disapearing years ago. Probably because there haven't been any (at least not many) consumer devices that use it any more. Everything has gone to USB. I have heard of issues with USB-to-serial adapters. For my RS232 needs, I use a serial I/O PC card made by Socket and have not had any problems with it. For consumer devices maybe, but we've probably got more RS-232 (and RS-422 and RS-485) now than we've had for years, possibly ever. It's widely used in things like device control and automation systems, where only small amounts of data need to be transmitted. I'm thinking of things like access control systems, boilerhouse plant management, and similar things. We also have a lot of interactive whiteboards which use it. In some cases there's a local controller which talks some form of serial to the devices in an area of the building, and this then talks IP to the rest of the World. The main reason that USB isn't used for this sort of thing is that it's limited to a range of about 15 feet, whereas RS-232 is supposed to go 50, and will often go considerably further. RS-422 will go much further. You can use repeaters with USB, but conventional serial connections will do it without, and the speed of USB isn't needed for this sort of thing.  |  IP: Logged Peter David Bruce Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: East Anglia -England Registered: Aug 2007 posted 01-23-2008 01:04 PM                    I saw a basic version of this done on a mac a few months back. if i find the link ill share it with you guys.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-23-2008 05:08 PM                        quote: Mark Gulbrandsen When I bought the new Vista computer the sales guy told me that many people who had bought Vista based machines... which are all thats available any longer... Sounds like a lazy sales guy. I think the major computer vendors still offer a choice of XP or Vista since that's what the consumers want. At least, I know Dell does. (Or, they did a couple of weeks ago...)  |  IP: Logged

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