Dar, > [...] The new installer cleans up a lot (saves a lot of time and > headache) and a lot of bugs have been fixed.
No way you'll get me to agree with you on the Installer issues. I can demonstrate on a clean XP system all the specific issues I mentioned with respect to install and uninstall. I've seen the problems on multiple computers of mine. Friends I've cajoled into trying Rev have seen the same thing. In the release notes, I do read about some bugs being fixed (most having been introduced in 2.7.0), but overall the experience has been less stable. > I was not aware of any claims that 2.7.4 is ready for Vista. As with prior releases of Windows, application compatibility is one of the most important, core concerns of Microsoft's development team. In general, well-written applications that work on Windows XP will work on Vista. (Device drivers are a different issue.) I can mention several programs released two, or even seven to ten years ago that function properly. Notably, this includes Revolution 2.6.1, which installs and works just great under Vista. > It was not clear how much of the testing involved Vista. Those tests are > good to have, but should not count against 2.7. The only Vista-related item was the installer. Logically: I couldn't install, ergo no testing under Vista. All the other comments refer to running the new Rev releases under Windows XP. If the Vista problem was the only issue with the Rev 2.7.x series, then I wouldn't necessarilly mention it. Or my post would be, "Windows Vista Compatibility?" or something like that. But in the context of general installer flakiness this is just one more nail in the coffin. The Vista item is on the one hand "minor" (or "forgiveable") but on the other hand important to include and "counts against" Rev because it is a concrete example of software that is a "step backward" -- somehow less compliant with operating system requirements. The old version 2.6.1 works; 2.7.4 does not. It's like the canary in the coal mine, if you will, that exposes poor programming/testing. Just what are they doing differently that causes it to break? Stephen, > I was not aware that Vista was even available as a final product. This is a red herring. Windows Vista has been available in various forms for public (not to mention, developer) testing for several months, since before 2.7.0 was released. The current "release candidate 2" build is publicly available for download from http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc2/en/download.htm Microsoft has been mailing DVDs of the new operating system to anyone who's asked since Beta 2 (end of May). The whole point of an extended beta program is to get developers ready... to give them time to migrate their code or to give the OS maker important pre-release feedback. Apparently Rev has not taken advantage of this window. Basically what you're saying, Stephen, is that we should expect Rev will be starting at "square one" with Vista in one-to-three months, when it's released to retail. Don't forget that you and I and others on the list are (nominally) software developers, and Rev is the tool that we use. How can we make *our* software Vista-ready if the platform we depend on is lagging months behind? Other software developers, large and small, have been releasing updates that mention Vista compatibility enhancements as part of their usual release cycle. Why hasn't Rev? Isn't this supposed to be a cross-platform developement environment? This is just one more reason not to pay for the "update pack" until Rev gets it right. Wait until the product is stable under XP. Wait until it works under Vista. Wait until it "takes advantage" of Vista. Then wait for the two or three releases that it will take to iron out the Vista-related bugs. (But, don't hold your breath. I can only assume their complete lack of regard for Vista support indicates this will be a long time coming.) Finally, if you believe it is so outrageous to contemplate that Rev should be well along with Vista compatibility by now, you can snip out the brief comment about Vista from my original post. Pretend I didn't mention it. It wouldn't change a thing. _______________________________________________ use-revolution mailing list [email protected] Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
