all I wanted was a new laptop.

[godpheonix]

it took me about 10 minutes tinkering with it to figure out that windows 8 is to be avoided at all cost ! listen to those that are saying to install windows 7 pro, Rob. you'll be avoiding a major headache and spending lots of moola !!

by the way, i'm a professional IT analyst/technician. so i'm not talking out of my ass. LOL

[El Presidente]

it took me about 10 minutes tinkering with it to figure out that windows 8 is to be avoided at all cost ! listen to those that are saying to install windows 7 pro, Rob. you'll be avoiding a major headache and spending lots of moola !!

So tempted to do so. However the new laptop/tablet is a touchscreen. Not sure how that will work with Windows 7 pro

[ptrthgr8]

Where I work we've got hundreds of servers running various operating systems (though most are almost certainly Server 2008) and hundreds of desktop and laptop clients, with most running Win8, connecting via wireless and hardwired methods and there are no such problems with those clients running Win8 connecting to any of those servers.

Whoever told you Win8 won't connect to an internal server is smoking crack. Sounds like some terrible mechanic trying to talk you into a new engine simply because the battery terminals aren't seated properly.

People can talk about the user interface of Win8 all they like (one of the reasons I've not switched over yet), but as has already been noted most of the differences between Win8 and Win7 are cosmetic. Everything under the hood is essentially the same.

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

[TexAg]

So tempted to do so. However the new laptop/tablet is a touchscreen. Not sure how that will work with Windows 7 pro

Windows 7 pro will have the touchscreen/tablet capability. It won't be as much as 8, but it will have an on-screen keyboard and will recognize touch as clicks on the screen.

Which XPS did you go with?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Random]

Where I work we've got hundreds of servers running various operating systems (though most are almost certainly Server 2008) and hundreds of desktop and laptop clients, with most running Win8, connecting via wireless and hardwired methods and there are no such problems with those clients running Win8 connecting to any of those servers.

Whoever told you Win8 won't connect to an internal server is smoking crack. Sounds like some terrible mechanic trying to talk you into a new engine simply because the battery terminals aren't seated properly.

People can talk about the user interface of Win8 all they like (one of the reasons I've not switched over yet), but as has already been noted most of the differences between Win8 and Win7 are cosmetic. Everything under the hood is essentially the same.

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

THIS!

[CanuckSARTech]

Get yourself a notepad, a proper paper one, not one of those new-fangled "plug-in" ones.

Hire a messenger boy with a crisp red jacket and hat.

Show him where the post office is and have him running back and forth.

Much less hassle and proabably cheaper.

Have him doff his cap when he greets you.

"Morning Mr. Ayala, iron your newspaper for you, Sir?"

LOL!!!!!

[PigFish]

...if the job comes with an FoH shirt in XXL, all the smokes I can carry, a hammock on the deck and a plane ticket, I am there!!!

Cheers, -Piggy

[Colt45]

Get yourself a notepad, a proper paper one, not one of those new-fangled "plug-in" ones.

Hire a messenger boy with a crisp red jacket and hat.

Show him where the post office is and have him running back and forth.

Much less hassle and proabably cheaper.

Have him doff his cap when he greets you.

"Morning Mr. Ayala, iron your newspaper for you, Sir?"

He tried it, but Smithy would get lost more often than not.

And is not to be trusted with heat producing electrical devices........

[perfectform]

He tried it, but Smithy would get lost more often than not.

And is not to be trusted with heat producing electrical devices........

How did I see this coming a mile away? Bravo.

[Orion21]

Microsoft is the worst tech company in existence. The automatic update to IE 10 crashed half the computers in my office. The other half that did not crash were Apple. I wish Microsoft would just buy back all of their stock and go private. That way they could actually manufacture a decent product without the pressure of rushing complete dog crap to the market because of external pressure to hit projected revenue etc.

[jay8354]

So tempted to do so. However the new laptop/tablet is a touchscreen. Not sure how that will work with Windows 7 pro

Rob, you are a great mate but you are really No.2 in being PEBKAC of FOH world.

You need to tell us you have a touchscreen laptop, better yet which model.

Win 7 will work fine but needs more tinkering if you still want the touchscreen. Shouldnt be a problem.

You need a new IT guy who is not trying to gouge you.

Win 8 will work but it means so dedicated IT person checking what is the problem and fixing it between the laptop and server.

You will probably need to get your sons to work on this at minimum wage for at least week. Family rates and all.

[El Presidente]

Windows 7 pro will have the touchscreen/tablet capability. It won't be as much as 8, but it will have an on-screen keyboard and will recognize touch as clicks on the screen.

Which XPS did you go with?

I7/ 8 Ram / 156 SSD

[El Presidente]

Rob, you are a great mate but you are really No.2 in being PEBKAC of FOH world.

You need to tell us you have a touchscreen laptop, better yet which model.

Mate....only the mediocre are always at their best

Dell XPS 12

Well....if there is anyone in Brisbane who wants a crack at this, if you can set me up to my server and prove my IT guys wrong, there is $500 cash and my IT contract is yours.

[DrinkSmokeGolf]

How are you trying to connect to it?

There should be no problems whatsoever connecting to a server from Win8!

I am an IT Admin by trade so I'm not just blowing smoke here!

[TexAg]

I7/ 8 Ram / 156 SSD

The XPS 12 is a really reliable laptop. We've had a few of those come through our office to get set up. Great computer, if you can deal with not having a CD-ROM drive onboard, but the screen flipping around usually compensates lol. I would definitely go for Win7 pro, it has tablet features built in so you won't lose any capabilities on that end.

Also, beware of the battery life. The Intel Core i7 with VPro (Most i7 processors come with this) tends to use a ton of juice.

Enjoy the new computer! I'm beginning to think that one of those may be in my future once my Dell craps out on me...

[TM-US]

Rob-

Just a couple comments....

If you're running old OS on your server right now, you really need to upgrade if it is some flavor of Windows. Windows 2000 is already obsolete and Server 2003 is going to be in about two years. After that, no more patches or updates- that will expose you to security vulnerabilities in a big way. Also, for ease of administration, Server 2008 R2 or 2012 would be a lot better.

I don't know why you would not be able to connect your laptop, although if you are running a domain-based network, you'll need to use the "Pro" version of Windows 7 or 8 to logon, that is correct. Because Microsoft has implemented "in place" upgrades, it's a pretty trivial task to upgrade your version of Windows 8 to Pro. Just need a credit card and can download over the internet.