Eclipse and Vista

[Linda Osterhoudt]

I recently bought a new computer with Vista and need to exchange my old parallel port key for a USB, which is fine, but the gal at Advantage Software tells me that they can't guarantee that the new key will work with Vista because supposedly I'll have to use my old version (I don't have support) and it won't work with Vista. I really don't want to spend the money to get a whole new key and software or get rid of Vista and go back to XP and was wondering if anyone had any ideas. I'm not real happy with Eclipse at the moment.

[Marla Sharp]

You could just buy Windows XP and run it on your new computer. Try posting this in the Eclipse group here: http://www.csrnation.com/group/totaleclipse. Maybe someone's experienced the same thing.

You could also try the Compuserve forum:
http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?folderId=15&li...
Some very smart, helpful people hang out there.

If you find a solution, be sure to let us know what it is. Good luck. I hope you get it resolved.

Marla

[Cathryn Bauer]

This is odd and does not sound right to me. I had no difficulty at all with my USB port key when I bought two notebook computers with Vista. I would really encourage you to go over her head. Definitely make sure you are talking to someone from Tech Support, not just a sales or administrative person. You might need to email Jeremy Thorne directly. He's very approachable and has helped me before via email.

I wonder whether you spoke with someone from Tech Support or someone in the business end of things. I have nearly always been pleased with Tech Support and nearly always not pleased with other Advantage personnel (I did get a good start-off from a sales rep and trainer). To be blunt, it's been my experience that the Other do not always know as much as they think they do.

Blessings, Cathryn

[Cathryn Bauer]

I'm definitely with Kelli on this one. I was adding up my predictable business expenses as part of a refi, and I have Total Eclipse support and a Sparkly Golden Service and Intervention Plan for my primary computer and a service plan that includes a loaner on demand from Stenograph. Yeah, it added up, but I found I didn't regret a penny spent on any of that.

[Lisa Moskowitz]

My scopist had an older version of Eclipse that didn't work on Vista when she had to replace her computer, and Eclipse wouldn't give her a code to get the key working unless she paid over a thousand dollars to get current on support. I forget what version she was using, but it was old. I had a newer version than hers that I no longer used because I have support and use beta versions. I gave it to her and it worked on Vista. So there is definitely a point where older versions do not work on Vista. I think the version I gave her that worked was the 3.2 release.

[Judy]

Lisa,

I'm assuming your scopist did indeed pay the $1,000. Otherwise I would offer up my option. Back in 2001 I purchased a full version and a scoping version b/c I had an inhouse scopist for a while. Well, the inhouse scopist idea didn't pan out, and I've never had a need to update the thing, so I've got a circa 2001 parallel key just sitting around here somewhere. I'm sure something could have been worked out.

[Lisa Moskowitz]

Judy, actually she didn't have to pay the $1,000 because the version of software I had was one new enough to work on Vista and her key still worked with it. If something else happens, I will check back with you about the key because $1,000 was not an option she could afford. Thanks for letting me know.

Lisa

[Cathryn Bauer]

I would definitely urge everyone faced with a similar situation not to take action such as paying astronomical and unfair sums of money or buying different software unless and until they've talked to Jeremy Thorne directly. He's the owner and founder of Eclipse. I have found him very helpful with nitty-gritty stuff I posted about on a forum; I would have expected him to refer it to a minion, not spend time with me handling it personally. I suspect, however, that some of the people who work for him don't consult him much. I repeat, I am not impressed with the non-techs he currently has on board. Definitely talk to Jeremy about this.

And I think purchasing a major software package that your career depends on and not having support is right up there with driving your car without insurance

[Lori Stokes]

Actually, Jeremy isn't the owner. He is the developer and the top technical guy, but he isn't financially involved with the company. Until recently, I was the Northern California sales rep for Eclipse, and I can tell you, as unfair as it may seem, I really doubt they will do anything if you don't bring your support contract up to date. That is one thing they don't budge on. Believe me, I hate writing the check every year, especially since I rarely use support, but that one time you need it at 3:00 in the morning, it will be worth it. Not only that, the company wouldn't be able to stay afloat if we didn't pay our support fees. That is how they pay people like Jeremy to keep Eclipse ahead of the competitors!!

[Cathryn Bauer]

Goodness. Where did I get that misinfo? I've believed for years he was the owner. Well, now I know.