Q I bought a Gateway laptop in December with a free Vista upgrade. I made sure the laptop was Vista-ready and have received the Vista pack. However, I have been hesitant to install the Vista upgrade because of the prior problems with it, and because I simply do not know what to expect (problem-wise) once installed. The IT people are waiting before installing Vista at work, so they are no help. Would you advise to go ahead and install the upgrade or wait until more improvements are made ?
AHere is what I think. The reason so many corporate information technology departments are holding back on Vista is because of the upgrade cost for an operating system that, in the end, doesn't take business applications much beyond what Windows XP provides.
But one looks for different things when using a computer at home than when at work. This is where Vista shines.
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The new operating system allows one to keep track of several programs running at once with a task bar icon that causes small copies of each screen to cascade across the desktop. This, combined with translucent window frames, make using a Web browser, an e-mail program, a word processor and a music or video player at the same time easier. It also bursts at the seams with new wrinkles on stuff such as displaying photos and making home videos. In addition, Vista's display down the right-hand side of the desktop shows the time and date in legible sizes and provides up-to-the-minute weather reports, traffic conditions, stock prices, sports scores, etc.
Vista also is prettier than Windows XP because of several aesthetic tweaks.
I would not worry about whether to wait because Vista will be repaired over time as it is hard-wired to connect to Microsoft's own servers and download patches and updates as the company deems necessary in the future.
So your Vista vs. XP dilemma is whether to go through the bother (figure at least two or three hours) of using the upgrade disks or to just stick with the familiar and serviceable Windows XP. I hope that my answer conveyed the idea that a Vista upgrade from a satisfactorily running Windows XP machines is no big deal either way.
QMy Microsoft Outlook 2003 no longer can receive my e-mails. I get this error message: "Receiving reported error (0X80042108). Outlook is unable to connect to your incoming POP3 e-mail server."
My service provider ran a check and said the problem is on my computer. I reinstalled Office with no luck. I can view my mail online, but Outlook won't load them. I checked my settings and believe they are correct. I have also seen a report about a port error.
AWhen using a Web-based e-mail service such as the ones from Yahoo and Google, Windows requires users to change the aforementioned port settings to ones specified by the e-mail service.
Go to the e-mail home page help area and use the keyword "pop3" as a search term. There, you will find the port settings you need and instructions on how to change them. Port settings are unique to each Web mail service. Google's Gmail changes to Port 995 for incoming and 465 for outgoing mail, for example.