Sierra Infinity 5

[Mr. Reaper]

FYI before you open up your wallets-My old Windows XP computer just shot crapps so I went down and bought a new laptop I could take to the range with me. The old machine ran the primo Sierra Exterior ballistics program just swell. The new computer runs the new Windows Vista operating system.

Caution: Sierra Infinity 5 program will not run on the new Windows Vista operating system. I called Sierra to see if they had a patch-No. Are you going to get a patch-No. Do you have any suggestions-No. So you have my cash and I have your primo program that won't run-Yep. Thanks for all your help...

Customer service at it's best. There are other brands of bullets to by too... 

[SuperstitionCoues]

i have another idea.  Next time . get an Apple laptop.  When this one goes bad (which runs XP), I will.  Too many horror stories about Vista. 

[jro45]

I have Serria Infinity 5 on a disk and it works fine. I don't think lap tops are made for disks are they?

[Siskiyou]

The fact of life is that when the King of PC operating systems changes his shorts the software and hardware vendors are expected to play catch-up.  This is another twist on an old story.  I was upset with Barnes because they did not have a patch from their old ballistics program that worked on Windows 3.1 but would not work on Windows 95 or 98.

Both my wife and I have computers; printers, scanners, cameras and a wireless system build around Windows XP.  From past experience I will not be one of the first to make the transition to Vista.   It took months for new driver software to catch-up when Microsoft introduced Windows XP.  A painful lesson at the time, because our printers would not work.

I was pissed at Barnes because of the customer service attitude, not because my older software program would not work with the new computer.

In my garage I have a five-gallon bucket full of tire chains, and a couple bags of tire chains along side.  The problem is that most of the chains we have will not fit my wife’s 4x4 or my 4x4.  Back in the late 60’s our car had 14-inch tires, and the pickup had 16-inch tires.  Next came a new 4x4 with 15-inch tires and the old chains were made to fit.  My next pickup had 16-inch tires and I was able to modify the chains.  But my newest beast has 17-inch tires and it is recommended that I not use chains on it.  My wife’s last car could not be fitted with chains.  So whom do I blame, Weed the company that manufactured the chains, or the different car manufactures.  Clearly I cannot blame myself for buying a product that does not allow my old chains to fit.

And reality is that Apple is not the answer for older PC software.  Some software writers are working on software that will operate on both systems, but it has not happen in most cases.

As a software and hardware consumer I would hope that vendors in the Microsoft food chain would provide updates to operate using Vista.  Many will not offer a free update, and others will offer a new product. 

Most of the new laptops will work on CD's and DVD, depends on how much you spend.

I wish you luck.

[quickdtoo]

Anyone considering an upgrade to Vista should download the free upgrade advisor to learn what software/hardware issues you'll need to deal with.

Tim

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

[beemanbeme]

I'm about as computer illiterate as you can get and still turn the machine on. (sorry guys, I don't "boot it up", I merely turn it on)
Can you tell me why it's so important to have this program??  What am I missing?  I thought Sierra was in the bullet making business.

[Siskiyou]

Quicdtc:  A good link and I just checked out this computer.  It is upgradeable but it is unlikely that I will take the step.  The information provided by the scan was conflicting.  In one box it told me there was no data on my printer, and in another it told me there was no conflict with my printer.

When it scan the software it stated I would have to uninstall Roxio before installing the upgrade and then go to the Roxio site for upgrades before installing.

A bigger issue with me is that it did not address, the Map Source software, US Topo, and City Navigator on my computer, or DeLorme Topo USA, or USGS TOPO. 

NOR

Did it address Sierra Infinity, which is installed on the computer.

Beemanl:  I have an older version of Sierra Infinity.  I guess I have not changed over the years when I would gather up all the ammunition makers’ brochures and pour over the ballistic tables for different rounds.  At the same time my buddies were doing the same thing.  If the teachers could have captured our interest in feet per second, they could have produced a bunch of math wizards.

Now days I load my ammunition, and test fire it across a Chrony and check the results.  I can then load the data collected into my computer using Sierra Infinity.  This becomes important because the primary location I sight-in is limited to 100-yards.  Using the program I can create a data card showing bullet performance at 100-yards, 200-yards, 300-yards, and 400-yards.  The positive thing is the data is based on my ammunition, and my rifle.  While the data from a manufactures brochure is based on their components, and fired in a test laboratory.   I have found that the data collected on factory ammunition does not live up to the published numbers, and that the published drop data is flawed in the field. 

I have a rifle that likes a certain factory load.  The original published velocity was over one hundred feet per second faster then what I am getting.  Using the data from the Chrony and matching it to the manufactures bullet, I developed a drop card for that round in the rifle of interest. 

[quickdtoo]

Sisk, I know, it didn't indicate a yay or nay on the Sierra I5, the printer issue is software on one and hardware on the other for yours I suspect. I would be real hesitant to upgrade this early in the game, as you pointed out earlier, it's up to the software market to play catchup after a new OS is introduced, and you know who gets to take up the slack in the mean time.

Tim

[SuperstitionCoues]

And reality is that Apple is not the answer for older PC software.  Some software writers are working on software that will operate on both systems, but it has not happen in most cases.

As a software and hardware consumer I would hope that vendors in the Microsoft food chain would provide updates to operate using Vista.  Many will not offer a free update, and others will offer a new product. 

Most of the new laptops will work on CD's and DVD, depends on how much you spend.

I wish you luck.

Never meant that the old software would work on the Apple.  You shouldn't assume. 

I expect to have to get new stuff.  I'm just fed up with Bill Gates.  Apple computers I have used in my academic career far surpass anything that has been an IBM clone.  Time to bite the bullet and change.

[Smokin Joe]

It will if you use the Windows 98/ME Compatibility mode

http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=36321

[Siskiyou]

For years my wife and myself were Apple computer owners.  But things changed, our favorite computer magazine quit providing good how to hints for Apple computers.  My wife’s school gave up on Apple Systems, and the computer lab she ran converted to IBM compatible computers (Windows).  More software writers were supporting Windows then supporting Apple.  When we went into the large computer Stores such as Comp USA, and Fry’s the offering of software for Apple computers was small compared to Windows.  We had thousands of dollars invested in Apple computers, and we donated the lot to a Home School program.

I go into the County Library almost monthly and pick up computer related magazines.   The library receives two magazines.  Both of them related to IBM/Windows systems.  At one time I read a chart on the life of documents, we know that writing chiseled into rock last for century’s, documents printed on paper can last for century’s, old black and white photos can last over a century, but computer records may last only five to ten years because the operating system will become history.  I generated large investigation reports on my old Apple computer and submitted paper copies, but I also retained copies of the reports on disk.  I recently destroyed many of the old discs because the old Apple computers are no longer around. 

Operating systems change but an investor needs to look at his/her needs and see if the system they are buying will support their toys.  In the case of gps I found the following, from the looks of the results Apple is not a good choice for me at this time. 

Magellan:

Ask Maggie: Can I interface my GPS receiver with a Macintosh?

At this time, Magellan products do not support Apple or Macintosh. It may be possible to connect your GPS to a Macintosh computer by searching Apple.com for connectivity plugins under COM ports or serial ports.

Lowrance:

The Product Emulators will only install and operate on Microsoft Windows® 95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP. The emulators were not designed to work with Mac or Linux operating systems.

Garmin:

1.   Q. Are MapSource and the USB Datacard Programmer compatible with Windows XP?
A. Yes.
All MapSource products are compatible with Windows 98, 98SE, ME, NT, 2000, and XP. When using the USB Datacard Programmer, you will need to have Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, or XP. Windows 95 and NT are not compatible with Garmin USB devices. Apple Macintosh compatibility is not available at this time.

The discussion about the merits of the Apple/Mac OS versus the different Windows OS system is like discussing the .280 Remington over the .284 Winchester.

Smokinjoe5150 link provides an answer to the problem.  Vista is new and there will be a lot more questions and answers down the road.  It looks like there is good news for owners of older software. (When I refer to older software, I am relating to any that was written before Vista was introduced.)

Disclaimer:  I make no assumptions on the writings of others; the interpretation of spoken language is difficult enough without taking on the written word.  Three distant cousins got together for a deer hunt.  Their guide put them out on a ridge line where they could look across the canyon.  Soon a big buck appeared, and the excited hunters starter talking, on their radios.  The cousin from Kentucky said the buck went down in the Holler.  The cousin from the Southwest swore the buck disappeared in the Arroyo, and the cousin from Nevada said the buck went into the Gulch.  And the guide was sure the buck went into the Draw.