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Apologies - Browsers rather than operating systems. :-)
We've always been advised to wait until the 'bugs' have been fixed before trying a new browser release.
If someone is using an archaic operating system, surely it is time to get something more flexible ?
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Users usually access web sites using web browsers (*) not operating systems. However IGP is bang on the button about using an up to date web browser.
The web site has no idea what the operating system is nor does it matter. For instance I usually access Gru using Linux rather than Windows, using the Firefox browser. It works fine. I have also had good results with Opera, Chrome, PaleMoon and IE9 IE10.
I have tried out using Gru on a variety of low powered systems eg netbooks, an old Dell P4 with only 1 GB memory etc. using XP SP3, Win7 Home and Linux. I connected with Virgin30 using either wifi or cable. No problems. Gru does not handle low speed connections eg dial-up, GSM very well.
I also tried out IE8 and found that the rendering of the tree was slow and buggy.
Quite apart from issues with Gru the web is moving towards a new platform known as html5 (hyper text markup language 5). HTML5 is a massive improvement on what went before both for users, as it depends far less on all sorts of plugins and and for developers who no longer have to construct a cats cradle of code. HTML is also more secure. Upgrading to a new browser is free and does not need an OS change. For those fond of the IE8 look n feel ( I personally hate it ) it is possible to add a Firefox theme to make it look pretty well the same. If you know somebody with a smattering of CSS know how it is also ez to return Gru to its old colors and even flock wallpaper lol. They have told me NOT to post how to do this.
Conclusion: If you are one of the millions using XP3 carry on - but don't use IE8. It is about as useful as John Cleese's parrot.
Asking Gru to support such a bag of nails (IE7/8) is unreasonable as there are plenty of other options. The likes of BBC TV have infinite resources and can cater for the quirks of IE6/7/8 and other legacy browsers. Smaller sites cannot. Yes, I know that a lof of UKGov and bigbiz STILL use IE6 ... that is something else.
(*) Access to the web is increasingly through "apps" rather than a generic web browser. Ay have an excellent "app" but this trend has been ignored by Gru, in as much as they have no app at this time.
(**) Rather than forking out for a new computer and Win7 / 8 why not just install a Linux distro (free) which does a lot more for far less ? Ubuntu and Mint are 2 popular distros, Suse gives the user something closer to Windows XP.
(***) If you must
IGP is correct that users cannot expect the same old thing for ever. Back in the 80s a great many people and firms said that they would "never" shift from DOS (dumbos operating system) to Windows (then on 3.x) . Some well known firms eg WordPerfect, Lotus went bust refusing and being too late ... Another brigade said they would never adopt Win95. Another quadzillion, brandishing their rolled up DailyMails vowed "never" to connect to the internet ...
Last but by no means least if yr graphics system is feeble (less than 1280x1024 eg 1024x768) why not fork out for another monitor? It is easy to get a 1280x1024x17in for a tenner on eBay or a super duper widescreen Phillips 20in is now inder £ 100 new. All aged WinXP laptops have a VGA socket which will drive a 2nd screen.
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Not sure why NanaSue thinks that it is expensive to update an operating system. Most computer are pre-loaded on purchase, with free updates or different versions available (for free) on the internet.
Currently we have loaded on the one being used now
Internet Explorer - not sure which version, OH prefers it
Firefox (free)
Google Chrome. (free)
If an older person is not confident to download or 'accept' updates, if they don't have a younger more au fait with technology relative or friend to advise, then it would be worth paying for a 'health check' from an expert. The computer would probably run a lot faster after that!
Yes, I agree that GR should have taken older versions of the various operating systems into account, but many difficulties seem to be caused by the compatibility problems which can easily overcome.
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InspectorGreenPen the last part of your message is a bit harsh. To unpdate an operating system is vey expensive. Also many people have no idea how to do it. A browser update may be free but likewise many people don't know how to do it.
Also so many researchers are older and not comfortable with the finer tech stuff to do with PC's
Software programes are supposed to accommodate different versions of operating systems and browsers
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Hear, hear, Ken. Life moves on. As you can see I have also been a member on here for 9 or so years now and every time there is an upgrade we get the same old complaints that the old one was better, etc.
What I find amusing is that the version people want to go back to is the very same one that was so hated a year or so ago when they wanted to go back to the one before that and so on and so on.
The only point I would make is that there are sometimes just a few too many bugs in the software when it is rolled out, but then this isn't helped if members fail to keep their PC's operating systems and browsers up to date.
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Other customers have said they are quite happy with the new tree. If that awful green old tree ever comes back the I shall certainly not renew. I am looking forward to being able to add marriages between cousins and ancestors appearing on my tree more than once.
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Well since Genes updated this site and trees, the trees that I am in touch with - people are NOT updating them as often as they were.
And since September 2nd I have had none.
So I think people are not using Genes for they tree anymore as it has gone from a very good site to use to a useless one.
So please please please revert to the old one as your customers have requested.
Because I for one is seriously thinking of not reneewing.
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