Avrom,
Given what you say about not being inclined to go the VM route (if that is an accurate paraphrase), you may have little in the way of other options.
I have inquired here about the state of current NB versions in regard to how they impact keyboard customizations and use of the U2 library, without getting much back in the way of answers. I am wondering if the many and varied changes NB has been undergoing may have rendered that instructional video Robert created some
time ago (on the subject of giving NB a Xy UI makeover) no longer valid ?
You should be aware that in its native presentation, the UI for NB is closer to XyWin (control via drop-down menus) than it is to the XyDOS many of us were long accustomed to.
On the plus side, with NB you would probably have no further concerns
regarding printer support or USB. (That is mainly what I use if for, thus far. And wireless printing, via the underlying Win printer system, is a nice perk.) Also, my impression is that the built-in document conversion in NB should equal or surpass whatever you were doing with Word for Word. I don't know how well the NB List compares to this Xy discussion List. In the past, it had been described as being considerably less tech savvy.
XP support from MS ends early next month. The 64-bit course NB has taken will offer some Win future-proofing, assuming you may be moving to W7 or W8. I've just finished a couple hours worth of updating the XP computer I happen to be writing this reply from, which had been in storage for some time. (Most of the other systems here are already running Win-7.) Come next month, I may have to disconnect this computer from the internet.
This is a problem, in that there are numerous installed apps that exist only on this particular
rig, and several of those either cannot be re-installed elsewhere, or may have compatibility issues
with Win-7. Sometimes, there is just no compatibility mode or settings that work. In
order to
preserve these apps, I'm considering a few options. I can try one of the -- likely imperfect -- full migration programs, such as the migration module that has been part of Acronis TI since around version 9. Or I can try to follow an elaborate recipe for "slipstreaming" a fresh, completely patch-updated XP install disc, *if* there is some way to incorporate the installed apps (and perhaps there is, as I've heard of MS Office being included in such a disc), in the hopes this can be turned into a VM to be run under Win-7. Or maybe there's some _other_ way to turn this existing XP into a VM ? Another idea I had was to try an app-kit that is supposed to turn an installed app into a portable version of itself, Registry untethered. But, any of these options is starting to sound like a major project to me. [Kari or Flash: your suggestions about this would be most welcome.]
So, I'd say that it's a mixed bag, and you'll have to decide whether or not NB would be worthwhile for you.
Jordan
From: Avrom
To: xywritenew
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 10:43 AM
Subject: SWITCHING TO NOTA BENE
Dear Fellow Xywriters
I wouild appreciate any advice on switching to Nota Bene.
I do not have the desired technical knowledge to keep tweaking Xywrite in
Windows xp or using varrous virtual xp modes in Windows 7 or 8 and
am seriously considering switching to Nota Bene. Basically I have been
using Xy as a simple word processor. I am comfortable with it after 15-20
years. Its major appeal for me is I am used to it, its speed
especiially in search and replace, my ability to customize the key board
and the ability to call on the list serve for technical support. For what
it is worth I use an hp laserjet 5for printing and usually repleace one every
year or two on ebay which if I shop carefully costs about $50. So far
that experince over ten years has worked out fine. i
I have alwasys used word for word to convert xy documents to Wp 5.1 when I
print a document and have been doing that for almost as long as I have had
xy.
I would like to get a new pc and a new laptop mostly for surfing the web
and would like to go with a newer windows if Nota Bene is a comfortalble fit
after so many years with Winodws 98 and windows xp both
with xy. .
As ever
Avrom Fischer
mailto:avromf@xxxxxxxx or mailto:af413@xxxxxxxx; ymailto="mailto:af413@xxxxxxxx
786 Eaat 19th
Street
Brooklyn, NY 11230
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