What makes more sense?

[dburgessjr]

Our embroidery department has been down for the past week due to a computer crash.
Right now we are using about 5 year old digitizing software but our security key was an old parallel port key.  Most newer computers now-a-days do not come with a parallel port so I had to upgrade to a USB key;  this cost me 250$.

My problem now is, I'm having an issue installing our digitizing software on a Windows 7 system.
Does it make more sense, to purchase an older computer at about 200$ to run the older software or purchase the updated software at about 750$? 
Getting the old computer today will get me back rolling again sooner as I probably wont get the updated software for a few more days?

What would you guys do?  I am very budget tight right now but in case of necessity, I'm prepared to do what is going to be best for the business.

Thanks.

[3Deep]

I would get the older computer to use for now and keep it around for a backup after I,ve got the other fixed.  Nothing like having a backup in a pinch.

D

[Socalfmf]

I would download a free viewer on your computer and then outsource your digitizing for a set amount of time and save up for the 750 and do it right...

just my .00001 cents

sam

[mk162]

You can buy used XP systems for $99.  A lot of places do this for RIP stations and such.  Our server runs out RIP since its the only computer that can run the program anymore.  I am not giving up our RIP, it's sweet as heck.

[inkman996]

Couple thoughts.

You could have bought a parallel port adapter cheap.

You can buy a XP disk and install it on the same computer with win7 as a multi operating system. Not hard to do at all.

[ebscreen]

As long as it's not too intensive of a program you can probably get a box that'll run
it for $50 or less. Maybe that's just around here though, the armpit of the Silicon Valley.

Upgrading software just because you have a new OS that won't run it doesn't make sense
to me. Hell, I'm still on XP, and would even be on 2000 Pro if I could.

[3Deep]

I still have an old 98 system that runs my rip use it more than the new stuff new to me is still running XP, 7 just not happen here with me yet.

[mk162]

I have 7 on 2 computers, server 2003 on the server and then another 2 systems with XP.  1 of those 2 will get updated, I just don't know when.

[dburgessjr]

Thanks for the insight.  Not knowing it though, there were other issues that I was not aware of at that time.
I did take the advise and purchased an older XP system, rather then the updated software, but the older software still wasn't installing.  Anytime I tried to install the software on an XP machine, the CD bay would just spin and pretty much lock up the system.  After talking with a Hirsch Rep for about 2 hours on and off, they determined that my CD was bad.

So we were down for 1 week and within an hour of talking to a Pulse Rep, I was told that my version of the software was available to download from the Pulse website.  I also wasn't aware that they had a very watered down version of their software that can be ran from the website.  It was limited to pretty much opening files and re-saving them.  Even if I had know that a week ago, it would have helped see and most of my work was reorders.

So thanks again, I've learned a lot of lessons this past week.  Hopefully now, I wont make them again!

[squeezee]

You could have bought a parallel port adapter cheap.

- don't usually work with dongles?

[dburgessjr]

You could have bought a parallel port adapter cheap.

- don't usually work with dongles?

I tried finding something similar to this, from Radio Shack,  but it turned out that the Parallel Port side of the adapter was the wrong fit.
Its old technology that I planned out upgrading at some point.  Except my hand felt forced this time.  Maybe it was for a good reason though, the newer software looks sweet and I've very excited to upgrade in the near future.