What's wrong with Vista? Bloat. I use the OS to launch programs and from there I'm productive. The new look is nice, but if everything takes longer to start because the OS needs more memory and more graphics power to operate, what's the point? When MS started integrating applications into the OS (i.e. internet explorer) all they did was create huge security holes. If I choose to use Firefox, I'll have wasted resouces because I'll have an unused browser on my system. The same is true with the Windows Firewall. So I think the question should be: What does Vista provide that it's worth upgrading from XP? If they could avoid the weekly critical updates that require my XP computer to be restarted, then it would be worth it to me. Only time will tell if that's going to be the case.

If you're looking for a digital SLR, then I'd recommend the Nikon D50 over a Canon. I have a Canon EOS Rebel Ti 35 mm, and a Nikon's D50. The Nikon is excellent, with a large selection of lenses and great continous shooting characteristics. Batteries last approximately 400 on-board flash shots or 1500 non-flash. Canon has an annoying "flash-strobe" effect for auto focus assist and red eye correction, while the Nikon uses a simple white light. Check out the comparison here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond50/page19.asp[^]

Maybe I'm dating myself, but I remember Pilot[^] for the Apple ][+ was supposed to be "The language to introduce children to programming" X| The Code Cowboy

Background: I have Access 2003 installedand the database I'm trying to connect to via C# was probably created using Access 97. I don't have the option to upgrade the database and must remain in Access 97 format. The database is protected by a workgroup ID. The command line option for spawning the database is: MSACCESS.EXE c:\master.mdb /wrkgrp c:\master.mdw /user foo /pwd bar This brings up the database, but I get an error stating: You can't make changes to the database objects in the database 'master.' This database was created in an eariler version of Microsoft Office Access.... Problem 1: Read-only connection If I try and connect to this database from c#, I get the following error. :(( System.Data.OleDb.OleDBException: Cannot start your application. The workgroup information file is missing or opened exclusively by another user. Since I can open the database using the command line above, I suspect in order to read the database, I need to somehow specify read-only access within the connection string. Here's my connection string: String conStr = "PROVIDER=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=C:\\master.mdb;SystemDB=C:\\master.mdw;User Id=foo;Password=bar;"; Problem 2: Actually altering the data Is there a way to modify this database without either upgrading the database or downgrading my access application? :confused: Code Cowboy

If you're using a revision change system, you should delete the code. If it turns out the change has some unexpected side effects, then you can always go back. If you don't have such a system, comment out the code, but make it VERY clear it is commented out. I've used older editors that do not colour code comments, where a huge selection was commented out -- but it wasn't obvious. That's when you really mess with your mind. :confused: