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[AccurateOne]

I am a newbie here and just purchased AutoHome Pro Software. I have two computers, one Vista and one XP. Which one plays better with AutoHome Pro, BVC and PC Companion?

After spending some time here I would like to set up a system that I can control with my voice and have the computer tell me things that are happening.

My XP computer is old and I really do not want to spend the money to give it upgrades if it needs them to do all i want to do. My Vista computer is very updated and I would prefer to use it. Please advise.

AccurateOne

[Dan Lawrence]

AUtoHome Pro ?  I presume you mean Active  Home Professional (AHP).  AHP will work fine on either XP or Vista, but some plug-ins don't like Vista.

[AccurateOne]

Yes you are correct Active Home Pro. Told you I was new

Thanks!

[Dan Lawrence]

Thanks.  Check the entire topics here, there is much good, helpful information here.  From simple things to the add-ons and problems they have.

Everybody here is glad to help any newby. 

One you get AHP and your X10 system set up, you will really appreciate it.

[Knightrider]

I'm not sure that - Bill - (of wgjohns.com)  has released BVC for Vista yet, but I am currently beta testing it on my XP machine to make sure that the new version is completely backwards compatible. 

Long story short,  BVC either will in the near future, or does work with Vista.

[Brian H]

Now we are about to get Windows 7 in October. 

[HA Dave]

I'm not sure that - Bill - (of wgjohns.com)  has released BVC for Vista yet, but I am currently beta testing it on my XP machine to make sure that the new version is completely backwards compatible. 

I have BVC on my Vista laptop.... although I've only used the laptop for testing (not actual automation)... others have reported using BVC on Vista. And I haven't had any problems. What Bill has been working on (and my guess what your testing) is the 64 bit "enhanced" version. Which causes/allows BVC to better deal with the file locations and permissions (as I understand it) which is key to 64 bit processing.

Although... there may only be a handful of 64 bit PC users [that also use it for home automation] worldwide... - Bill - (of wgjohns.com) is one of them.

The faster/better your computer the better it can process speech recognition. Although Vista also seems to be better at recognition... than the older operating systems. However... I've been quite pleased with the performance of my old recycled P3 XP [with a flea market DRAM upgrade].

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

I would say XP is still the OS of choice for AHP and BVC and such.

As for BVC, it will work with XP, Vista, and I have been told the pre-release versions of Win 7.  Either 32 bit or 64 bit, but 32 bit is still preferable.

I still have a couple of issues to work out with the menu items in BVC that link to Windows voice control panel options under Vista and 7, but those are just short-cuts to setup features that Vista and 7 provide anyway.

Overall, I have been told that the voice recognition improves from XP to Vista to 7.  However, Vista and maybe 7 can get into "arguments" with BVC because their voice recognition isn't linked to just BVC alone and tries to control Windows when, frequently, you don't want it to.

 

[luisc202]

Now we are about to get Windows 7 in October. 

I am running a Beta version and do not want to go back to XP.  I hated Vsita but Windows 7 is pretty slick and 2x faster in downloads ...