Best Wireless Networking (USB Adapters)

[aidanjt]

Ahhhh, no! This ram thing has been causing me problems everywhere I turn.

The ram was free. I couldnt downgrade to 4 even if I wanted. If you don't believe me go and configure the pc's with 8gigs of ram as free/default.

Mesh can only ship with 32bit Vista due to licensing and probably 90% of customers not bothering with 64bit when/if it was available.

IF I had the option I'd have gone for 64bit, but I didn't; I'm fine with 32bit until I feel the need or desire to upgrade to 64bit. Hope that all makes sense...

Ok, stick with me here for a moment, a computer company is practically breaking your arm to give you 8Gb of RAM, for Free, then *only* letting you have a 32bit OS?.. You can see how this makes Mesh look like a bunch of utter retards. On a machine like that they should be pushing 64bit Vista, insist on it, otherwise their legal team will get slaughtered when their customers start complaining en-mass that their 8GB-filled system is 'really' a 4Gb. I'd phone them up and press the matter, tell them you don't want to be short handed for no reason at all besides pure stupidity.

[WoLFe]

I completely understand what you are saying aidanjt and that is how I felt at first, but when I asked Mesh directly they were honest and said that they can only ship with 32bit and there were compatibility issues when they offered 64bit. There is also licensing issues with providing 64bit at all.

As far as I am aware they are giving away the extra 4GB for free on most models because they are overstocked, or just because they can without affecting profit levels. I haven't seen anyone complaining anywhere about being mislead over the ram issues you mentioned, though if I hadn't asked and researched I would have been disappointed with the restrictions of 32bit version and felt mildly mislead. As it is they have been honest about the whole thing and I feel more annoyance towards the fact that 32bit home premium only supports 4GB of ram.

Here are some replies I got from their community forums regarding this issue.

"I believe one of the major issues with 64bit is compatibility - it does not allow you to install any drivers that have not passed Microsoft's WHQL certification. For many domestic users this could prevent their peripherals working."

"Hi,
Mesh use to offer the choice of 32 & 64 bit Vista, but there wasn't much take-up and there were issues with drivers etc on the 64bit platform. With that in mind, they withdrew the 64 bit Vista.
Untill fairly recently, Mesh would make a copy of 64 bit, as your license is valid for 32 or 64, and send it to you, but due to Microsoft licensing constraints, they were forced to stop this also.
Your only recourse now would be to buy Vista retail. This will give you both versions. Upgrading to 64 is painless, but nigh on impossible going the other way without a reformat.

Hope this helps."

[aidanjt]

Compatibility:
a) You can disable driver signing enforcement.
b) Vista comes with a ton of signed drivers out of the box that works with the vast majority of devices, and if it doesn't, it tries to get the drivers from Windows Updates, if that fails it refers you to the manufacturer's site to download them.
c) Hardware manufacturers shouldn't be offering drivers without a certificate in the first place.
d) Mesh shouldn't be using hardware from manufacturers who don't provide proper drivers.
e) Mesh should contact such companies stating the fact that they wanted to use their hardware only couldn't due to unsigned drivers, so they start taking driver development seriously.

Licensing:
a) That's a crock, most of their customers wouldn't know the difference between 32bit and 64bit, so what's likely happened is that they had 32bit Vista the default choice, what's also likely is that they didn't give adequate information about it either.
b) They shouldn't be giving out 32bit licenses, period, there's no reason for it what so ever, in fact, I don't know why Microsoft even released a 32bit version of Vista.
c) Why should you be forced to pay for 2 Windows licenses for 1 single machine (the OEM will become worthless since it's tied to that machine) in order to get your new machine fit for purpose? And to make it worse, they're trying to get you to pay for a retail license, in which case support cost moves away from them, to Microsoft.. It's a con in so many ways.

I'm not even a Mesh customer and I'm pissed at them over this farce.

[WoLFe]

"Microsoft will send you the 64-bit version at postage cost(7 quid i believe)."

Would that apply to me as well or only if you bought the 32bit version seperately?

[shadowmaster]

"Microsoft will send you the 64-bit version at postage cost(7 quid i believe)."

Would that apply to me as well or only if you bought the 32bit version seperately?

I think it would also apply to you as well

[WoLFe]

I think it would also apply to you as well

Sounds good to me.

[TheReaFireblade]

Microsoft will send you the 64-bit version at postage cost(7 quid i believe)."

Would that apply to me as well or only if you bought the 32bit version seperately?

As long as you bought a retail version of Vista, yes.
If you buy an OEM version, you're not entitled to the alternative DVD. You have to decide which version you want at the time of purchase