Choosing a Windows Vista Version

Computers that run Windows nowadays come equipped with Windows Vista. Since Windows Vista comes in five versions, with most versions available in both 32 Bit and 64 Bit variations, its important that the correct one is selected.

As far as whether to choose the 32 Bit or 64 Bit Edition, we recommend the 32-bit edition for its far superior compatibility in general, but specifically with the products published and distributed by CompuSports (over the 64 Bit edition, but not over Windows XP unfortunately).

As far as whether to choose Vista Home Premium, Vista Ultimate or Vista Business, in most cases Vista Home Premium is the best choice. We do not recommend upgrading the operating system on a computer that already has Windows XP to any version of Windows Vista.

For a full discussion of the details behind these recommendations, read Critical Windows Vista Purchase Considerations in the Coaches Advisor Journal.

Click here for an overview of the Versions of Windows Vista

Click here for detailed specifics about the features included and not included in each one

Windows Vista compatibility update for CompuSports products

When Windows Vista was released in January 2007, we knew it was only a matter of time before the need to attain Vista “compatibility” would become a necessity for software publishers.  Despite an avalanche of criticism from all corners of the computing community, including the recently “awarded”, dubious designation as PC World’s “biggest disappointment of the year”,  what Microsoft wants, Microsoft gets. Its that simple.

As the PC World article points out, “Vista will come to dominate the PC landscape, if only because it will become increasingly hard to buy a new machine that doesn’t have it pre-installed.”  While Retail buyers (those that buy computers in stores like Circuit City, Best Buy, Staples and the like) found this to be true almost immediately after Vista’s release, companies that sell computers to business and insitutional buyers have been permitted to offer their customer a choice of Windows XP or Windows Vista, and will be permitted to do so until June 2008.

The unfortunate part of all of this for new computer buyers is that the cost of purchasing a new computer that runs Windows Vista does not end with the cost of the computer. Many “peripherals” like printers and video capture devices don’t work on Vista and need to be replaced.  The story is the same for software, particularly specialized software of the kind that coaches purchase for coaching-specific tasks.

We had a two-pronged approach to Windows Vista at CompuSports. Like most publishers that want to remain in business for the long haul, we made a commitment to invest in the future viability of our Easy-Scout, Easy-Cut and Easy-Recruiter products. 

The first prong in our strategy was to develop Vista-compatible versions of our video editing products, which we did shortly after Vista was released. Easy-Scout Professional 2.0 , and Easy-Cut 2.1shipped in March with Windows XP and Windows Vista compatibility.  In each case, the application itself required significant modifications in order to run at all on Windows Vista, and since a new computer, often a laptop, is often purchased to run Video Editing software, that was our priority.

The second part of our strategy was to focus on those products that were typically installed on “office” or school computers, since there was a greater likelihood that Windows XP would be slower to “disappear”. With just a few exceptions, we found this to be the case, and in fact, expect Windows Vista to have a slow uptake in schools due to the fact that schools, like business, “have a choice”. The two products in this category were our Easy-Scout XP (football scouting) and Easy-Recruiter (athletic recruiting) applications.

Easy-Recruiter was shipped early this fall in a Vista-compatible version, that itself has been updated one time in early December to resolve what had been an intermittent, yet nagging issue. 

Easy-Scout XP, while delivered in a Vista-compatible immediately upon Vista’s release,  had a design that made it somewhat inconvenient for Vista users to install and run.  Plus, its companion product, Analyzer 2006 was not Vista compatible and we learned that it would only function on Vista with a major overhaul. 

For these reasons, our approach with Easy-Scout XP and Analyzer was to “consolidate” the two products and offer them in a single, Windows XP and Windows Vista compatible product.  That product, Easy-Scout XP Plus, was shipped last month (November). In addition to consolidating the products, we took the opportunity to enhance the analysis and reporting module that had been in Analyzer before releasing Easy-Scout XP Plus. The result is a better product, where we believe 1+1=3.

While not free, these Vista-compatible versions are available at reduced upgrade pricing to current users. Season Pass subscribers for Easy-Scout Professional automatically receive the latest version with their subscription renewals, and software maintenance agreement holders receive them as needed.

Easy-Recruiter News

We just released a Windows Vista compatible installer for Easy-Recruiter 2.53, the current version of CompuSports Easy-Recruiter Athletic Recruiting Management software.  The new installer should enable Easy-Recruiter to both install and run on Windows Vista in a Limited User account, however like most applications, must be installed with Administrator permissions. 

Windows Vista users can obtain the new installer by visiting the Easy-Recruiter download page and clicking on the link for the Easy-Recruiter Windows Vista Installer. 

New pricing and product changes become affective on October 1 that affect all Easy-Recruiter versions, from Express to Workgroup.  Easy-Recruiter Express will be discontinued in favor of the more powerful and popular Easy-Recruiter Personal Edition that includes advanced import/export and mail merge capabilities.   Rounded out the now 2 SKU Easy-Recruiter lineup is The Easy-Recruiter Workgroup Edition for users who want to share recruiting data either using a server or sharing folders within a workgroup network.  The licensing has changed slightly for the Workgroup edition but remains highly affordable and includes a quick-start technical support startup briefing for network users.

Easy-Recruiter enters its 6th year helping coaches from all sports implement structure and organizational through the numerous data colletion, management and reporting tools and techniques provided by this highly affordable athletic recruiting software that works for any sport.  Developed originally by CompuSports in a Football Recruiting configuration for a Division III College Football Staff, Easy-Recruiter has a broad base of users in colleges at all levels across many sports and is available at both www.coachingware.com – a multi-sports athletic software store, and www.compusports.com – a football-specific software store.

Easy-Recruiter gets improved Excel Import and Export

Many users of our Easy-Recruiter software make extensive use of its ability to work with Microsoft Office – specifically Excel, Word and Outlook.

Easy-Recruiter 2.53, a maintenance update just released, improves on its ability to work with Excel worksheets and is now available free of charge to Easy-Recruiter 2.5 users. The update is posted on our Technical Support web site at www.compusportsnetwork.com .

College coaches and recruiters looking to automate their Athletic Recruiting process and make it more efficient often have a short “run ramp” from paper, Excel or Access to Easy-Recruiter.  When budgets are tight, utilizing Excel in conjunction with Easy-Recruiter, especially for off-site coaches and recruiters,  costs less than buying a license for each coach.

Easy-Recruiter’s Import capabilities shine at the start of a new recruiting season, when lists of prospective athletes, their schools and coaches are purchased from one of the many recruiting services.  We have experience importing lists from data provided by Collegiate Sports Data, Forbes and LRS to name just a few and we also include data migration and import assistance free of charge for a year with the Single user and Workgroup versions.  CSD has delivered data to one of our customers in a format that requires little modification before importing it into Easy-Recruiter.

We’re constantly trying to reduce the time it takes to get information into our programs.  Its really amazing to some of our customers when they realize they can start the recruiting season with a full list of athletes, schools and coaches in a program like Easy-Recruiter without any manual data entry.

A trial version of Easy-Recruiter is available by download, and 1 on 1 demonstrations are available on request.