New control system

[neutrino]

Hi all,

So I bit the bullet and ordered a QM2000 Beyond package to supplement my 2 FB3s from Pangolin. Should I arrive here in a couple of days depending on customs.

I have also ordered a custom built All in One touch screen (5 wire resistive) panel PC with PCI slot. I forget what the specs are right now but it is core 2 quad with 4Gb RAM

I am looking forward to getting all this hooked up and running.

Do you think I should install XP or Win 7?
I will be running the following softwares on this machine:

Beyond
LivePRO
Quickshow
IMU and VMU
Textmachine3D
Chamsys MagicQ
Arkaos (maybe?)
and maybe a few other small apps like LoopBe and Pangobright.

I am planning on splitting the VGA output with DualHead2Go so I can use two projectors for VMU and Textmachine3D/Arkaos.

I want to keep this machine as clean as possible and it will solely be dedicated to shows.

Before they finish building it should I be looking for anything else specific?

Cheers
Rich

[taggalucci]

Create 2 partitions and have both OSs - then you can compare.

[neutrino]

Damn, I should have thought of that.

I have both install discs so I guess it would make sense and then when all the systems software has been installed I can pick the better, most reliable and do a fresh install removing all the un-needed trial crap I might be trying.

I should get the unit in the next couple of weeks - assuming customs is on my side!

Cheers
Rich

[taggalucci]

There's other strategies you could try too...

1st partition (at the start of the disc - supposedly faster read/write area): final ideal system
2nd partition: test WinXP
3rd partition: test Win7

...then you can try out new software in partitions 2 and 3 and make sure it's settled in OK with the other software before you commit it to the 1st partition. You can either keep the other partitions (ideal as you're likely to want to add to your system over time) or you can remove them and use something (Partition Magic??) to resize your 1st partition over the other 2 without reinstalling etc.

Back in the day when I used (real) PCs, I used to have 3 partitions. 1st as the fast ideal, 2nd as my test and a 3rd small partition with just the basics to boot into and operate on the other two partitions. Now I use Macs and have VMware for all my test PCs/Linux Servers etc. I can snapshot an entire PC configuration (OS state, application state etc) in seconds, install something to try out and easily roll-back in seconds to my prior state. I can also copy an entire "PC" from one VM host machine to another without having to recreate the entire ecosystem. You may be able to do the same on PCs with VM Player or Workstation.

[taggalucci]

...plus with VMs you can mix and match OS versions. Some things work better on WinXP and some on Win7. You'll just need to make sure your host is optimised for VM performance.

[Bradfo69]

Wow... my first instinct when opening the thread was to say "XP" but, yes, after reading through, Tag's got it right. Seems to me if I recall, Win7 already has the capabilities of Partition Magic built in so, perhaps install it first and use it to set up and adjust your partition sizes. All in One touchscreens are nice.

(I'm just having a hell of a time finding a carrying case for mine. Might use an art portfolio.)

[buffo]

Hey Rick!

Getting some new equipment in preparation for Caribbean-LEM, eh?

It used to be that XP was the preferred OS for Pangolin's LD-2000 system, because there were issues with the networking stack under Windows 7. However, that issue has been mostly solved with a patch from Pangolin, and in any event it only affected people that used Pangolin's .net solution for connecting their QM boards remotely. Since your QM will be local (in a PCI slot), you shouldn't have any problems.

Speaking purely from an OS standpoint, I have to admit that Windows 7 is more stable than XP. True, it chews up more system resources, but with a core 2 quad CPU you won't have any trouble.

If you plan to connect the machine to the Internet regularly, I'd suggest Win 7. But if it will live in isolation, then XP becomes more attractive. Personally, all my laser computers still run XP, but I've been thinking about moving to Windows 7 because of the increased security and stability it offers. I've seen more and more laserists move to Win 7 without any problems, so I think it's probably safe to make the switch. (Also, I don't have any .net boxes, so the networking issue won't affect me either.)

By the way, February is coming up fast! How do we stand on registrations so far for Caribb-LEM?

Adam

[neutrino]

Hi Adam,

Yep, figured it was time to try something new.
I am hoping to have two additional projectors too. Both blue/red. So that will be 1x 2W RGB, 2x 1.5W RB and 2x 1W B controlled by 1 QM2000 and 2 FB3s.

I was hoping win 7 would work out ok. I'll probably still go with the partitioned system to start with. I am planning on keeping this machine isolated but I am sure it will get connected to the net every now and again.

I am now back of vacation and SELEM is over I agree it is time to start looking into CaribLEM again. We have 6 rooms booked so far. The owners have taken 6 rooms back for renovation - leaving us with a total of 18 (12 remaining) I hope the rooms are done by the New Year and if they are I will add these on to the 18 we already have set aside.

I will go and update the CaribLEM thread now.

Cheers
Rich

[blowfly]

Win7 has better touch drivers than XP, but the Win8 touch support is even better than 7. I tried Beyond with Win 8, runs great. Haven't tried any of the rest of your stack.

[neutrino]

I didn't think of trying Win 8 yet. Maybe I'll give that a go too.

Looks like the frame will be finished on the 8th and then the electronics goes in. Should ship on the 12th.
Excited to get this together with the QM2000 and have a play. The QM200 should arrive this morning. I thin I will put it in the office desktop for a quick look.

Is there anyway of activating Beyond on my laptop via a network? I know you can control the QM2000 in another computer from LD2000 on a different machine over ethernet.

Cheers
Rich