Update to 4.23 or not for Win 7 PC

[PlayaCat]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Because the version of Qt that Calibre uses isn't fully compatible with Windows 7.

You can use a portable version if you want two separate Calibre installations.

What is a "portable version?" One on a thumbdrive?

[ownedbycats]

It can be used on a thumb drive, yes. The difference between it and the regular Calibre is that all the settings are kept in its own folder, so it can be used as a standalone version. I use a portable version of 3.48 for cases when I want to use the old ebook-viewer.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by PlayaCat

I have worked as a software consultant with Microsoft since DOS 1.1. I know that some MS operating systems are very good (Windows 3.1, the last NT, XP SP3 and Windows 7 SP1. Windows 8 and 8.1 were horror shows, but NOT AS BAD AS THE CONSTANTLY IN TROUBLE Window 10 and its many upgrades that break more than they fix. Windows 10 is a continuing abortion. I know from insiders at MS that there is already a group researching a complete greenfield replacement for the troubled Windows 10.

I use Windows 7 SP1 as do most of my Fortune 50 clients that use Windows at all (some still use XP SP3 with third-party paid support - I've run XP on a separate machine 24/7 since it first came out - I was a beta tester - and to this day, it's never BSOD'd on me). Linux is gradually replacing Windows in many companies sick of Win 10. I have been continuing to upgrade Calibre on my Windows 7 main computer through version 4.23 and it works very well - no problems with it and my external plugins.

WHY DID YOU DESIGN 5.0 TO DROP SUPPORT FOR WINDOWS 7? Even my newest HP laptop I was able to arrange to get with 7 on it instead of 10. Am I going to have to move to my VM copy of Ubuntu to run 5.0+?

Also, is it possible for me to keep my 4.23 copy of Calibre on my Windows 7 machine and install a retro copy of 3.48 in a separate directory subtree? Will they both share resources or maintain separate resources?

Python 3.x is dramatically different and not backward compatible with 2.7, so some of my plugins have NOT been updated to Python 3.x and would be non longer usable on Calibre 5.x

Otherwise, I guess I'm stuck on 4.23 for the future. Sad...

If you do run 5.x, forget ever running any version prior to 4.23 as there is a change to the database format with 5.x and only 4.23 will be able to work with this new database format without error. So it's 5.x and 4.23 or 4.23 and 3.48. But 5.x and 3.48 is a no go.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

It can be used on a thumb drive, yes. The difference between it and the regular Calibre is that all the settings are kept in its own folder, so it can be used as a standalone version. I use a portable version of 3.48 for cases when I want to use the old ebook-viewer.

You need to stop mentioning your 3.48 portable without mentioning 3.48, 4.23, 5.x and the data format issues. You will cause others to try to run 3.48 and have it all go horribly wrong.

[ownedbycats]

PlayaCat specifically asked about 3.48.