Windows Versions and PAXcam/PAX-it

Through the years, PAX-it has maintained its leading position as a Windows-based imaging application in the scientific and industrial community. Many features and new modules have expanded the usefulness and flexibility of the product. While the Programming Department has kept busy over the years to accomplish these feats, it has been noteworthy that it has happened despite the changes that Windows brings to the table.

During PAX-it’s initial years, the software was based in DOS, the standard disk operating system of the day. When Windows came along with its graphical user interface, the original “PAX” product became “PAX-it for Windows”. Windows 3.11 was the operating system of the day, and PAX-it version 1.0 took advantage of its features to provide users with things like toolbars & buttons for controlling the software. Even though Windows “folders” were not a household term, PAX-it introduced a graphical user interface for browsing that gave a familiar “file cabinet & folder” feel to organizing an image collection. We also were one of the first software packages using image icons or thumbnails as a graphical means to identifying image files.

Needless to say, these innovations were a huge success, and PAX-it became a leader in lab imaging.

Through the years, new versions of Windows have allowed new tools to be developed, but have also been a challenge in deploying new versions of PAX-it. When Windows migrates from 16 bit to 32 bit to 64 bit architecture, or when hardware drivers must comply with a brand new operating system, much must be done behind the scenes to keep PAX-it software not only workable, but functioning with peak performance expected by our users.

It is not uncommon for our Tech Support team to hear of a customer migrating their computer to the latest version of Windows, as an upgrade. “Will PAX-it still work?” is the question, and the answer has always been “Yes it will”. Migration to Windows7 and Windows8 is taken care of when the latest version of PAX-it are deployed.

While moving the product forward to maintain functionality in the latest versions of Windows, we have not left any of our USB2 PAXcam users without a compatible solution. We pick up a lot of business from clients who tell us “I upgraded my computer to the latest version of Windows, and now my Brand “X” camera no longer works–HELP!” We are proud of the fact that customers who purchased a PAXcam using Windows2000 are using that same PAXcam on a new Windows8 machine, after having upgraded to WindowsXP, Windows Vista, and Windows7 along the way.

While we cannot predict any curve balls that Microsoft may throw in the future, we are confident that we will be able to continue the timely updates required to keep abreast of the latest operating systems, including the changes necessary for not only our software, but the hardware drivers as well.