Eprime on Windows XP recap

[Leisha Wharfield]

Thank you, Mr. Cernicky.

This is a great reply to my question & recap. Of course I read the 
entire Critical Timing Chapter to be sure I understood timing issues 
related to this software--we are looking for very small differences in 
reaction times. I am also using a port device, so I will steer clear of 
Windox XP 64 for now.

Leisha

Brandon Cernicky wrote:

>Hi Leisha,
>
>Thanks for bringing your concerns to the attention of
>the E-Prime mailing group.  I first want to mention
>that E-Prime 1.1 (build 1.1.4.1), which introduced the
>ability to run on Windows 2000 and Windows XP was
>formally released in October of 2002 and has been out
>of beta testing for nearly three years.  Although
>there have been a number of service pack releases to
>patch some minor bugs and add some minor features (see
>the KB section on the E-Prime web support site for
>those additions/corrections), you should find little
>variation in regards to timing and other issues
>between operating system runs.
>
>In forum postings and support requests sent to PST,
>there have been a number of justified concerns about
>timing and operating system versions. There are a
>number of pro and con items to weigh including
>paradigm requirements and (potentially more
>importantly) the hardware of the machine performing
>the paradigm.  The truth of the matter is that there
>is no “one size fits all” statement concerning the
>acceptability of one version over another, and all of
>these factors must be considered when making a
>decision.  For example, it might not be beneficial for
>a machine running Windows 98 whose EDAT logging
>indicates proper timing to upgrade to Windows XP.  The
>hardware requirements for 2000/XP are significant and
>could affect a previously acceptable machine.  There
>cannot be a blanket statement indicating that one
>operating system, hardware requirement, or paradigm
>requirement is better or worse since they are all
>unique.  However, the emphasis would be to lean
>towards Windows XP because of its industry standard
>availability coupled with the support for updated
>sound and video drivers which would affect performance
>and compatibility.  After an experiment is designed,
>reviewing the EDAT analysis from pilot subjects will
>certainly indicate if there are any timing variances
>that would need to be corrected nearly entirely on the
>basis of design (PreRelease, caching, layout, duration
>modulo refresh rate) or hardware requirements. 
>Besides the verbose information in the Critical Timing
>Chapter, a simple review of OnsetDelay and OnsetTime
>to OnsetTime values between objects can ensure the
>machine and paradigm are performing as expected.
>
>Please continue to check the E-Prime e-mail listing as
>well as the E-Prime web site for updated information
>in regards to E-Prime and timing.  Psychology Software
>Tools is currently performing updated timing tests
>with its own internal equipment in addition to
>analysis with the Black Box Toolkit
>(http://www.blackboxtoolkit.co.uk).  Once the timing
>tests are completed, results will be posted on the PST
>web site with additional information to assist with
>timing precision for specific lab configurations.
>
>As of this writing, Psychology Software Tools intends
>to continue to support Windows 98 SE operating systems
>and later for both E-Prime 1.x and upcoming E-Prime
>2.0 releases with at least baseline features for most
>paradigms even though Microsoft may formally pull
>support for those operating systems.  There are a
>number of labs who will continue to have Windows 98/ME
>machines to run subjects for many years.  I will also
>note that although Psychology Software Tools currently
>provides limited support for Windows XP 64-bit edition
>until formal testing is complete and any related
>issues are resolved.  Only experiment design and
>testing should be attempted on Windows XP 64-bit
>edition at this point.  E-Prime 1.2 is scheduled to
>address installation issues on Windows XP 64, but
>issues regarding timing, use of SRBOX and Port devices
>will remain outstanding until reviewed.  Until that
>time, it is not recommended that Windows XP 64 be used
>for data collection.
>
>Psychology Software Tools will soon be formally
>releasing E-Prime 1.2.  This is a minor release that
>will include all of the corrections and additions from
>the three service packs from E-Prime 1.1 with some
>other corrections and minor additions.  Please note
>that this is not the well anticipated release of
>E-Prime 2.0.  In the summer of 2005, Psychology
>Software Tools conducted a feature survey inviting
>everyone’s input for the next major release of
>E-Prime.  PST was pleased with the response averaging
>hundreds of participants per hour in the first week of
>the survey’s availability.  Besides the exceptional
>input in regards to feature requests, participants
>conveyed their concerns about ensuring timing
>accuracy.  Many of the concerns unfortunately are
>founded in misguided information conveyed by the
>competitors of E-Prime.  PST listened to the responses
>of the survey and is directing efforts to the areas
>that are important to our end users.  This is one of
>the reasons the emphasis on timing related
>verification has taken priority recently.
>
>Thank you for supporting E-Prime!
>
>-Brandon
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Brandon S. Cernicky
>Senior Software Engineer
>Psychology Software Tools
>
>
>
>
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>		
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