How long should a software program be used? When should it be upgraded or replaced with a completely different product?
The software programs that I use the most are all contained in the “Microsoft Office Professional 2003” suite. In the “good old days” of personal computing, I developed the habit of upgrading software as soon as a new version appeared on the market.
But there are some annoyances associated with upgrades. Obviously the major one is the expense, as some upgrade packages cost hundreds of dollars.
Another is the “learning curve” typically associated with new features. It is difficult to have an improved user experience if you don’t know that certain features exist, let alone how to use them.
But the worst part about upgrading, and the reason that I have NOT upgraded my Office suite is that some features that you actually use could be eliminated from and upgrade. It is possible to PAY to lose functionality, and that is maddening!
As a result, I stopped upgrading just for the sake of having the “latest and the greatest!” As long as my software achieved the purpose for which it is intended, I will keep it and use it.
And so the answer to the question “when is a software program obsolete” is a simple one:
When it no longer works for you!
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I am still trying to get used to the new Windows Office. Of course I like the older version better....just cause I know it. Learning Windows 7 and the new office suite can be frustrating at times.
If you find say a video editing program with all the bells and whistles you need, the reaching in to your pocket for another bigger, badder, better software purchase may not be needed. Especially if you have not fully used the software to its fullest extent with your skills. Throwing money at equipment, software is not the secret to capturing a way way larger share of your real estate market than the others wearing "R"'s wished you did. Hard work and creativity with what you do have to work with. Like a guitar player with a piece of junk Western Auto Wizard model that he is so skilled it does not matter and makes it wail, sing, howl sweetly as you watch with jaw floor level with the bottoms of your shoes.
I think I upgraded through Office 2007 but the changes do annoy me so I am fine where I am for now.
Richard.....we need to find out what we're missing by not upgrading.....the latest microsoft publisher is quite different from the old one.....and powerpoint is much better too.....the old microsoft word doesn't hold a candle to the new one.
Thanks for the post. So true!
Good luck in your area.
Happy holidays.
See Richard I dislike the new Office & don't like the new word either, unlike Barbara, but it's all what you get use to ...beginning to learn the new things again takes time away from business...such is life!
BTW, thank you for chatting with me & it was great to connect & get your insight..best of holidays, ginny
Richard, Most of those upgrades add functionalities we don't need, so we don't upgrade until there's a "have to" that we need to function the way we want. We're due for a new laptop, we'll see what comes with it and work from there.
Richard,
Another Office Pro 2003 user here. I also have Windows 7, and Office 2003 seems like it isn't 100% compatible with W7. But it works. So, I have not popped the cost of the upgrade. Yet.
My wife has Office XP, (2002) on her desktop. MS no longer supports it with updates, including security. Time to move on that, I think. She has a chance to get Office 2010 at a huge discount through her work, and she will do that. That may be the impetus to get me to move to 2010, although I will have to pay market price.
Upgrading software can be hard to justify when the current version works...
Richard, I am facing this. I lost the disk to Microsoft Office, which had the key code written on it. Don't remind me....
I have XP on my office computer and I know how everything works...my laptop at home is new, it came with Windows 7 and I hate the way it functions.
Diane...
I have Windows 7 (It came with the computer) and Office 2003 seems to work fine, except I have to agree to the license every time I open it!
Andy...
I wonder how much a single feature is worth? If an upgrade is $50, I don't even think about it, I just pay. But when it is $250 you really have to pause and think: "Do I really need this?"
I have been using Office 2007 since it came out. I'm thinking of converting to an online software suite, such as Google Docs.
Richard,
When I read you blog, I was going to suggest the same thing as Bob has (above). I try and use as much on-line apps as possible, then the upgrades are transparent to me and I don't need to worry about them so much. I love Google Docs. It has equivalent tools for WORD, EXCEL, etc and I can also upload files and share with whomever I need to, without sending attachments. And the coordinated Google Calendar is very nice too. As for operating systems... if it ain't broke... use the money somewhere else. Eventually you may need to make the leap to a completely new OS, but until then, save the "inbetweens" as much as possible.
Richard, say no more! I updated my MAC OS and lost the ability to synch photos from my Droid X because Google and Apple haven't learned to play nice with each other... <frustrated sigh>
BTW - you won our silly contest! Thanks for playing!
I have had to buy six new computers in the past year and with each one I gritted my teeth over re-licensing MS Office and Publisher. I had a vision of Googleness with everything in the cloud. But Google doesn't have a sub for Publisher (for brochures) and after a month of trying an all Google world I realized that only being able to work online is a probem. but you know what is the worst? The kid's schools made me upgrade -- apparently the on-line submission apps won't let them turn in homework done on older MS words and excel. School supplies used to be pencils and a lunchbox, now it's laptops and software.
Hi Richard: So true... There was a very funny sketch last week on the Colbert SHow..... He pulled out his old (larger) computer and was gong to erally 'show' someone that he emant business... he was trying to 'dial up' for 5 minutes..it was funny. We have come a long way and we all tend to hold onto things until they 'go' but what a relief when we take that plunge and buy new... a whole new world! Best, Gay
Richard, so true. I will be doing a job this morning by the old train yards. Knowing your passion for trains, I thought of you. If the weather is descent, I will take a few pics...
I agree with you Richard, upgrading can lead to a loss in productivity. Unless I am upgrading for a purpose I say forget it. Merely having the latest and greatest is no reason to make a change...
Richard this is something that has always baffled me. Why would and "upgrade" an "improvement" eliminate anything that worked from the "dinasaur?"
I think that can be said for anything
My camera is 7 mega and today I looked at a 14 and then said for what.
And my last car was actually sold as a classic lol
Enjoy the day
Good morning Richard,
Always something that is the latest and greatest! You have a point..it is obsolete when it no longer works for you!
That's always been one of my pet peeves too John. There hasn't really been any incredible progress that I can see from the days of WordPerfect. The software design companies must continually upgrade their product so that they can stay in business. I have one right now, my contact manager, which I just upgraded, only to find that it may not work with my old Palm Treo which is still in perfect working order.
Whoops, sorry Richard. I don't know where John came from!
You pushed a button on that one. On my HP Laptop that I got last year I have Windows 7. I admit, I like it. Not the first week so much, but I intuitively figured it out and in a matter of a few weeks I was right at home with it. I have Office 7 on this one and it still kind of frustrates me. It's never clear to me what it's intention is or where it's going. Weird way to put it, but it's not intuitive at all. I'm always looking for the friggin tool I need and spend too much time frustrated because I can't find it.
In a world where our routine is like playing speed chess everyday, I need to get the next thing done ASAP and move on. Push come to shove I often opt to my Dell Laptop - Latitude D610. It's been very very good to me over the years and still serves me well with Windows XP and Office 2003 Professional with developer add ons.
I use to have a ton of programs, but I've off loaded most of them. More likely than not, if there's an app or tool I need other than what I have installed, I use it online.
Love your photo of the steam engine. We have several up in Snoqualmie. I get up there when I can to look at them. What amazing technology they were! Great post and true, if it's still efficient and it works, it works.
Richard - I am going to try open office before I upgrade my Microsoft office packages. It is supposed to be transparent, at significantly lower cost, like free.
I've got to upgrade to Windows 7. I'm using XP now and it's soooooo sloooooow. I hate upgrades because they disrupt everything. I'm hoping this weekend to take some downtime so I can make the switch.
Richard...I don't like updates. I don't do learning curves very well and the cost is an issue because I am on the cheap side!
Hi Richard,
Sometimes the "upgrade" feels like a downgrade to me. :)
Richard - Office Pro 2003 here too. My next upgrade will be to the cloud. Too much money for so little
Hi, Richard:
I still can't stand the latest version of Word. After years of memorizing all the shortcut keys, only one still works, the one for inserting files into a documents.
Cheers,
Robin