Tech Directions - October 2007 - (Page 11)

mastering computers When It's Time to Spring for a The recent release of Windows Vista, and the controversy surrounding it, has sharpened focus once again on the perennial question of just when is the right time to upgrade software, on your personal machine or in your classroom or lab. Windows Vista, the newest version of the most popular personal computer operating system on the planet, was under development for years. The time between its release, and that of its predecessor, Windows XP, was more than five years, the longest ever between Windows versions. The program was tested extensively, both inside Microsoft and by outside volunteer “beta” testers. The computer magazine reviews have been largely positive. Yet since its release, reports have surfaced about compatibility problems in using Vista with existing software programs and hardware peripherals. Some people who have upgraded have since “downgraded” back to Windows XP. Others buying new computers have asked hardware vendors to include XP instead of the “new and improved” Vista, and many vendors have complied, making XP an option on some or all of their systems. So What’s Wrong? The problems surrounding Vista are hardly unique. The open architecture of PCs, with many thousands of different companies making computers, software, printers, and other peripherals, and software drivers to connect peripherals to computers, means there are and always have been countless avenues for incompatibility glitches. Reid Goldsborough is a syndicated columnist and author of the book Straight Talk About the Information Superhighway. commodity, comfortable, and works well enough. This typically happens to technophobes, those who actively dislike or just tolerate computing as a work or school necessity. Reid Goldsborough On the other hand, some former reidgold@netaxs.com geeks turn into phobes, just as puppies turn into old dogs, refusing to Software Upgrade learn new tricks, even when the tricks would make their work or One of oldest, most common, and personal lives more productive or wisest pieces of advice in deciding enjoyable. Some people out there to upgrade any software, whether are still running WordPerfect 5.1 for it's an all-encompassing package DOS, a program that was released 18 such as an operating system or a years ago. group of smaller but still critical There's someapplications thing to be said such as an office for the maxim, suite, is to wait The open architecture of “If it ain’t broke, until the first set PCs . . . means there are don't fix it.” But of bug fixes is and always have been this should be a out before micountless avenues for decision-making grating to a incompatibility glitches. process, not a major upgrade. knee-jerk resisMicrosoft is tance to change. working hard on In deciding whether to upgrade Windows Vista Service Pack 1, which any software program, you should is scheduled for release sometime do a formal or informal cost-benefit around the end of the year. Along analysis, say experts. At a minimum, with fixing many of those thorny it should involve these five steps: incompatibility glitches, the service 1. Learn what’s new out there and pack will include performance enwhat benefits it promises. hancements and added flexibility 2. Tap into the collective wisdom such as the ability to run your of how well it delivers on its promchoice of desktop search programs, ises by reading reviews and seeking including Google Desktop, as the out opinions of peers in online disdefault rather than the search procussion groups, consumer evaluagram Microsoft provides. tion Web sites, and blogs, as well as offline through discussions with The Upside of Upgrades those whose expertise you trust. Many users experienced no com3. Gauge the difference between patibility glitches with Vista, accordthe benefits of the new and what you ing to anecdotal reports, which is already have. the case with most software up4. Tally the costs to upgrade, grades. Upgrading is typically a fun, including the price of the software, even exciting, activity. Buying and the time it takes to install it, the installing a software upgrade can be likelihood of glitches, the need for like taking the wrapping off of a gift training, and whether hardware and seeing just the present you were should also be upgraded to better hoping for, with new computing match the software. tools that are enjoyable to use at the 5. Determine whether and when same time that they make you more you'll be losing technical support for productive. your old software. Software compaYou don't have to be a computer nies are increasingly discontinuing geek to enjoy software upgrades, support for older products, to cut though it can help. At the opposite their costs and to motivate users to extreme, some computer users get buy upgrades. If you rely on that stuck in their ways, holding onto old support, you may not have a software, even while upgrading choice. hardware, because it's a known www.techdirections.com MASTERING COMPUTERS 11 http://www.techdirections.com

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Tech Directions - October 2007 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology Today Technology’s Past Mastering Computers Rock Your Classroom!—Use Subwoofers to Teach Electricity and Science Sure, They Can Build It, But. . . . Manufacturing Students Need Process Planning Skills Teach Graphic Design Basics with PowerPoint Free Teacher Resources Product Central More than Fun

Tech Directions - October 2007

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