Information Technology Consulting & Solutions

Maybe a better question is should you upgrade at all? Upgrading simply because you can is quite often a waste of money. Here are a few points to help you decide.

Can your hardware and operating system handle the upgrade? Check the minimum hardware and OS requirements of the upgrade to determine this. It’s not a good idea to switch to a new version of software that requires 96 megabytes of RAM when your system has 48 megabytes. You may still choose to upgrade but you may need to plan on some hardware and OS upgrades as well.

Is there some new feature in the upgrade that you simply must have? If not, you may not need to upgrade. Most of us use only a fraction of the features available in today’s applications. Remember that, unless you’re willing to learn the new features, you’ll gain nothing by an upgrade.

If your computer is getting a bit long in the tooth, you can often upgrade your software by replacing your computer. Most reputable computer companies include the latest versions of applications you are most likely using with their new computers. Regular replacement of your old, tired computer is often the best way to stay up to date with your applications.

Is your computer in a networked environment? Most offices are these days. If so, STOP! To maintain compatibility and the ability to share information everyone needs to be working with the same versions of software. Most likely, your information will not be available to others using a previous version. This is a simple mistake to make and one that is easily avoided with a bit of planning.

If you’re upgrading in an attempt to fix bugs in your application there’s usually a better way. Most software developers make patches or service packs available across the Internet. Since these patches are provided free of charge, installing a patch is the way to fix bugs. This is especially true when you consider that most new versions of software are themselves a bit buggy. You may introduce more problems than you currently have with a brand new version. Regardless, it’s usually best to wait for at least one patch to be released for the version you are considering prior to performing the upgrade.

Okay, when must you upgrade? 

Generally, you will want to stay within two versions of the latest version available. That is, if version 6.0 was just released, you should be running at least version 4.0 of the application. If you’re running version 3.0, wait for a bit for a patch to be released for version 6.0 then upgrade to that version and install the patch. Depending on the frequency of releases, it’s rarely necessary to upgrade to every new version available.

Want more information? Just call us at 405.495.9900 or email us at support@datasytemsokc.com! We’ll be happy to help you.

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