I see a lot of uproar over Operating systems lately.
Not the normal Windows versus Mac versus Linux fare. No, the wailing starts around the time an
older version is no longer supported meaning no further updates are produced
for it and every request for help is met with the maddening phrase...
"Upgrade to the newer version."
Now truth be told, we rarely hear anyone complaining much
about the abandonment of an old version of Mac OSX or a Linux distribution. Devotees of those platforms are usually
breathlessly awaiting the next release.
It's usually the Windows world that complains the most and
with good reason. Their customer base is
always wary of a new Microsoft release especially if it follows a successful
predecessor. That's because success is
usually followed by failure. A short
review of recent history bears that out..
- Windows 2003/Windows XP - Stable, easy to manage and user friendly at least after the first service packs.
- Windows Vista - I don't care what Paul Thurott says, it was/is slow and almost completely unusable before service pack 2. Microsoft's "my way or the highway" stance didn't help it gain many fans either. It's the reason why Windows XP only recently entered obsolescence.
- Windows 7 - Everything Vista should have been and for many the worthy successor to XP.
- Windows 8 - A sign of things to come in interface design but a bit too much too soon. Great for tablets but lousy on anything without a touch screen.
So the trend is evident.
Expect the release of a successful Microsoft product to be immediately
followed by a failure.
Perhaps a change of perspective is needed here.
Operating systems are just "products" and products
have a shelf life. That means after a
certain amount of time they go "bad."
So I'm proposing we think of operating systems in the same
way we think about cars.
When you buy a new car you can expect that for at least 5
years you're going to have full support from the factory that made it. Any little thing that goes wrong will be
quickly and cheerfully rectified and you can bet that all the latest features
will be there for the taking.
Now moving past that 5 year mark we're getting into the
realm of "mature" products. You may still have a warranty but you're going
to find that if the sun visor falls off it's going to be fixed but it's
probably going to be on your dime. If
the engine blows up, however, it'll probably be covered. Don't expect any feature updates from the
factory though. They've moved on to this year's model which more likely than not isn't much different than yours so there's no real compelling reason to "upgrade."
Once we get to 10 years you now own an old car. You're probably not visiting the dealer to
get it repaired anymore mostly because it's too expensive. If you hold on to it you've either got a
trusted mechanic close to home or you've suddenly taken an interest in
automotives.
Over 10 years and the words "End of Life" start
showing up. At this point you're into
legacy status and the factory could care less about your car. If you really like the car you'll find all
sorts of "aftermarket" parts and services to keep it running. Chances are the factory and dealer won't be
able to do much for you at this point.
I think the model works pretty well for operating systems
too. At some point you have to accept
that nothing is forever. A 12 year old
operating system is like a 12 year old car.
Obsolete, poorly supported by its maker and dependent on an
"aftermarket" to support it.
There's nothing wrong with the aftermarket so long as they have good
standing but it's a roll of the dice.
Also know that just as an old car may not have the safety features or
fuel efficiency of a new model, an old OS may not be as secure or perform as
well as a newer one.
So run Windows XP or MAC OSX Tiger if you want, just know
that from now on you're going to be on your own.
