WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SWITCH?
Are you still using Windows 98 or even Windows
95? Mac owners, are you still using OS 9 or even something earlier? If
you are, I have some suggestions to help bring you into the
twenty-first century. Today's computers with their faster hardware,
bigger capacities and abilities that include doing more than one thing
at the same time require a modern operating system. If you're running
Windows, that means Windows XP. If you're running a Mac, that means OS
X. When queried as to why they continue to use the older, outdated
operating system, most reply with reasons that fall into one of two
categories. Either their current machine is too old or requires an
expensive upgrade to accommodate the operational demands of the newer
OS, or one or more of their vital, day-to-day hardware or software
components are not compatible with the modern operating system.
The first reason is pretty straight forward. If
your older machine just can't handle the demands of the new OS, or the
cost of upgrading such as adding more memory is too great, then your
decision to not to upgrade is more likely a fiduciary one and only you
will know when your wallet can handle the move. It's the second reason
where I feel that some advice may help you commit to adopting the
modern operating system.
If your computer is up to running the latest
operating system, then you must discover whether you are up to running
it as well. Make a list of your daily computer activities and rank
them from what you cannot live without (playing Solitaire), to what is
non-essential or frivolous. In addition, determine what hardware such
as your scanner and printer, will operate properly under the new OS.
Donąt forget to include the equipment that is not always attached to
your computer such as your digital camera and MP3 player, and make
sure they will work with the new OS as well.
After listing everything, the next step is to
determine what does and does not work with the new OS. If something
doesn't work, check to see if the publisher or manufacturer offers an
update. Software publishers may offer anything from a software patch
to an entire product upgrade to make their title compatible. Hardware
vendors may offer a newer software driver that allows your existing
hardware to function properly with the new OS.
Finally, once you know what will and won't work,
your job becomes one of making an evaluation. Do you currently have
enough of what you need to make the switch? If so, then that's great.
If not, are the upgrades free or within your budget? Or can you make
the switch and get by for now, and gradually make the necessary
updates as time and your wallet can afford? All of this will help you
to best determine if everything is ready for your big move. When you
do so, then welcome to the wonderful world of modern operating
systems, where things are far more stable than ever before.
As for me, my switch was a gradual one. I have
been jumping between OS 9 and OS X for some time now. While operating
in the older OS 9, I continued to collect applications and hardware
drivers for the newer OS X. But OS 9 was still my primary system as I
waited for more and more applications to become updated. Well, last
week was the magical day when OS X became my primary OS as the last
major piece of needed software finally became available.
As a writer, spelling is a key concern and
although my word processor has its own spell checker built in, so many
other of my applications do not. Casady and Greene (www.casadyg.com)
has finally released their Spell Catcher X ($39.95) for OS X, and it
was well worth the wait. The basic idea behind Spell Catcher X is that
it will check the spelling within just about any application where you
can type. And it also works with the OS 9 Classic Layer so you can use
it with your older applications as well. In fact, Spell Catcher X
performs even better than its OS 9 counterpart.
Needless to say that I feel if you own a Mac and
are using OS X, you should own a copy of Spell Catcher X, but that's
not my main point. There are many out there who are on the fence when
it comes to updating to the newest OS. My observation is that it
usually boils down to one or two important items that will inspire
that person to finally make the leap forward. For me, it was Spell
Catcher X.
www.casadyg.com |
