New = Better = Myth

Have I written about my vacuum cleaner before? If I have, forgive me because I'm about to do it again.

"All the cool kids might be buying that software upgrade, but that doesn't mean they're getting a value."

I have a Hoover canister vacuum cleaner that I inherited from my mother. Mom bought it used from a garage sale in the early 1950's. During my youth, our family owned several vacuum cleaners but mom always kept that Hoover. No matter how much she paid for one, those newer vacuums never had the staying power of her second-hand baby. Motor after motor would burn out on those fancy uprights while the Hoover just kept running. Mom cleaned the old thing and oiled the parts but she never had to take it to the repair shop. To this day, that Hoover has all it's original parts, minus the power cord.

When I got the Hoover, I bought a cord. That was no easy task. Even in this day of instant Internet search, power cords for old vacuum cleaners are not an easy find. Luckily, there was a Hoover distributor in my town. I got the replacement cord from them. When the clerk looked up my model in their discontinued product catalogue, I discovered mom's Hoover was manufactured between 1937-1940.

I use that Hoover today. It's bagless. It looks like a rocket. It's as powerful as any new vacuum you can find.

I'm the same way about computer software. I won't buy a new program just because it's new.

In case you don't know this, I'm a frugal bitch. I buy faddish stuff. I have fun. But I refuse to be a slave to planned obsolescence mentality. I abhor the idea of getting rid of something just because it's old. I think it's shameful that I should have to justify why I don't own the freshest, newest programs. I would think the reasons why would be obvious. Nevertheless, I will explain by example.

For example, I own a copy of Microsoft Office 97 Professional. Say what you will about MS but this is a hell of a suite of programs. Despite that fact that I've had the suite since 1997, I have not yet gotten the maximum use out of my Office Suite. I use the hell out of Word but I've barely scratched the surface with Access and Excel. I played around with Office 2000 when it came out. I wasn't impressed. The new version didn't have any feature I needed or desired. It cost way too much to upgrade. I didn't upgrade in 2000 and I probably never will.

Take a good look at an upgrade before you buy. Explore the new features included in that software upgrade. Are those new features and capabilities really necessary to you? Can you find a plugin, add-on or patch that will perform the same tasks as an upgrade? Is it worth the extra money and time you'll spend learning how to use your upgraded program?

Take your PC into consideration. Do you have they system requirements necessary to run an upgraded program? Will you have to upgrade your hardware in order to run your upgraded software properly? Will your Operating System be able to handle your upgraded software? What if you have to upgrade your OS just so you can operate your updated image-editing software? How many upgrades will you have to perform just so you can have a new version of PhotoShop?

Add your pocketbook into this equation. Will paying the price for an upgrade actually help your business? Will you see a return on your upgrade investment? What if the upgrade software includes only one new function that you need? What if you can find a stand-alone program that performs the same function for less money than the upgrade? When you divide new function by cost, are you going to come out ahead?

The truth is that software companies exist to make money. Product upgrades are often thinly veiled selling tools. Catchphrases like "NEW AND IMPROVED" are usually marketing ploys. All the cool kids might be buying that software upgrade, but that doesn't mean they're getting a value.

Be a little like this Hoover-lover. Be frugal. Be wise. Research before you spend money upgrading your software. Make a calculated choice based on need versus cost and value. Does your software work? Does it do what you need? Will you upgrade out of necessity or will you upgrade just for the sake of upgrading?