Sqlraider (11/13/2013)
Dale Turley (11/13/2013)
I strongly disagree with the idea of just pushing something out to fit a time frame, and this kind of mentality is the reason for IT having such a bad name. It also gives rise to the phrase, 'Don't use the software until the first service release.'If I brought a television that worked most of the time but couldn't show certain channels for example or had faults, I would return it for a refund, and if it was not put down to a faulty unit I would use another company / brand next time. The same with software - it's the reason why lots of software does not get used within our company and to be frank, won't get a trial again for the foreseeable future.
I agree yet people can't wait to get the newest version of Windows. Until customers demand a bug free version before purchasing this will not end.
It is as much down to the business model too. Microsoft, like many software producers, make money from selling perpetual licences i.e. pay once, use forever. This means that they need the money from support contracts and upgrades in order to still be in business. As their software has got more reliable and more mature in terms of features, Microsoft appear to be finding it harder to sell the upgrade path. Is this why PhotoShop cannot be purchased anymore and has gone subscription only?
There are alternative models and I am NOT opening the perpetual licence versus subscription debate NOR the proprietary versus open source software debate.
Personally, I have enough changing on a regular basis that I can handle a much slower upgrade road map. I now have the problem that there is an ever widening version gap between clients and I have to be reasonably familiar with many versions of many products.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!