How often to upgrade your software

Alexander Turcic · 09-17-2005, 05:59 PM

I'm not good when it comes to regularly upgrading software for my handheld. Often 2-3 months behind, I find the process of upgrading annoying and often not without difficulties. I guess I live by the old saying "Never change a running system" (or, in other words, "Move your butt as little as possible"). Well, after having experienced two nasty crashes in iSilo this week, I decided that today would be the perfect day for bringing my handheld up-to-date:

iSilo V4.25 -> V4.28
Resco Explorer 2003 V5.10 -> 2005 V5.21
Softick CardExport II V2.02 -> V2.04
TVGuide V0.6.0.127 -> V0.6.2.142
NewsBreak V1.0 -> V1.1
GSPlayer V2.15 -> V2.22
TCPMP V0.65y -> V0.66e

So far everything works fine and I don't regret any of these updates. But I'm curious: How regularly do you update software for your handheld?

Brian · 09-17-2005, 06:21 PM

If it's a major upgrade or I'm having problems that the new version fixes, then I upgrade right away. If not, I take the "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" approach, as I have often experienced more problems after upgrading than staying with the current version that was working fine.

Chaos · 09-17-2005, 06:24 PM

I took "Weeks or months later", as I only upgrade when I hear an upgrade is available, usually.

Or on the odd chance I'm having a problem with something, I look for an upgrade. It's like with my OSX software - I only upgrade when I know something new is out. That's why I like having apps notify me when a new version is available...

Bob Russell · 09-17-2005, 06:30 PM

If it's stable and works well, I don't generally update unless there's features I just can't pass up. Especially true for mature programs that pretty much do the job just fine.

But I jump on updates for a programs that are either a little buggy or maybe just don't have all the features I'd like.

Dick Tracy · 09-17-2005, 06:50 PM

I'm with Bob on this. An exception is if I'm beta testing for a developer, then I'm on their schedule.

TadW · 09-17-2005, 08:38 PM

I am such a nerd that I love any kind of software updates. It makes me feel warm and safe to push version numbers up, even if's only a small digit behind the comma.

maceyr · 09-17-2005, 09:04 PM

Unless it's some really big update fix, as in a security patch that I ABSOLUTELY NEED to patch, I usually don't. I always find that a lot of updates and upgrades are buggy and cause more problems than the older version. If the program is working fine, I usually don't upgrade. Especially with Palm apps where the small size is quite important since most times the upgrade doesn't offer THAT much more in terms of features (that I usually don't need), I find I prefer the older versions of software compared to the newer ones.

I keep an archive of programs in my computer as a backup just in case I need to go back to them because most times, I find the old ones offer a smaller size and faster running than the newer and "better" version. Why do I need a bloated alarm app or any app for that matter when something much smaller and simpler will suffice? But that's just my opinion.

Pride Of Lions · 09-17-2005, 10:54 PM

I usually update whenever I find out about a new version. I realize that new versions are created to fix bugs, not to make new ones. By the time I find out about the next version, usually the developer has gotten a bunch of feedback from the "bleeding edgers" that it's usually safe for me to download and install. If the feedback is negative, or if they say that the new version takes away anything, then I just stay with the older version for the time being.
POL9A

Laurens · 09-18-2005, 03:03 AM

I always update right away, but roll back in case of trouble. For instance, I'm now using Firefox 1.0.5 because 1.0.6 crashes constantly.

Laurens · 09-18-2005, 10:34 AM

OldVersion.com
"Because newer is not always better."

cbarnett · 09-18-2005, 08:49 PM

I always update as soon as I hear that one's available, though I don't go out of my way looking for updates (isilo are nice and send me a little email telling me to update, so I'm always bleeding edge there

).

Craig.

View Poll Results: How often do you upgrade software for your handheld?
Immediately when an update becomes available	3	30.00%
Usually a few days later to hear first what others have to say about the update	2	20.00%
Weeks or months later depending on how important the update is to me	5	50.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

09-17-2005, 05:59 PM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	How often to upgrade your software I'm not good when it comes to regularly upgrading software for my handheld. Often 2-3 months behind, I find the process of upgrading annoying and often not without difficulties. I guess I live by the old saying "Never change a running system" (or, in other words, "Move your butt as little as possible"). Well, after having experienced two nasty crashes in iSilo this week, I decided that today would be the perfect day for bringing my handheld up-to-date: iSilo V4.25 -> V4.28 Resco Explorer 2003 V5.10 -> 2005 V5.21 Softick CardExport II V2.02 -> V2.04 TVGuide V0.6.0.127 -> V0.6.2.142 NewsBreak V1.0 -> V1.1 GSPlayer V2.15 -> V2.22 TCPMP V0.65y -> V0.66e So far everything works fine and I don't regret any of these updates. But I'm curious: How regularly do you update software for your handheld?

09-17-2005, 10:54 PM	#8
Pride Of Lions just kinda geeky Posts: 381 Karma: 30 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Oakland, California Device: iPhone	I usually update whenever I find out about a new version. I realize that new versions are created to fix bugs, not to make new ones. By the time I find out about the next version, usually the developer has gotten a bunch of feedback from the "bleeding edgers" that it's usually safe for me to download and install. If the feedback is negative, or if they say that the new version takes away anything, then I just stay with the older version for the time being. POL9A Last edited by Pride Of Lions; 09-17-2005 at 10:57 PM. Reason: weird grammar.

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09-17-2005, 06:21 PM	#2
Brian MobileRead Editor Posts: 447 Karma: 84 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Massachusetts Device: Treo 700p, Zodiac2	If it's a major upgrade or I'm having problems that the new version fixes, then I upgrade right away. If not, I take the "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" approach, as I have often experienced more problems after upgrading than staying with the current version that was working fine.

09-17-2005, 06:24 PM	#3
Chaos Evangelist Posts: 418 Karma: 281 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Device: Assorted older devices	I took "Weeks or months later", as I only upgrade when I hear an upgrade is available, usually. Or on the odd chance I'm having a problem with something, I look for an upgrade. It's like with my OSX software - I only upgrade when I know something new is out. That's why I like having apps notify me when a new version is available...

09-17-2005, 06:30 PM	#4
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	If it's stable and works well, I don't generally update unless there's features I just can't pass up. Especially true for mature programs that pretty much do the job just fine. But I jump on updates for a programs that are either a little buggy or maybe just don't have all the features I'd like.

09-17-2005, 06:50 PM	#5
Dick Tracy Detective Posts: 109 Karma: 4455 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Device: Palm TX	I'm with Bob on this. An exception is if I'm beta testing for a developer, then I'm on their schedule.

09-17-2005, 08:38 PM	#6
TadW Uebermensch Posts: 2,583 Karma: 1094606 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Italy Device: Kindle	I am such a nerd that I love any kind of software updates. It makes me feel warm and safe to push version numbers up, even if's only a small digit behind the comma.

09-17-2005, 09:04 PM	#7
maceyr Palm Discoverer Posts: 37 Karma: 2139 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Device: Treo 650 & Zire 71	Unless it's some really big update fix, as in a security patch that I ABSOLUTELY NEED to patch, I usually don't. I always find that a lot of updates and upgrades are buggy and cause more problems than the older version. If the program is working fine, I usually don't upgrade. Especially with Palm apps where the small size is quite important since most times the upgrade doesn't offer THAT much more in terms of features (that I usually don't need), I find I prefer the older versions of software compared to the newer ones. I keep an archive of programs in my computer as a backup just in case I need to go back to them because most times, I find the old ones offer a smaller size and faster running than the newer and "better" version. Why do I need a bloated alarm app or any app for that matter when something much smaller and simpler will suffice? But that's just my opinion.

09-18-2005, 03:03 AM	#9
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	I always update right away, but roll back in case of trouble. For instance, I'm now using Firefox 1.0.5 because 1.0.6 crashes constantly.

09-18-2005, 10:34 AM	#10
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	OldVersion.com "Because newer is not always better."

09-18-2005, 08:49 PM	#11
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	I always update as soon as I hear that one's available, though I don't go out of my way looking for updates (isilo are nice and send me a little email telling me to update, so I'm always bleeding edge there ). Craig.

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