Software Upgrades

I have been using Microsoft Word and Excel on a Mac since about 1988. I
have probably upgraded more times than I care to remember and yes along with each new iteration there is some new feature that seems pretty neat at the time.

Last year the time came to upgrade to Office 2008 for Mac and I didn't take the plunge. Why? I just couldn't justify it. It seemed extravagant. Instead I purchased iWork '08 for the Mac but although this was a decent, very good value suite of software, I work almost entirely in the Windows world so sharing documents between platforms is essential and iWork doesn't make this easy, even in its latest '09 iteration.

I know companies have to make money by upgrading their software, but the Office upgrade is too much (especially if there is a major interface change to learn when you do) and the iWork upgrade isn't even that, you just buy the latest version, no concession to loyalty at all. The same with Bento, FileMaker Inc's basic database app. If you want to upgrade you have no choice you just have to buy the latest £29 version. OK I agree a no brainer for most.

Upgrading software should be about providing greater productivity rather than functionality. What can I do quicker, better, more intuitively than I could with the previous version? This comes first...then come the fantastic new features which make you appear super talented!

It is as simple as that. When is an upgrade an upgrade? When it's worth it.