Microsoft released their new operating system Vista recently and word on the street has it that the new Mac OS, code named Leopard, will be hitting the streets sometime this spring, maybe as early as April or maybe just before the June World Wide Developers Conference. Apple always manages to be very tight with their information, so rumor is all we have on that.
Anyway, these two major releases have me thinking about how new OSs often result in a need for new hardware and how frustrated my customers get with that fact. Theres a great divide between the mega rich software guys who drive the companies that release these great new packages and the ordinary user who just wants his email to work and a basic word processor to write out instructions for the babysitter.
My customers cluster more on the lower end of that equation, and I am often challenged to patch together hardware that we hope can last just one more year. For the most part, I dont mind that, even rather enjoy the challenge. You have to understand that I havent bought a new computer since about 1995. In my office, although Im currently as up-to-date as Ive been for awhile, all my computers were purchased used. I run one beige G3 on Mac OS 9.2 because my scanner is a SCSI scanner and wont connect to any of my new(er) computers. I do my daily operations on a souped up G4 running OS 10.4.8. I carry an old Mac PowerBook that will run in either 9.2 or 10.4. And for the PC side of what I do, I run Windows XP. I doubt my PC will be able to support Vista, and I am a little concerned that my trusty laptop will not tolerate the new Leopard OS.
So, you see, I feel your pain. I am often asked why the new software so often requires new hardware, and the answer (as you all know if you just take time to consider) is economics. The automobile industry is a good example of this. I can remember each fall when new models of each of the Big Threes offerings were eagerly awaited. My dad always wanted one of the new ones, my mom always told him the old model was just fine. All a car really needs to do is get you to work and to the grocery, but Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler couldnt build an industry on that. Their employees liked to receive weekly paychecks, have health care, and build up retirement accounts.
Each year, like clockwork, you could count on the introduction of new models with new features and cool new designs that would just scream Buy Me Now. The manufacturers loved designing them and felt righteous about offering consumers what consumers wanted. The consumers, well some of them, bought it…the whole package. The very essence of having made it was to be able to trade up every year or so.
Back to my original subject…consider this: according to InformationWeek magazine, February sales of new computers shot up 67% over last years February sales. Microsoft introduced Vista on January 30, 2007. Why do companies design new software that requires new hardware? Economy. Just be glad that they have not (so far) adopted the auto industrys business plan introducing new models EVERY year!
On the other hand…look where the auto industry is today.
And on a side note that may or may not be related, I also read today that Kodak has heard your absolute disgust of the whole cheap printer/expensive ink scenario. Their new line of EasyShare AIO printers sells for $150 to $300, not that bad for a good office printer/scanner/copier, but more to the point, black ink cartridges will cost $10 and color $15. Kodak is a company in financial disarray, but I sure give them a lot of credit for listening to the consumer. I hope they can make this work!