how many of you upgrade every year?

[acidrock]

This could be a poll but i hate them. But I'm wondering how many of you have upgraded to every OS version, or are upgrading every year. My stratgey was to get jaguar and then I was going to decide if I were to upgrade again. Since Panther came out so soon after I had gotten Jag, I decided to wait until the next 10.4 is released. What do you guys do? -n

[virividox]

i just see if the new features are worth it

i believe its good to be up to date or at least 1 generation behind.

if the features arent that great then ill hold up, i watied for about 3 months and checked out computers with panther before deciding i liked its speed and expose

[HexMonkey]

Until June I was extremely out of date (I used 7.6.1 until 2000, then 8.6 until June 03). I got Jaguar with my eMac in June and then bought Panther about a month after it was released (I waited a bit to make sure there were no major issues like with the original 10.2.8). The main reasons were a) It had lots of features that I liked and b) I missed not having the newest OS. ;)

In the future I will probably upgrade for most new versions, as long as my computer supports them. I feel that if I have a relatively recent system, I might as well have the newest.

[Makosuke]

As of System 9.0, I've been a rapid upgrader. I had 10.0 installed the day it shipped, and I've installed every major version since then within a week or two of its release.

10.x.x versions, on the other hand, I'm more cautious with; I have a tinderbox machine that I usually try them on, but I never upgrade my home machine until watching MacFixit and the forums here has me convinced they're not going to do anything disasterous. I've skipped a few as a result.

I will note that, were Apple to ever release a real clunker of a major upgrade, I wouldn't blindly install it, though I'd probably get it on something if just to familiarize myself with it. I do not like Windows XP, for example (vastly prefer 2K pro), although I'm using it on one machine to get used to it.

[MisterMe]

Originally posted by acidrock
This could be a poll but i hate them. But I'm wondering how many of you have upgraded to every OS version, or are upgrading every year. My stratgey was to get jaguar and then I was going to decide if I were to upgrade again. Since Panther came out so soon after I had gotten Jag, I decided to wait until the next 10.4 is released. What do you guys do? -n I started using Macs when System 6.0.1 was the OS. The first Mac that I purchased ran System 6.0.4. Since then, I have upgraded to each and every version of the consumer MacOS that was available for a machine in my custody. Currently, I am running MacOS X 10.3.2. There have, however, been times when I held off as I prepared to deal with the dire consequences of one particular upgrade or another, at least as reported on the Internet. However, the horror stories caused me needless worry. Apple is much more reliable than stories on the Internet.

As a Mac user since 1989, my bottomline is this: Apple does a fantastic job of quality control in its software. I have no fear of MacOS/MacOS X upgrades.

[Dont Hurt Me]

Originally posted by acidrock
This could be a poll but i hate them. But I'm wondering how many of you have upgraded to every OS version, or are upgrading every year. My stratgey was to get jaguar and then I was going to decide if I were to upgrade again. Since Panther came out so soon after I had gotten Jag, I decided to wait until the next 10.4 is released. What do you guys do? -n Im doing as you, running 10.2.8 and will wait for the next OS. buying a new OS every year with stuff i dont need doesnt make a lot of sense for me.

[wdlove]

I have usually been slow to upgrade. Was running 9.1.1 until November, then I upgraded to 9.2.2. Just upgraded to Panther on January 26th. I have found on many occasions, that if you don't have the latest version of a program that is when the computer will lockup.

[mms]

I upgrade every time, but not always immediately. I usually wait for a couple weeks after a new version is released to see if any major problems crop up. This is especially true after some recent problems such as with FireWire devices and Ethernet problems that occurred.

[varmit]

I have upgraded everytime as soon as I could. That is, I'm a student at PSU, so I have to wait about a week or two before I get it FREE. 10.1 came with my iBook, but I got .2 and .3 and installed them as soon as I got them. I didn't listen to what people have to say on the internet. Usually people on the internet are the only people that are having that problem.

[Koodauw]

I upgrade as soon as the new OS comes out. For me most of the times the benefits of the new OS out ways any minor problems it may have. But then again I don't anything very taxing. For me the thrill of having the new OS asap is worth it. Plus I like to give Steve my money.

[zapp]

I try to stay ahead of the game and just buy a new laptop once a year. Hopefully with the new OS already on it.

[Westside guy]

I'm new to Macs; having said that, I upgraded to Panther basically because it was a free upgrade (my powerbook purchase fell in that gray area). I probably will think long and hard before upgrading to 10.4, unless there's some new killer feature - something more consequential than expose.

Thing is, Panther does pretty much everything I need; especially with darn good X11 support now. Coming from the Linux side of things, it's kind of a new experience paying for an OS. :-) (Just kidding; I ended up buying my copies of Red Hat, mainly to support them)

[Nermal]

The first version of OS X I've used was 10.2.1, which came preinstalled on my iBook. I have installed every new version released since then (which the exception of 10.2.7, which was only available preinstalled on new computers).

I received Panther for "free" thanks to my ADC membership. My membership will probably expire before 10.4's released (expires in November), so I'll need to see what new features there are in 10.4 before I choose whether to upgrade or not. But I'll probably find myself paying $99 for another year of ADC.

[caveman_uk]

I tend to be a bit quick on software updates but I'm not that speedy on hardware upgrades. I usually wait until there's a pretty big margin between what I've got and what's a reasonable price. A two to three year cycle seems reasonable for hardware...

[AssassinOfGates]

I was always up to date for a long time, then stopped after getting OS 9 for my iMac rev A. None of the other macs were mine, so I couldn't install OS X on em. Also, why put OS X on that slow thing anyway? To top it off, I had no money. Eventually I saved enough to buy the dual 867 the same month it came out, and I was fortunate enough that they preinstalled Jaguar before it hit shelves. I've been up to date since (except iPod and bluetooth updates).

[aethier]

my dad upgrades immideatly each time, luckily for me, so i don't need to pay.

aetheir

[ingenious]

I have my Software Update set to run everyday and in the background... If it doesn't pop up, i do it manually.... :D I just love getting a new OS.... It's awesome having the newest one- I get every update and got panther ASAP, but still late (December/January)

Caleb

I love Software Update... it's so much better than Windows Update.... :D

[TigerPRO]

I don't understand some of you people who always talk about the upgrades being "worth it". I always buy the latest and greatest! If it was the only $129 dollars I had, I would still have bought Panther. Even if I have no "need" for it. Having the lstest technology is cool! This is what being an Apple fan is all about; enjoying the floods of inovation and advancement. Being the first experieence the latest technology!

Maybe it's just me. I'm more of a computer hobbiest than simply a user.

[Mala]

I upgrade when there's no other option. It's expensive! It's a nuisance! You have to rename and transfer all your stuff! You have to learn a bunch of new programs!

If it's a hardware upgrade, there are months of paranoia when you're afraid burglars will break in and steal your precious new computer!

It also makes me hate Apple when I upgrade - my laptop cost around 1,000 euro more in Europe than it would have in the US.

[wordmunger]

I upgrade more often than I need to--generally as soon as the upgrade is available. If I was doing more "mission critical" work on my computer, I'd be more careful with upgrades, but since all I really *need* to use is e-mail, Web, and Word Processor, I figure it's not that big of a deal.

Back when I ran a book design/production business, I was *very* careful with upgrades, making certain all our software would run on the new version and there were no significant bugs before I took the plunge.

[New Guy]

Historically I upgrade every other major release. Recently, however, I discovered that since my wife works for our town we can purchase software, etc. at a discount through Apple's government store. So, my buying habits may be changing.

[ratspg]

I try and keep my computer until anything i NEED to run just doesn't cut it. Lately, that is a lifespan of about 2-4 years... usually in-between around 3! :)

[bousozoku]

I tend to be conservative mostly, but as an ADC member, I receive Mac OS X as part of the membership.

Prior to Mac OS X, I was slower to upgrade since there was little meat in the upgrades from 7.6 to 9.0 and $99 was somewhat dear.

Even though 10.3 doesn't appear to have much new about it, it is advantageous for me compared to 10.2.8. Most things just seem to work better, but I'm waiting for various updates.

[janey]

not every year...well maybe every year...more like every upgrade. the minor upgrades inbetween each major point release I try not to install until I really need to, because the last few times I tried installing them (especially with 10.3.1) I totally screwed up the install. :p
I have bad luck with software update.

[wrldwzrd89]

I'm always on the lookout for Mac OS X updates/upgrades and updates to Apple software. I tend to buy upgrades and download updates the day they're released and install both immediately. Only once did I need to downgrade, and that was during the 10.2.8 update fiasco. I'm running Mac OS X 10.3.2, and I will install 10.3.3 as soon as it is released.

[ingenious]

I usually don't worry about breaking a program. I trust apple. Dont flame me! I've just never had a "real" problem with OS X (except for 10.3.2- it was really slow until i ran that sudo command). I just wish the major OS updates weren't so expensive!

Caleb

[phrancpharmD]

I was not planning on upgrading to 10.3, I was just going to wait until 10.4. But 10.3 came with my new iBook, so, well, yeah.

[Ambrose Chapel]

i have but only b/c i can get OS X at a discount, roughly half the retail price. i don't think i'll buy whatever comes out this year though, and start saving for a G5 PB to buy next year (which would hopefully include 10.5 assuming apple continues 1 major OS X release per year).

[Sparky's]

Being a Graphics Professional I need to stay on top of Software devlopments but still keep my department running in full sync. There are so many software issue we face every day that can not handle OS X, so we are still working in OS 9.2.2 on G3s and networked with PCs running 2K Pro. Until recently when we finally decide that all of our periferal (sp) devices were able to handle OS X we have decided to make the migration up. (For us at a cost of $1,600 for 2 machines). I have been using OS X at home for a year now and as soon as I can I will upgrade to Panther. I like the new features and believe that Jaguar was a good beginning and Panther is a better solution. Who knows what inroads Apple will find in the future. Will "COUGAR" (or some other CAT named code) be the next best OS? I believe that trying to figure out when to upgrade is like trying to play the stock market. It's a gamble at best, but if you move forward cautiously, you will come out ahead in the end.
And with that I bid you all a good night.
Sparky

[candan9019]

I have to, I'm addicted to updates. If I don't I feel like I'm getting left behind. It also reminds me to do some house keeping like clean install. Because nothing feels better than a clean install, at least after you get everything back on it.

[TigerPRO]

Originally posted by candan9019
I have to, I'm addicted to updates. If I don't I feel like I'm getting left behind. It also reminds me to do some house keeping like clean install. Because nothing feels better than a clean install, at least after you get everything back on it. I'm with your line of thought man.