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Windows Users: Don't be an early adopter!
Software is inherently imperfect. Microsoft is about to release Windows Vista—its first new version of Windows in five years.
In addition to a new version of Windows, there will be new versions of Windows Server, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft Office.
While fixing problems and adding features is nice, offering system stability is much more important to your business.
It took well over a year from the time Windows XP was released to the time it was ready for widespread use. At the moment,
there are many incompatibilities between Internet Explorer 7—the browser to be included in Windows Vista—and very popular applications for
Windows XP. Internet Explorer 7 will be included with, and mandatory for Windows Vista users, but it is currently available for
download now by Windows XP users. Microsoft even offers it as an "automatic", but optional update. Say no to IE7. We promise to tell you when
it's ready, and when Vista is safe.
Windows is ubiquitous. As such, we will no doubt see news of security holes in Windows Vista when they are discovered.
For now, stay with Windows XP, and upgrade it to include Service Pack 2. If you need help with that,
contact us, and we'll be
happy to help.
In October 2006, Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP installations which have only been
updated to Service Pack 1.
Since many "band-aids" for Service Pack 2 have been released, it's generally a pretty safe bet these days.
Be careful about updating your installations of Microsoft Exchange or Windows 2003 Server, though. Microsoft even heeds
its customers to only download certain hotfixes if they are experiencing the problem which the hotfix addresses.
Until today it has been our practice to suggest disabling automatic Windows Updates.
We no longer recommend this, as Microsoft has made it increasingly difficult for Windows users
to work productively without Nicrosoft's latest fixes. On a positive note, Microsoft now provides
free telephone support to anyone requiring support after applying a hotfix (if the hotfix caused
a problem), or anyone requiring a hotfix, and needs help applying it.
THE ONLY UPDATE TO IGNORE, OR NOT TO ACCEPT from Microsoft is Internet Explorer 7!
Knowing when to apply a band-aid to your finger may be easy. Updating Windows is sometimes a little harder to figure out.
Feel free contact us
with any questions or concerns about hotfixes, service packs, or recommendations for
gauze wraps to go with your band-aids.
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