To Accelerate Business Growth, be suspicious of the latest technology
Because technology is pushed to market at such a breakneck pace, quality suffers. A new, well, anything, really, is more likely to have flaws and bugs. Nowhere is this more true than in technology hardware and software. The old joke is that "Version 1.0" actually should be pronounced: "one-point oh, no!!!"
Talk to a seasoned geek, and they can bend your ear with tales of woe. Like an old-timer reminiscing about "the blizzard of '78", any of them can rattle off infamous hardware and software releases. No company is immune to this phenomenon. Microsoft's Windows XP Operating System wasn't truly safe for corporate networks until the release of Service Pack 2, months after initial release. Antennas would fall off the early versions of the popular Treo smartphones – the list goes on.
In the spirit of Accelerating Business Growth, let's examine when the latest is NOT greatest for you and your company.
Your company's IT needs break down into two general categories:
- Production Machines – Servers, video and graphics production, science workstations, etc. used by true power users.
- Business Productivity Machines – desktop and laptop computers and handheld devices used by the rest of us.
It is vitally important to realize the difference between these two groups. Production Machines are the backbone of your operation. Reliability is job 1, but Throughput is job 2. An upgrade to a faster machine can actually improve profits. Buying the latest might make sense.
Now, Business Productivity Machines are in another class. Properly maintained, no human can out-type year-old technology, so the speed of the unit is not so relevant. Portability, battery life, durability and ergonomics are far more important. Stability is Job 1. No one wants to lose work. Ever. Buying the latest rarely makes sense.
Gary's Theory of Productive Technology:
1) The most productive, cost-effective model is found one generation (three to six months) behind the latest model.
Practical Application: Leave the bleeding edge of technology to the geeks. Just as the latest and greatest device comes out, buy the best and last of the former product line.
Why?
- Because it has all the hardware bugs worked out.
- It is usually fast enough.
- Plenty of accessories.
- When the new models come out, they discount the old lines.
- Stays compatible with your older software longer.
The Software and Operating System Corollary:
2)Â Hardware, Application Software, Server Software and Operating Systems form an ecosystem* – change one and all the others are affected, often at great cost – in dollars and downtime.
Practical Application:
- Apply maintenance and security patches to existing software, but resist major version bumps (e.g.: V2.0 to 3.0).
- When the latest operating system is released, wait as long as you can before upgrading – at least one year, if at all possible.
- When considering upgrading hardware, check if your existing operating system runs on it.
- Do your Internet homework. Visit independent support forums for the hardware or software you are considering upgrading to. You should see happy or mildly complaining end users. If the postings look like a PR nightmare for the company, keep on walking – come up with a better alternative.
Bottom line: Unless closely managed, business productivity rarely benefits from the latest hardware, software and operating systems. Step back from the bleeding edge, and accelerate your ROI with up-time!
* the concept of OS ecosystem is hardly new. Personally, I credit ongoing discussions with colleague, Troy Angrignon, author of the Technology Buyer's Manifesto.
