The Pace of Change

I am finally moving to a Microsoft Vista machine. I held on to my XP machine for as long as I could and now I am moving to Vista just as Microsoft announces the launch of their next OS.
One of our computer technology teachers stopped by my office today. She is concerned about having to submit a schedule for next January when she can't even identify what version of each of the programs she is teaching will be current.

And, we are just wrapping up the programming of an application that works with PowerPoint 2007 only to hear that the next release of Office is due out within the year.
The joys of technology. The question is not “to be or not be” but “to keep up or give up.” Determining when and if to upgrade is always a challenging decision.

I spoke to an instructor today who said she is in so many beta programs that she is accustomed to seeing a feature here today, gone tomorrow as programmers fine-tine software in its final stages. Personally, I don’t want to be the first person to use something, but I also don’t want to be the last. Timing your entrance into a new technology is as individual as the car you drive.

There are also several ways to find out about all of these new releases. Personally, I like email newsletters. Daily reminders that keep me informed about educational technology as well as general computing. I know others who prefer RSS feeds or good-old-fashion word-of-mouth.

Some of my favorite newsletters include Campus Technology (www.campustechnology.com) and Educause Reports (www.educause.edu) for education. I also find it helpful to sit in on a few vendor presentations (live or webinar) now and then to see what kind of technology is up and coming.

However, even with all of the frustrations of the speed of change in technology, I wouldn’t trade industries for anything. At least there is never a dull moment.

Use the comment field to share your preferred timing for jumping on a new version--early adopter or a laggard?