Twenty Nickels
If you save twenty nickels, you’ve made a dollar
by
Raymond Matkowsky
www.datastats.com
email: rdm@datastats.com
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Issue 4-12 April 2012
If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Replace It
by
Raymond Matkowsky
A few weeks ago, I read a newspaper article about the U.S. military using thirty year old computers. Some of these manage the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The U.S. Federal Aviation Authority flight tracking computers date back to the sixties. The FAA wants to replace these, but it is not because these fifty+ year old computers do not continue to do the job they were designed for. U.S. skies are as safe as they ever were. The FAA wants to replace these with a system that will allow it to alter flight paths so airlines can reap large operating savings.
We’ve all heard the saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That goes for computers too.
Computer and software companies would like you to replace your three or four year old machines with their latest and greatest immediately. Don’t do it! At least without a good reason.
Their Businesses Continued
The last/present recession has caused many companies to extend the life cycles of their present machines by as much as three to four years. That is almost double as to what they had been use to. And you know what happened? Nothing! Their businesses did not stop. They continued to function as usual.
The Costs Can Be Huge
Even a small business that is only going to replace one or two computers can easily rack up costs of several thousands of dollars. The machines may only cost you several hundred dollars, but that is not the only cost. What about the software that runs the machine? That office productivity suite that you use every day? Those packages can cost $400 to $500 per machine. Don’t count on using your old software. Present day computers are not built to be backward compatible supposedly for security reasons. Your legacy software may not work with your new hardware. If you only had to replace half of what you use now, how much would it cost?
Do You Need Support?
Software manufactures always warn you that they will cease to support that outmoded program of yours. But, do you need their support for your legacy system? I am still waiting for an answer to a technical service question I posed in 1991 for a software program I haven’t used for the past eight years. Besides, the bugs in most legacy programs have been worked out in a year or two after the program was issued.
Security ?
First of all, there is no such thing as 100% security. That being said, modern day software is more secure than ten years ago. But, even so it only offers very poor protection of your business data. What every computer needs is one or two very strong stand alone security programs to protect against 800,000 pieces of malware that is floating around in cyber space. Two because no single program protects against all threats.
Your legacy system may be more secure (subject to less threats) than you realize. Writers of malware tend to concentrate on newer, high density installations since these would be more profitable. For example, now that the Macintosh has become more popular, you’re seeing more malware being directed toward it. An older system is not on many malware writer’s radar. Earlier threats have long been resolved.
Maintenance Is The Key
If a computer system is well maintained, such as the military’s or FAA’s, it could be useful for many years. Data Stats’ main computer is eight years old. It undergoes a daily security scan and weekly maintenance. It functions almost as well as it did when it was brand new.
Only Implement Changes That Improve Your Results
Don’t make changes because someone tells you to. Make changes that improve your ROI. That is what you are in business for. If there is a valid business reason for making a change, do it. However only you can decide if the reason is valid enough and your return on investment is large enough.
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A Call For Reader Input
We at Data Stats would like to see this newsletter become a reader supported forum for help questions, answers, or general comments on anything appearing in this newsletter or Data Stats’ website. If you have a question, answer, or comment to contribute send them to me at newsletter@datastats.com. I will try to publish it here.
If you have an urgent question to ask, you don't have to wait for our newsletter to come out. We will try to find you a reader or one of our experts that may be able to help you. So, if you have a question, comment, or think that you can be of help, send us an email at once to: newsletter@datastats.com.
Also, in your email, please let us know if we have permission to share your email address with experts that may be able to exchange ideas with you directly.
Raymond D. Matkowsky
Copyright © 2011 Raymond D. Matkowsky
Data Stats
P.O Box 672
Old Bridge, New Jersey 08857-0672
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