Reasons Not to Upgrade Software
- If your current version is supported (you can get tech support and no features have been disabled) and you are installing updates as they are made available, you should be getting the same bug fixes for your existing software that are included in the latest version.
- The latest version of your financial software may not have eradicated all bugs in the previous version of the software.
- Ironically, with a new financial software release comes the possibility of new bugs. The newest software version from any reputable developer will have been well-tested and quite functional, but annoying glitches can surface when the software is being used by the general population.
How Long is Too Long Between Upgrades?
While many financial software users upgrade annually simply to enjoy using the latest technology, some prefer to upgrade almost never, possibly going a decade before upgrading their software. The problem with waiting too long to upgrade is that when a new computer is eventually purchased, the old software may not run on the new system.If several upgrade versions exist between the version currently installed and the latest version, upgrading directly to the new version may not be possible. This is usually because the latest software can't read the data files which hold all the transactions entered over the years. To get around this, you need to install a version from between your old version and the new one to allow the software to convert your data files. After completing one or two of these intermediate upgrades, you will be able to install and use the latest version of the financial software. To find old software versions, contact tech support, who should be able to provide one or two free downloads of old versions.
One other hassle caused by waiting for too long between software upgrades is missing out on using time-saving features included in newer software. These features are often worth the cost of an upgrade.
