A call to arms in the update debate
Posted on February 7, 2011
In January 2011, two mobile bloggers on ZDNet tackled the question of whether the enthusiasm for new devices is necessary, or whether it’s a simple case of peer pressure. James Kendrick wrote the initial post in which he suggested that older devices still have value, while Matthew Miller responded with a defense of keeping up with updates.Kendrick’s reasoning stated that even when a gadgetsuch as a smartphoneis released with a new version, devices running older versions of the software should not be considered obsolete. In fact, he called his post “Smartphone Updates: Redefining Obsolete.” Even though the older software is no longer current, he says, it has not decreased in usability, and therefore the cost of buying a new device just to get that new version may not be to the customer’s advantage.Miller, on the other hand, wrote that “software updates ARE expected on today’s smartphone devices and they ARE obsolete if they don’t get some updates.” These updates add functionality that is expected with a purchase of the product. Devices without the latest updates may not be able to run current 3rd party apps, which would indeed make them obsolete. He concludes by stating that updates are necessary ensuring a product stays current for the full two years of a traditional contract.What do you think? Do smartphones (and other products) require regular updates to stay current, or is it okay if a phone’s operating system remains the same for most of its life? You can weigh in on this discussion and others by visiting ZDNet and commenting on the articles, or by raising the subject at another online forum.
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