Don’t get upgrade fever if computer works

Here’s what I am gradually coming to believe about computers:

Lots of times, we feel compelled to change things just because we haven’t changed them in a while.

There’s this desperate feeling that if we just keep changing, that we’ll hit the magic formula ... sort of like the monkeys eventually typing Shakespeare.

When a new version of Windows comes out, or a new edition of some popular word processor or email program, I get bombarded with emails from readers eager to make the change to the newest version.

The truth is that all those computers are just tools.

Unless you are a computer hobbyist (and there’s nothing wrong with that), the only value of your computer is in the work it can do for you.

The less you notice the computer or the software, the better. If you were building a barn, you wouldn’t want to have to think about the hammer or worry if it needed an upgrade.

Now we get to Husted’s First Law of Computing: If the computer and the software that you have can do the work that you need it to do, don’t upgrade, don’t do a danged thing. After all, you probably have a trouble-free machine, so why mess with success?

Your computer will tell you when it needs an upgrade or replacing. You’ll sit down one day and actually need to do something important. And it won’t be up to the job. That’s when you need to fix things.

Which brings us to Husted’s Second Law of Computing: Know what you are going to do with your computer and make your buying and upgrading decisions based on that, not just by browsing the ads and buying the most powerful computer available.

This means that if you really and truly are only going to log onto the Web, do word-processing and balance your checkbook, you don’t need a top-ofthe-line super computer. For those tasks, you won’t even notice the difference except on your credit card statement.

Here’s how to put these two laws of computing to work:

First, stop worrying so much about your computer. You don’t sit up nights wondering (or I hope you don’t) if a new microwave oven will change your life in some fundamental way. Think of all the time you are going to save by not reading computer reviews on the Web.

And people will enjoy your company more at parties now that you talk about stuff other than the latest processor from Intel.

Second, don’t assume that every task in your life requires a computer. Just because something can be done with a computer doesn’t mean that it should be done with a computer. I am reminded of this each time I go to one of the big computer shows — places where the attendees have access to almost any technology available.

Do you know what most of those high-tech hotshots use to take notes?

Scraps of paper and a pen.

Maybe it’s time we all learned from the experts.