“All good things must come to an end.” How many times have you heard that? In my world of ever changing and evolving technology, I hear it all too often. The last time was a customer in one of my stores asking why Microsoft no longer publishes Windows ME.
Well, Windows ME is probably not one of the ‘good things’ the statement was talking about, but with evolution comes the chance of something better. In the progression of Windows, NTFS (New Technology File System) followed the demise of Windows ME and was a much more robust and capable basis for operating systems.
Technology progresses because demand necessitates and facilitates it. For example, without Apple or Linux, Windows technology wouldn’t evolve; let’s face it, competition drives every business to do better. In the computer world, high end software and video games force manufacturers to build faster and more powerful computers. This negates old operating systems and hardware technology.
I realized the truth in this statement two weeks ago while finalizing the technology backbone of my Greenfield store. Though not as complex as most of the networks I setup, I’ve come to rely on a specific Cisco router as the backbone of my networks. Needless to say, when I searched my vendor’s site for the router it was discontinued.
The suggested replacement was also a very good component; however, I’ve used this specific model in the past and have had issues. Every install I’ve done with the discontinued Cisco product has been smooth with no hassles. This piece of equipment was deep sixed because one piece of built-in software was out of date.
About a month ago a very long term customer came in to my Gardner store with an old laptop. The hard drive we changed two years ago had failed and was due to be replaced under factory warranty. The manufacturer no longer makes the particular style drive used in her laptop so we were forced to substitute with a different brand of similar drive.
I made the decision to substitute parts and cover the warranty in-house to keep a customer happy. Luckily we had the drive in stock because I found no manufacturer is actively manufacturing them. PATA technology was displaced by the much faster and newer SATA which instantly spawned a generation of obsolete computers.
Most, if not all, cars currently on the market use a communication protocol called CAN bus. When you switch your right directional, a signal is sent from the switch, through a controller, and eventually turns on your lamp. There is no wire directly from the switch to the lamp. Directional lamps are probably not the best example because older cars used a relay to control the on-off.
In any event, CAN was developed so the onboard computer in a vehicle can sense problems. Since 1996 CAN has become more prevalent to the point where mechanics need specialized diagnostic equipment. My mechanic tells a story about a headlight module failure costing $400.00 because it has to be programmed by the manufacturer. No longer can back yard mechanics perform simple service tasks.
Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I started thinking about all the things that have changed over the years and have really started contemplating whether they’re necessarily for the better. I live by the adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If more people thought the same then we’d all have a little more money in our pockets and we’d all be driving around in our first car.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can text him directly at (978) 413-2840 or visit www.LocalComputerWiz.com.)