Windows 8 received a lot of negative press because of its touch-screen centric design and steep learning curve when compared to previous versions of Windows, but the upcoming release of Windows 8.1 addresses many of those concerns, prompting some customers to ask us if the time is right to upgrade.

Under the hood, Windows 8 offers significant advantages over previous operating systems. Its memory management is superior, leading to faster boot times and more efficient multi-tasking. Windows 8 also improved internal security and is more resistant to many of the malware attacks that plague Windows 7 (and earlier) operating systems. Programs running in the Metro interface are segregated from the rest of the system, so problems affecting an individual app shouldn’t wreak havoc on the entire system.

However, the advantages gained by upgrading to Windows 8 from an earlier version of Windows are rarely significant enough to justify the expense.  The best prices to be found for a software upgrade license hovers around $100, that cost does not include labor charges, and the performance benefits of Windows 8 will be lessened by the aging hardware of the old computer.  Older programs are pretty much guaranteed to work in Windows 7, but may not be compatible after an upgrade to Windows 8. Additionally, machines more than three to four years old are likely designed around a 32-bit operating systems, and the greatest benefits of Windows 8 come from using a 64-bit operating system.

Should you upgrade your old computer to Windows 8? Almost certainly not, unless you purchased a state-of-the-art and touch-capable system a few years back and would like to get better use out of the touch screen. For business use, I strongly urge customers to consider a Windows 7 downgrade, and likely will continue to do so until they are no longer available. For home use, the cost of an upgrade license as well as the possible complications that go along with upgrading an operating system make it an unwise investment.

Windows 8 runs best on new hardware, particularly hardware with a touchscreen. If Microsoft’s new operating system is something you are interested in trying out, you would be far better served buying a new system than upgrading your old one.

Congratulations to AeroVelo for building a human powered helicopter that hovered for 65 seconds on nothing more than the furious pedaling of a man desperate not to crash to the ground.

And a special shout out to an old friend Trammell Hudson, one of the many who supported the Kickstarter campaign for this aircraft.

At InfinIT Technology Group, we advocate proactive maintenance of our customers' networks over the more traditional break/fix IT relationship. But many of our customers wonder what, exactly, proactive maintenance is.

Proactive maintenance is a defined as a strategy for stabilizing the reliability of machines or equipment. Basically, it is a system designed to keep computers and networks in good working order to prolong the life of the machinery and to reduce downtimes when problems occur.

InfinIT's proactive maintenance plans fall into two categories: Monitoring Agreements and Service Agreements. Monitoring Agreements are low-cost agreements (as low as $5/month) that put all of the tools in place for remote monitoring, managed antivirus, patch management, and asset tracking. Monitoring Agreement customers receive a discount on labor, but there is no time for diagnosis and repair built into the agreement.

Service Agreements differ from Monitoring Agreements in that they incorporate a set amount of pre-paid labor time per month into the monitoring package, at very steep discounts over the standard labor rate. Service Agreements are a great way to stabilize IT costs, and to know that when minor issues arise, they are going to be dealt with by your Technical Team rather than languishing until there are enough minor problems to warrant a service call.