Avoid Fear of Updating

No, that doesn’t mean you should set your standards to something better than that last loser you went out with. Today we’re going to be discussing a topic of the utmost importance. I’m not talking about safe sex or anything as inconsequential as that. I want to emphasize the essential need for installing SYSTEM UPDATES. see above!

iSensei, you might be saying, “why should I care about updating my OS (Operating System) software? Everything’s working fine for me right now. Why mess with a good thing?” Well, I do appreciate your attitude, as it’s generally true in life: “If it ain’t broke, why’d I waste good money on an extended warranty contract?!” It is possible things COULD get messed up by changing them. Nobody needs more trouble (unless it’s the good kind). BUT, you can be inviting bigger trouble by not putting some marginal effort into keeping your Apple desktop, laptop or iOS device current. (we’ll discuss updating your applications in another post)

Just to be clear, we’re talking about the updates and improvements Apple issues of their own software on an irregular basis, through the Software Update selection under the Apple menu in the upper left on Macs & MacBooks, and via the Updates section within the App Store app on iPads & iPhones. These are very important as they A) may add functionality to your equipment (and who doesn’t like function?). But, more importantly, B) it’s how Apple helps us stay ahead of The Dreaded Zombie Apocalypse (aka viruses, malware, spyware, trojan horsies, etc).

The Mac platform has a blessed record of avoiding these brutal infections for decades. Thousands a year attack various Windows OS’s, like XP, VISTA, WINDOWS 7, whatever else they’ve shoved out but, so far, Macs have been able to largely avoid these attacks as the Mac OS X/iOS operating systems are structurally better protected against these threats. The installed base of Macs (desktop & laptop) is still much smaller than the number of Windows PCs (that sneakily and successfully infiltrated businesses during Apple’s wan years in the 90′s). Hence, Apple was a much smaller target for Malevolent Hackers. That is starting to change as the “Halo effect” of the iPhone & iPad are starting to shift more business off that “Buggy PC OS” to the more sensible, practical (and fun!) Macs.

The current iOS (Operating System for Apple handhelds) is v 5.1. You shouldn’t be using anything earlier than v 5.0, unless you’re still using a 3G iPhone. The 3GS, 4 and 4S are all fine, as are all iPads and 3rd & 4th gen iPod touches. The new powerful and useful features in recent iOS releases overly tax the relatively weaker earlier iPhone. The inevitable price of progress unfortunately.

Whatever else, the point is to check for and accept the authorized Apple OS & App updates and take advantage of them for YOUR benefit. And did I say they’re free? The completely new OS, MOUNTAIN LION (10.8) may not be as cheap as that when it comes out in late summer but Apple will continue to support the current one, LION, for some time to come. If you’re still working with LEOPARD or JAGUAR or SQUIRREL or whatever from years ago, please upgrade. It’s pretty cheap and well worth it! More functionality, ease of use and greater protection. Check it out NOW – or real soon, at least. This weekend, maybe?