First thing I do after I put together a new box is make a (not so) quick visit to Windows Update . It has changed very much over the years and doesn’t resemble the Windows 95 / NT 4 version anymore.

Every so often you’ll notice changes - for the better in my opinion. The problem is that many people couldn’t care less about updating the Operating System or any other software. It’s usually ignorance while other people simply cannot stand Windows Update since it’s a Microsoft product. Well, since you use the OS you might as well use WU as well… Hypocrites

The networks I have at home and at work taught me one thing - to keep software and hardware (firmware of any kind) up to date. Just by doing this you save yourself from so much trouble down the road. Just being protected from the latest and greatest viruses and worms (not all of them of course) should be a good enough reason. Fewer problems with the OS and better security are two other good reasons to keep Windows up to date.

Microsoft may have not spent too much time in the past designing the OS and some older software titles (this could be a whole separate topic…) but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t (more or less) trying to fix what is wrong. Just by keeping Windows and Office up to date you will know that you are getting the best security and performance. Not to mention getting rid of the old bugs and introducing one or two new ones

Love it or hate it - Windows and Office Update are great tools. In any size environment - from one computer to thousands. The problem still is that many users and unfortunately IT professionals as well don’t know, don’t care or try to get the longest possible uptime on their M$ boxes. Some people are worried about privacy and "Big Brother." Microsoft has indeed launched the "Genuine Windows" campaign where illegal / pirated copies of Microsoft Windows XP are blocked from receiving some updates and benefits . Illegal copies of the Windows operating system are still permitted to download critical updates to Windows that help prevent virus, worm and spyware infections. The last thing Microsoft needs is a bot-net of millions of computers running Windows XP simply because no protection is being offered.

Personally I keep all my boxes up to date - starting with BIOS and graphic card drivers (there’s nothing like the latest Catalyst ;-)), applications, Linux, Macintosh, Windows and everything in between.

The truth is that most Linux distros give the user better control over what is installed and why, when Windows doesn’t give you much more than references to KB articles. Apple is even worse at letting the user know what is really going on

Tags: best security, better security, big brother, boxes, bugs, firmware, genuine windows, good enough reason, great tools, hypocrites, illegal copies, microsoft product, microsoft windows, older software, size environment, software titles, uptime, viruses and worms, windows operating system, windows xp