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from the if-some-is-good-then-too-much-is-not-enough? dept.
Bruce Byfield's Blog on Linux Magazine explores the upgrade treadmill.
Byfield relates an old comic by Christiann MacAuley that depicts how Linux, Windows, and Mac users relates to a pop-up announcement saying: "An Update is Available for Your Computer".
The Linux user is enthusiastic, the Windows user groans, and the Mac user is glad it will only cost him $99.
One reason for switching to Linux used to be to get off the forced upgrades path common to proprietary software. Yet Linux users seem to have kept the urge to upgrade, even when the necessity was removed. Even when security fixes are back ported, to Long Term Support releases, we just can't seem to resist an upgrade.
Byfield explores the issue of upgrades, and why we Linux users feel compelled to perform major upgrades. Not only the minor patches to fix bugs that happen ever week. We routinely seem to rush in and put our entire systems at risk by installing complete system upgrades to new kernels, whole new desktops, sometimes new file systems, and even the dread systemd.
It's an interesting read, and set me wondering why so many Linux users chase upgrades for little or no new features.
(Score: 3, Informative) by slinches on Wednesday October 28 2015, @12:14AM
I switched to Linux to get better security, stability and to stop paying the MS tax. I'm currently using a workstation running RHEL6 and am on Xubuntu 12.04 at home.
Who is this Linux user that's supposed to be on the upgrade treadmill again? It certainly doesn't apply to me.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Wednesday October 28 2015, @01:36AM
Same here. I'm using Mint KDE 17.1. One big reason I use Mint is because it's behind the curve with all the latest-and-greatest. So I'm not using systemd just yet, and I'm still using KDE 4.12 instead of the new 5.x series. I might upgrade to 17.2 before too long if I have some free time, but that one hasn't changed those things either and just has minor changes, so it's not really a big deal.
I like having stuff that's old enough that it's stable and mostly bug-free, but new enough that I'm not way behind.
(Score: 2) by slinches on Wednesday October 28 2015, @05:13AM
Yeah, it's almost as if Linux users are a wildly varying bunch of people with different goals and values. I'm sure some are interested in constant updates. I know I kept more up to date for a while myself. Then I grew out of that phase and decided to just go with what works best with minimal effort. Maybe some others will make that transition, maybe not. The great part about Linux is that you have the option to do either. That's just not feasible with a profit motive to promote upgrade churn like they usually have with proprietary software.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Wednesday October 28 2015, @01:47PM
I was similar; I used to care a lot more about being on the cutting edge. Not any more.
But then again, the way I see it, things just aren't moving as fast as they were 15 years ago. Back in 2000, things were moving rapidly in Linux-land. Now it seems like a lot of stuff is stagnating. I guess everyone got old and had families and didn't have time to put cool new stuff on freshmeat any more. It's all gotten rather boring. Maybe it's just me.
(Score: 2) by mmcmonster on Wednesday October 28 2015, @10:02AM
I'm using Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition. I'm not really sure which version it is, but when the repositories stop working I'll upgrade to the latest LTS.
That being said, whenever it says I have updates (typically security, but I had added some repositories so II do get fresh application updates at times) I update pretty much the same day.
I feel the urge to update the OS as well, but remember two things: 1) figuring out the laser printer setup usually takes me a half hour to get right and 2) I've got a samba share on this computer which is not just shared locally but also by some other computers via ssh and I really don't want to mess that up unless I have to.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Wednesday October 28 2015, @01:45PM
Well to me there's a huge difference between the security updates and updating the OS release. The regular Mint updates you do on-the-fly are just for security or bugs, not for major version changes or anything like that. Everyone should stay up-to-date on that stuff. It's when you start making major changes to the OS (all new desktop environment release, changing the init system, etc.) that you're likely to run into problems.