With people still happily using Windows XP, it’s a real wonder sometimes that operating system upgrades are considered at all.

But, rather than just relying on a new OS when buying a new computer, it is important to upgrade when you can. However, there are advantages and disadvantages, so it’s best to really give it some thought before you take the plunge.

Let’s be miserable and look at the disadvantages first.

People not only keep older operating systems because they are used to them and can’t be bothered to change, they keep them because they can be trusted and are ultra stable.

The thing to bear in mind about an operating system, is that it is a vast array of software code which is designed and written by thousands of computer coders. Now, Microsoft, which is the leader in the office suite software applications and publisher of such things as MS Word, MS PowerPoint and MS Excel, has been accused in the past of producing ‘flaky’ code. Mainly, it does what it says on the box, but critics are swift to point out that much of the code in the operating systems before XP (and the original versions of that of course), were riddled with bugs.

Bugs are not viruses, but effectively bits of code which are unfinished, or do not work as they should. And it’s not just the question of an application not working correctly (say when trying to hitch up with a certain printer), but bugs are a real threat when it comes to cyber criminals.

As incomplete lines of code, bugs offer a treat for hackers who use them to infiltrate a computer and install viruses. And this is the main reason why Windows XP (SP3) is so popular. Many people saw that the original XP operating system was flawed and although potentially a solid platform, was released with quite a few problems. But after a couple of years and with the necessary patches (right through to the SP3 version), XP became a very reliable and trustworthy platform. In that period of time, it has been hammered and stress-tested, making it one of the best Microsoft systems ever.

So, when the next operating system appeared on the market, Vista, many people chose not to choose it, because they reckoned that waiting until it had settled down would be the best option. Unfortunately, Vista was generally unloved and because it was a radical departure from XP, it was plagued with early adoption problems.

The good news for Microsoft was that Vista has quickly been surpassed by the robust Windows 7 (and soon to be Windows 8 ) and this has proved a very popular OS for the large proportion of its users.

Okay, so that’s the reasons not to change; although the reasons to change are strong as well.

Basically, just as you would change hardware (and need to, ensuring that you remain up to date with the latest technology), so you need to indulge in some operating systems upgrade.

The main issue is that as hardware moves on, unless you have a current operating system, it may not be supported and you could find the peripherals such as printers, cameras and microphones won’t work. Which is why when you buy some hardware, always have a look at the list of operating systems that support it.

Also, Microsoft does not support its old operating systems for ever. Support for Windows 95, 98, and ME is coming to an end soon.

Also, many of the superb multimedia features found on Windows 7 and the forthcoming Windows 8 will greatly increase the average user experience and when you try these systems, and then look back at XP, you’ll wonder how you can cope without it.

So, rule of thumb when it comes to operating system upgrades. If you’re using anything much older than Windows XP (and its equivalent Mac, or Linux versions), then get them changed. If you’re okay with XP, then stick with it, but realise that you are missing out on the wonderful improvements find within Windows 7.