Mozilla Wants You to Update…Now

When it comes to gadgets and games, I like to be an early adopter. I’m so committed to this cause that I plan to be the first person in line at midnight to pick up my copy of God of War 3 tonight. However, when it comes to software, I can be a little slow to upgrade to a newer version. I don’t know, I feel like it takes me awhile to learn the ins and outs of this software and then the latest upgrade rolls out and I have to start all over again. ARRGH! Needless to say, I tend to ride software until the wheels fall off.

That might be a thing of the past if Mozilla has its way. Recently Mozilla, makers of the Firefox browser, have started sending Firefox users not-so-subtle hints that its time to upgrade. Stubborn folks like me are starting to get a pop-up notification informing them that the current version of the browser they’re using has been put out to pasture Old Yeller style and it’s time to move on. The pop-up leaves you with a few choices – get the new version, ask me later, or no thanks. If you choose ask me later, you’ll be seeing your new friend Mr. Pop-up a full 24 hours later.

So what’s the big deal with upgrading and why is Mozilla so pressed about it? It’s all about the add-ons. As Firefox continues to add those spiffy additions that lets us trick out our browser in whatever way you may see fit, the older versions of Firefox just can’t keep up. Sure there are codes that can effectively teach your old browser new tricks, but everything has a limit. Eventually, the browser will become unstable and soon it will be crashing left and right.

So what’s a slow gasser like myself to do? Basically I had to bite the bullet join the approximately 1oo million Mozilla-faithful that updated to Firefox 3.6. As always, all it took was a simple push of a button and a few minutes later I was looking at my shiny new browser with it’s new floral persona.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. So what about you? How long does it take you to upgrade your software? Are you an earlier adopter trying out all the new betas or are you the last holdout, tenaciously holding on to your software until the last possible moment?

About the Author
Sherri is a freelance writer that has a love of all things fun and geeky including gadgets, gaming, anime, and comics. When she isn't writing or out on the town living it up, she loves doing 10-12 hour marathon sessions on her Xbox 360 or one of her older consoles. It's not an addiction, it's a way of life!
See all posts by Sherri L. Smith.