If it’s a Windows-based app that will not run in XP, Vista or 7, the solution is to simply server-farm it. This can be done the cheap way with VNC or the proper way with Citrix (their XenServer software is free.)

And of course the best option is to get your apps delivered by the browser, even if intranet-based. If the end user PC has its primary apps delivered via the network in the form of an internet web-based app, the PC is essentially a dumb terminal – and that’s good because it can be easily replaced if it breaks with minimal setup involved for the new box, should that occur.

As far as the employee learning curve goes, there is no way to avoid it. However if there’s one thing that’s absolutely true, you will spend more by not upgrading sooner. Using dinosaur-era hardware and software is a short-term gain, long-term loss. Using modern software, hardware and peripherals is a short-term loss (setup, cost, etc.), long-term gain.

The only sure-fire way that usually makes management move is if you specifically request new hardware for health reasons (as in you get headaches, hurt wrists, etc. from existing peripherals.) The reason it’s sure-fire is because the company doesn’t want to get sued for subjecting the employee to an unsafe environment.

If you’ve tried everything else to get your hardware refreshed with something built in the last DECADE but nothing has worked, citing health reasons usually will.

although most are starting to upgrade – we’re talking 25+ year old rigs in some cases! they’re hanging onto the old ones in the event of equipment failure, so theyve got the old reliables ready to go if needbe.

The whole upgrade problem must be addressed sometime as equipment ages and wears out. Our management recognizes this but in today’s economics we cannot afford the change. We have an ad hoc committee researching the subject hoping to come up with a reasonable plan. In the meantime, we replace old PC’s with new or slightly used PC’s that use our standard OS

But your’e right on. And the in-office bickering is a real deal. I’ve never seen how fast grown ups can turn into 2 year olds than equipment upgrades. At my last company when they started upgrading CRTs to LCDs, chaos ensued. I didn’t even care about upgrading, but had to because my CRT died, but man, the jealousy. It got so bad that LCDs that were put into conference room were swiped within days.

My wife works for a CPA firm what has nothing but old crappy computers. Her monitor used to be a blurry 17 inch monitor that gave her headaches because her eyes were always trying to focus while looking at it. Keep in mind here that she has to look at IRS forms, Excel spreadsheets and other specialized accounting software all day long.

So a few years ago, we both decided to upgrade our monitors at home to a couple of Dell 24 inch monitors. We took the 21 LCD inch monitor that was being replaced and put it on her desk at work. Boy, the you know what hit the fan. She was not in trouble but it sure made her bosses look like cheapskates and made a few employees envious. Nobody stopped her because everyone knew the firms monitor was crap. For her bosses to tell her she could not use her own monitor at work would have made them have looked bad.

I think another reason businesses hold on to old computers is that that they fear changing anything that might disrupt productivity. This comes from ignorance or even fear of computers.

At the university I work for, they will not upgrade to Vista out of fear of having problems. But then, they might have a legitimate point.

As for my computer at work, I am stuck with an ancient Shuttle and a tiny LCD monitor. Fortunately, all I ever use it for is emails and running Excel and Word.