“The recurrent theme in this (computer) business is smaller, faster, cheaper. Except for software, which gets bigger, slower and costs the same,” wrote Bill Machrone in PC Magazine. This statement sums up a dilemma faced by many small ski areas — to upgrade or not to upgrade expensive software. Should management spend more funds on a collection of bells and whistles of questionable value in order to get a few genuinely valuable upgrade features?
Many of the new software programs need ever-larger amounts of memory and disk space, and often also require costly upgrading of computer hardware components. Software costs themselves are considerable with programs priced at $500 to $795 for each computer on which they are installed.
Recently I faced a software quandary when I was tempted to purchase a new data base at an inviting promotional price. A leading manufacturer’s latest $795 product was available for just under $100, but it required more space than I had left on my hard disk. Another feature-packed data base, from a discounter, would fit my computer capacity, but touched my wallet for over $500. Yet another required more than twice my existing computer memory. I reexamined the software I’ve used for the past three years and concluded that it can still meet my needs even though it runs more like a 1960 Volkswagen than a 1993 Lexus. I’ve even discovered a lean, $25 data base that requires only a little extra effort to fulfill most of my current needs.
Most small ski areas with limited financial resources are faced with similar perplexing problems. One computer magazine calls it the “fat software syndrome.” Providing the newest and best software for each of a resort’s computers is probably not cost effective, particularly when older, still usable, computers are handed down from department to department. In addition, “fat software” often means more complicated software, which equates to longer training and learning time.
Compatibility of software and hardware is critical where information and data are exchanged between an area’s computer users. Word processing and spreadsheet software should be identical or capable of producing information that can be easily imported from and exported to other software. Even though a Word Perfect for Windows report (or file) can be exported to a computer using Microsoft Word for DOS, it ain’t easy! On the other hand, files produced on early versions of Word Perfect (or most other popular software programs) are easily exported to the later versions. Today’s state of computer hardware technology dictates, for example, that data produced on a Mac is not easily transferred to an IBM and that double density drives can’t read high density disks.
Some possible solutions to problems posed by bloated software are:
1) Consider staying with DOS software which, as a general rule, is less expensive and requires less memory and disk capacity. The latest DOS operating system has great disk expansion, file compression, defragmentation and anti-virus utilities. DOS may not be as easy to master as Windows, but books like “DOS for Dummies” make learning DOS relatively simple. For many businesses, Windows is the current operating system of choice, but Windows programs often are expensive hard-disk hogs.
2) Before buying, determine if the latest software upgrade is really needed. If needed, must it be purchased for every computer? When considering purchasing custom or specialized software, investigate all alternatives, including adaptations of standard software.
3) Optimize the usage of hard drives :
a) Consider the use of integrated programs such as Microsoft Works or Lotus Works, which combine word processing, spreadsheet preparation and data base in a single, space-saving package.
b) Compress files and subdirectories.
c) Expand hard drive space using a program such as Stacker or Doublespace.
d) Delete tutorials and examples from program directories.
e) Store data files on floppies or other storage media rather than on a hard disk.
4) When buying new computers, purchase the most advanced models with the most memory and hard disk space that budgets allow.
5) Don’t give up on older computers because of impressive features available on new (and, perhaps, inflated) software.
Some very successful ski area managers still accomplish productive work on supposedly outdated 286 computers with software of the late 80’s.
Inevitably, the day is coming when the recently released Windows NT and other operating systems still on drawing boards will supplant DOS and Windows 3.1. Pentium processor computers are now on the market; 256 mb memory chips are under development; more sophisticated software applications appear each month. In the meantime, most of us can survive very well with today’s (and even yesterday’s) computer hardware and software.
