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FEATURE 5 ANCIENT PROGRAMS
ast week I received an email notice past: Does anybody still use legacy software?
from Microsoft informing me that, as Those who did were often embarrassed to
of January 14, 2020, they will no admit it, but agreed to discuss it “off the record.”
L longer support Windows 7, which I If upgrading to Windows 10 suddenly
still have on one of my desktop computers. deprived you of your legacy favorites, search
Why? Because I have some legacy software online using a phrase such as, “is Windows 10
that is incompatible with Windows 8 and 10: compatible with [name of your legacy
dBase III+, Paint Shop Pro 7, PageMaker, program],” (e.g., “Is Windows 10 compatible
several graphics programs and plug-ins—one with dBase III+?”). You’ll discover there are
is the first version of Andromeda, which many sites that explain how to use your legacy
offers some amazing graphic effects—and a software with the current versions of Windows.
few other applications that were originally Here are five programs I found that
DOS-based. people just won’t quit.
WE’RE NOT ALONE PRODUCTIVITY SUITE:
I know I’m not alone in clinging to an ancient OFFICE 2003
software program that’s exactly what I need. The biggest, most widely used legacy
Allen Bonde, VP and research director at software still in circulation is Microsoft Office
Forrester, told me that, “Where SaaS 2003. There are entire companies out there
(Software as a Service) applications don’t still using this version of Office. Why? Because
have a foothold, we often still see customers this was the last .doc version that used the
sticking with older tools because they see a Classic menus as opposed to the Ribbon
risk in switching to a newer system, or there menus (.docx versions).
just isn’t a compelling alternative.” It’s not just The Classic menus were a product of the
random individuals, either, but entire CUA (Common User Access) Standards
companies: “There are pockets of this developed by IBM in 1987, which determined
behavior in smaller firms,” Bonde noted, “but the user interface for all Windows, OS/2,
also in sectors such as healthcare and MVS/ESA, VM/CMS, and OS/400 software
government, where we see less digitally applications. Equivalent commands such as
mature companies.” File, Save, Exit, Print, Cut, Copy, Paste, Edit,
I asked dozens of friends and colleagues, View, Help, and hundreds more had to follow
posted inquiries on Twitter and Facebook, the same design for every program regardless
and queried several dozen previous clients of the genre.
and corporations that I’ve worked with in the The CUA standards made it easier for
82 PCWorld SEPTEMBER 2019
