How often: upgrading operating software platform

[OakLeaf]

I'm curious, what websites work only with IE these days??? I honestly didn't even know anyone uses IE any more! I use Firefox, and the only time I can't see a website is when it requires me to take down more of my security than I'm willing to do. If I really really want to look at (or post a comment on) whatever site it is that's so full of spyware, I run Safari in private browsing mode and then immediately quit out of it, then delete all my Flash cookies, when I'm done. Never had a problem viewing a website for reasons that weren't self-imposed.

Call me lazy (or cheap), but an OS upgrade just seems like a huge risk with very little reward. Forget the peripherals, there's too much chance the OS itself won't run properly on obsolete hardware. Too much chance of a mid-upgrade crash and then hours or days of tearing my hair out restoring from backups. No thanks.

I did it once, about ten years ago (maybe longer), went to the OS 10.1 release party at the Apple Store and everything because I wanted the networking capability with DH's Windows boxes, and that was a new feature back then. Nowadays I get a new OS when I get a new computer and not before. (But I still have the T-shirt from the Jaguar release party. )

I only use Windows for one or two apps, and I still run XP under Parallels. Would you believe that Microsoft is still releasing patches for XP?! I just got a couple within the last week or two.