It would be great for Microsoft. This sounds convenient until you realize that you may not need or want every new software update or driver that comes along. For example, as hardware ages, there's usually a point at which you want to freeze the drivers and not install later versions. Langa believes that piecemeal releases of software, wide public betas of new programs, and the proliferation of downloadable bug-fixes and patches are fundamentally changing the way we buy, install, and maintain software. The flood of mail he received on the subject showed that most readers were equally alarmed.
People clamor for bug fixes and feature enhancements as soon as possible.
When that happens, we can only either deal with the hassles of dribbleware or live with the hassles of bugs. Other readers think dribbleware also takes the pressure off software developers in the critical area of quality. The latest patch available for Microsoft Word fixes the inability to share Word 97 files with the previous version. This document provides an extensive table of backward conversion issues.