If its good enough for seven days I'll buy it

Tonight Scoble mentioned, my seven day rule for evaluating software and I figured I’d explain a bit more about my short attention span for new applications. 

I love to try out new software all the time, in fact its sort of an obsession.  I’m always on the prowl for cool new applications.  After seven days of use though if I’m not totally blowon away or if its not improving my PC life, its straight to add/remove programs I go. (Please, have a good un-installer). 

I actually go as far as to set a reminder in Outlook for seven days from the installation date.  When that reminder goes off I either send the author a cheque for their great work (even if its a 30 day evaluation) or I remove the application from my system. 

Some of the applications which have made it past my seven day rule have included Newsgator, David Allen’s Outlook Add-in, and ActiveWords.   This week it is the Groove 3.0 Beta, which appears to be a winner.  

If I’m not using the application regularly after seven days, I remove it from my system.   It keeps my system clean (hopefully it is a good uninstaller) and I move onto the next new good thing.

Why only seven days?

1.  Seven days is enough time to start/break a new habit.  I try make an effort to use the new software and make it part of my day.  I do try and give the software an honest chance though, if it is a bad week with lots of un-ordinary activity (weird hours, travel) I’ll evaluate the software on a later date.

2.  In seven days I’ll use multiple machines, I’ll be at home and work.   Is the software important enough and more importantly useful that I’ll use it across multiple machines?

What will make a piece of software get registered vs. uninstalled?

1.  Does it play well with my other applications or does it clobber my other applications?

2.  Does it have a weird user interface or is the experience sleek?

3.  Is the data easily available to all of my machines or do I have to perform registry judo to get the data to another desktop?

4.  Does it improve my PC experience, make me more productivity or do I have fun with it?

5.  Have I completely forgotten about the application after seven days?

That’s my seven day rule of taking new software for a spin.  

What do you look for when you’re evaluating new software?