Many people find it hard to let go of that old workstation that seems to be “working just fine.” But, ask yourself: Is it really?
Most people recognize that, as their machine ages, it seems to get slower and slower.
A fresh install of Windows generally makes the computer speed back up to it’s “like new” speed.
But as we rely more and more on our computers, laptops, phones, and tablets to be productive in our work, does working at that original speed still make sense?
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it?
Why is it a bad idea to have the “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” mentality when it comes to your computer?
For starters, you’re wasting your money doing so. If a computer is past its normal lifecycle then it really doesn’t make any sense spending the money to continuously bring it back to a like new state as far as the software goes because the hardware is still very outdated.
In general a desktop computer’s useful life span is roughly three to five years providing you purchased a mid-range computer and not the bottom of the line model.
For laptops you get slightly less useful life span out of them due to the fact that a mid-range laptop is generally not as good of hardware as a mid-range desktop.
The other reason a laptop doesn’t tend to last as long is the fact that it is constantly being moved around.
This constant movement, shaking, vibrating, dropping, etc. causes a lot more stress on the hardware in comparison to a desktop.
Due to the different factors involved in a laptop’s life cycle, a laptop’s useful life is roughly two to three years – perhaps slightly longer if it is well cared for.
Software updates may require PC upgrades
Another reason to think about workstation replacement has to do with the software you run on your machine.
Many different software companies offer updates to their software.
Some updates offer fixes to problems or security issues, but many updates also offer new features or updates to old features.
These updates sometimes include a better graphical interface that makes a program easier to use.
Generally, these types of updates have higher computing and speed requirements. Many industry specific software companies put out these types of updates, and they’re great!
Who wouldn’t want a more attractive user interface that functions better and offers more options?
The problem: Updating/upgrading software requires more system resources almost one hundred percent of the time.
If you’re the kind of person that likes to hold on to your workstation forever and never update it, but wants those nice software updates, you might see performance problems.
While your software is updating it needs more RAM, more CPU power, and in some cases, more graphical capacity to run to the new software properly. A lot of times, users don’t realize that with new features come new requirements.
In short, if your computer is over five years old, consider replacing it, particularly if it’s a laptop. A faster workstation will help you with updated software, and keep up with your busy workload.
Feature article written by: Tech Experts