PCs: How Old is Too Old?
Given the current state of the economy, it’s no surprise that companies are looking for ways to save money — and the IT department is no exception. For instance, when businesses consider operating costs of computers, should they be thinking in the short- or long-term? A recent study asked the same question, and the answer may surprise you.
Techaisle, a marketing research and consulting group, weighed the cost of maintaining older computers (greater than 3 years-old) versus purchasing new computers. The study was conducted earlier this year and surveyed Small, Medium, and Large businesses across 8 major countries. You can read the report in its entirety here.
According to their research, the cost of maintaining a computer more than 3 years-old is somewhere between $325 and $400 per PC, nearly a third more than the cost of maintaining a newer computer. Additionally, the study noted that the percentage of software crashes and hardware malfunctions attributed to computer failure among older PCs was significantly greater than that of newer computers.
This, of course, not only translates to the loss of valuable resources but valuable time as well. According to the survey, when calculating the time lost as a result of computer failure, SMBs reported an average of 5 hours per older computer versus 3.5 hours for newer ones.
Given the apparent higher cost of maintaining older PCs, Techaisle concludes that SMBs should seriously reevaluate the practice of attempting to extend the life of PCs past the 3-year mark.
At the same time, maintenance and repair will continue to be a necessity for computers — old or new. As such, it is important that your IT service have the right computer repair resources for preventing and combating costly computer-related issues, in addition to regular networking knowledge.
Tags: computer maintenance, Computer Repair, extending the life of your PC, it services, old vs. new computers, Techaisle