Is it Time to Update Your Computer?

These days, technology moves so fast, it's impossible to keep up. What was cutting-edge yesterday is antiquated today. How do you know when that aging machine sitting on your desktop is ready for the dumpster? If it is time to update your computer, how much is it going to cost, what specifications are you going to need, and where do you even start? These are all valid questions, and in an age where a computer is a necessary part of life, they are questions we all face on a regular basis.
Let's start with the first and most important question. Is it time to update your computer? If you're like me, you're always looking at the latest technology on the market and comparing it to your existing technology. With all the new gadgets and improved computers, it's easy to think that your hardware is substandard. After all, it doesn't have a solid-state drive, the monitor doesn't swivel or double as a touch pad, and the memory isn't anywhere near 6 gigabytes. It must be time to update if it is missing all of these new features that other machines have, right? Not necessarily.
The real question is, does your computer do what you need it to do effectively? If all you want it to do is play Pong, then an Atari 2600 still does everything you need. For many people, the ability to surf the internet, use Microsoft Office applications, and play some basic games represents the extent of their required computing power. In this case, you aren't going to need 6 gigabytes of RAM (memory), a 1 terabyte hard drive, and a high-powered video card. Your existing system is probably doing everything you need. The need to update is driven by the need to run newer and more high-powered software applications. When it is time to update, utilizing your existing technology can be much more cost effective than purchasing new equipment.
Here is an example from my own personal experience. After making the fatal mistake of not backing up my valuable data (I'm sure many of you can sympathize), I decided to go with an online service that provided space for creating automatic backups. This worked ok, but I soon found that the 5 gigabytes of storage allotted to me at a $100 annual premium was just not going to cut it. I was able to back up my most important data, but other data that I didn't want to lose such as pictures and music would not fit. I needed a better solution.
It just so happened that I had an aging family computer with an 80 gig hard drive. In order to back up all of my family's important data was going to require at least 150 gigs of hard drive space, so it was obvious that I was going to need to upgrade in order to get the space that I needed. In order to get the backup capability that I wanted, I needed high-speed internet, a larger hard drive for my family computer, backup software for my laptop, and FTP software for my family computer. I ended up purchasing a 300 gig hard drive for $80, Handy Backup software for $60, free FTP software called Serv-U, and maintained the same internet service I was already paying for. The total bill... $140 for 300 gigabytes of backup storage and the peace of mind knowing all of my valuable data is safe. The service I was using offered up to 120 gigs of space for $2,250 per year! 3 times the space for 1/15'th of the cost. I'll take that value any day.
When it is necessary to update, see if you can leverage existing equipment. Often times, simply adding more RAM or a larger hard drive to your current computer is all that is needed and will certainly be more cost effective than purchasing an entirely new system. For most users running Windows XP or Windows Vista that do not need higher end graphics capabilities, 1.5 gigabytes of RAM and a 300 gigabyte hard drive will be all that is needed for next few years. For those of you that are curious about what new systems are going for these days, they run anywhere from $750 all the way up to $8,800 depending on the power that you need.
When evaluating your technology, the right place to start is by asking, "Does my technology do everything I need it to do?" It is only necessary to update if you need for your current technology to do more than it currently does. If you have no complaints, then save your money! Be careful, though. Just because you are happy with your current processes doesn't mean your competitors feel the same way. There may be ways to leverage technology to give you a competitive edge. So stay on your toes and stay abreast of what is available in case there is some new or existing technology that can help. You never know when you will come across a compelling reason to update your computer.
Tek Lentine is an expert in the field of Digital Prototyping and other hi-tech engineering solutions. Tek currently works as an account manager for Hagerman & Co offering not only Digital Prototyping software and hardware but also training and consulting expertise in the areas that he writes about. You can contact Tek with questions or comments by email at TekLentine@Hagerman.com or on his cell phone at (615) 335-2225. Be sure to check out Hagerman & Co's web site at http://www.hagerman.com/
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