Alternatives & How to Decide When to Buy a New PC
Posted by Sid Plait at 6/30/2008 7:23 PM 
Categories: Windows XP,Microsoft,Computers,Windows Vista,All,Macintosh
Categories: Windows XP,Microsoft,Computers,Windows Vista,All,Macintosh
Well, today I advised one of my clients to buy a Mac. She has used Windows for years. She's of the older generation of PC users, and she really doesn't want to change operating systems. She may not have much of a choice.
Her Windows PC is exhibiting some problems that may require several hours to fix. That can cost more than an older PC is worth. My advice always is to:
- look at how old your computer is (if your aren't sure exactly, look it up!)
- compare that to the average age of a PC before major problems begin or new technology makes it obsolete (typically about five years for a desktop, four for a laptop)
- amortize the cost of your PC over that period (if a desktop cost you $900, over five years that's $180/year)
- figure out the average lifetime left in the PC and add 1/2 year of value to it (in this case, add $90)
Let's say that desktop is four years old. Using my formula as indicated above, that means the value of the computer is $270. If it's going to cost substantially more to fix the machine than that (e.g., $350), I suggest it be replaced with a new machine.
So, this client's machine is exactly the age in my example, and the cost to her to fix this PC will be in the neighborhood of $350 to $400. That includes:
- saving all her personal data
- wiping the hard drive clean
- reinstalling Windows XP and downloading and installing all updates
- reinstalling her programs and updating any of them
- downloading, installing, and updating her Internet security software
- reconnecting to her local network
- making sure her email program downloads stuff from her mailbox correctly
- setting up her backup program to run properly
- and reinstalling all of her data
If her PC does need fixing (we will know in a day or two), she will buy a new one. Her choices are a Windows Vista PC or an Apple PC. In either case, she has to learn a new operating system and buy new software for it. Her old software won't work in Vista.
Given all of that, I suggest she go with an operating system that is intuitive, somewhat self repairing, and more reliable.
Apple may get a new customer in the next few weeks.
How old is her software that it won't run on vista? Her drivers may be a problem, but most software made this century will run.
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Versions of QuickBooks prior to 2007 are not supported. Office XP may work, but Microsoft won't support it.
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Good points.
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