Click…pause…wait…click…click click click click CLICK! Sound familiar? For a small businesses, PCs and laptops are some of their most important tools. If your tools aren’t functioning correctly it can lead to lost productivity. A typical laptop should last three to five years before it needs to be replaced. This is dependent on the quality of laptop that was originally purchased, what it gets used for, and how it is cared for. Once you are outside of that three to five-year time span, repairs and upgrades are likely to cost as much or more than the laptop is worth.
Even if your laptop was top of the line when you purchased it, you have taken good care of it, and it seems to be running well it may still need to be replaced. The software company that created and maintains the programs that you use will release regular feature updates and bug fixes. While the software will be backwards compatible with hardware to a point, eventually you will find it is not running well on your older laptop.
When looking at purchasing a new laptop, it is best to stick with the known brands like HP, Dell, and Lenovo. They are more likely to be of higher quality than a no name brand. Also, local IT professionals such as ReadiTech, will be able to service them. Look for a laptop with a warranty of at least one year and consider extending that to two or three years. This will cost more up front but may save you in cost of repairs and downtime over the life of the computer.
Don’t buy the bargain basement computer either and instead look at investing in better hardware. Increased performance from your laptop will lead to increased productivity and you will most likely get a longer life from your computer. One hardware component that you can spend a little more on is a solid state hard drive. Adding this one feature will get you quite a bit of bang for your buck. You will notice quicker boot up and also that your programs open faster.
If your laptop is over three to five years old, call us at Readitech to talk about purchasing a new one. Don’t wait until you’re ready to smash it with a hammer.
Chris LaMont – Network Assistant
