Fix or Not to Fix?
Some people have an emotional attachment to their computers that makes it a bit more difficult than it has to be, but usually it’s pretty simple. So, let’s go over how to make the decision to repair or replace your computer.
The factors I use to evaluate whether you would be better served with a new machine or with repairs to your old one are cost, complexity of the repairs, and the age of the computer. Complex problems — such as bad motherboard on an older laptop. Motherboards for laptops are can cost up to $200. Add in labor to completely take apart the laptop and replace the motherboard which can take up to 2 hours — can be very expensive because of the time involved in fixing them. Simple problems — like installing new RAM, resetting passwords, or optimizing a very slow computer — are quick and therefore relatively inexpensive. The age of the computer must also be taken into consideration because of the constantly changing standards in the field. A machine that was top of the line six months ago will only be somewhat impressive at the present, and in four years time companies will not even be designing programs to run on computers that slow.
The end result looks something like this: if it will cost you more than a new computer to fix the computer then you should to buy a new computer and have someone transfer your data for you. If it will cost nearly as much as new computer to get it fixed and it is older than 2 years, then you definitely should be looking at new computers. If it will cost about half as much as a new computer and its newer than 4 years, fix it, older than 4 years then its really up to you. I would personally think about putting that money into a new computer and having someone transfer the data and secure it for me. If the computer is newer than 4 years and not to hard to fix, then of course get it fixed.
Some people have an emotional attachment to their computers that makes it a bit more difficult than it has to be, but usually it’s pretty simple. So, let’s go over how to make the decision to repair or replace your computer.
The factors I use to evaluate whether you would be better served with a new machine or with repairs to your old one are cost, complexity of the repairs, and the age of the computer. Complex problems — such as bad motherboard on an older laptop. Motherboards for laptops are can cost up to $200. Add in labor to completely take apart the laptop and replace the motherboard which can take up to 2 hours — can be very expensive because of the time involved in fixing them. Simple problems — like installing new RAM, resetting passwords, or optimizing a very slow computer — are quick and therefore relatively inexpensive. The age of the computer must also be taken into consideration because of the constantly changing standards in the field. A machine that was top of the line six months ago will only be somewhat impressive at the present, and in four years time companies will not even be designing programs to run on computers that slow.
The end result looks something like this: if it will cost you more than a new computer to fix the computer then you should to buy a new computer and have someone transfer your data for you. If it will cost nearly as much as new computer to get it fixed and it is older than 2 years, then you definitely should be looking at new computers. If it will cost about half as much as a new computer and its newer than 4 years, fix it, older than 4 years then its really up to you. I would personally think about putting that money into a new computer and having someone transfer the data and secure it for me. If the computer is newer than 4 years and not to hard to fix, then of course get it fixed.
