Is it worth it to upgrade my computer?

People often ask me if it is worth it for them to spend time and money upgrading an older computer versus buying a brand new one. In most cases, the answer is usually NO, with several exceptions. Let's look at the pro's and con's of upgrading an older computer.

Pro's of consumer computer upgrades:

• No reinstall required. You usually won't have to reinstall your operating system along withall of your programs and data. However, the reinstall process does often make your computer programs work much faster and fixes a lot of problems brought on by years of installing, changing and removing applications.
• Lower up front cost. New computers range from about $500 up to $4,000. For most people, this is a significant investment that may not fit into your current budget. Upgrading old components to significantly increase the performance of an older computer can cost as little as $100.

Con's of consumer computer upgrades:

• Finding the right part. It is often difficult to determine what part you need to buy to correctly upgrade your computer. Brand names, standards and compatibility canl make the process very difficult. A bad choice can result in a non-working computer, wasted time and in the worst case, lost data. Buying a new computer allows you to avoid this risk.
• Excessive program installations. After a few years of use, most computers are filled with unused software and configuration information that servers no purpose but to slow your computer down. While some of this mess can be cleaned up by uninstalling old programs and defragmenting your hard drive, buying a new computer gives you a fresh start with a clean operating system.
• Computer donation. When you buy a new computer to replace an old one, you now have an extra computer that you can donate to charity or give to your kids to keep them off of your new system. You can even keep your old computer around as a backup in case you ever have problems with your new one.

As you can see, this is a complicated issue with a long term affect on your productivity. Unless you are in dire financial straits, it is usually a better decision to purchase the new computer that is right for you. As always, it's best to seek advice from your local computer person to help you make the decision. Please feel free to contact us for advice and support.

Kiger Computer Solutions