Is it time for a new PC?

by Fred Litt

Thinking about a new PC? How do you decide if it's time to replace or upgrade? Here are a few very simple rules of thumb:

1) Desktops over 4 years of age and laptops over 3 years are about 70 years of age in human terms. Start looking for a replacement now.

2) Is your PC making noise? The fan that cools the motherboard (you will feel the heat in the back or bottom of the PC) will eventually become coated with dust and animal hair - and then fail. If your hard drive begins to make a clicking sound, it is starting to fail. In this instance, run, yes run, to backup your data - your hard drive is about to die very soon.

3) Does your PC display error messages? This typically mean that Windows has become corrupted and needs to be reinstalled or replaced. Quickly backup your data and start looking for a new PC.

4) Is your PC getting slower? Any PC over 3 years of age needs more RAM. Always buy as much RAM as possible for your PC. This will greatly increase performance.

5) Do you have a tube monitor? Get a flat panel monitor, preferably 19", for about $150-$200 (with a built-in webcam). You will love the crisp colors and will be able to enjoy the newest wide-screen PC content and DVD movies.

6) Hate wires? Get a wireless keyboard and mouse - for about $49-$99.

7) Is your hard drive under 100 GB (giga-bytes)? Some older PCs came with 40 GB hard drive and are filling up - and, as a result, failing. New PCs now come with at least 250GB of hard drive space.

If you are concerned about the life-span of your current PC, please backup your data ASAP. Your aging or slowing PC never seems to fail at a convenient time.

This article was provided by Fred Litt, Family Technology Associates, Allendale, NJ. Fred welcomes your comments and questions. Visit http://www.FamilyTechnology.com to learn more about Fred's professional efforts.

Email Fred at mailto:Fred@FamilyTechnology.com