K6, Celeron, Pentium II, Pentium III, Xeon, Athlon…seems like every day brings a new technology. So how do you decide how to match the machine with the user?
Sorry, it's a trick question! Remember, with technology's accelerating advance, what you buy has a limited lifespan. At some point, it becomes too slow, so you replace it. Instead of playing matchmaker with users and PCs, take the long view to minimize costs.
Fact: Independent of the user, the faster the PC, the longer its useful life. Setting up a new PC can be a big percentage of your total cost. Spend an extra $300-500 on the PC now and you defer replacement 1-3 years. In the interim, you have a nice, fast machine…and I've never heard an employee complain that their computer was too fast! All things considered, faster computers are usually cheaper.
So, how long can you use a computer? As a rule of thumb, 3 years for high-end machines for average usage. "High-end" means one or two notches down from the current state-of-the-art; that's where the best value is. And budget replacement every 3 years.
Also, user needs and user skills are not interchangeable terms. A program feature need not be "advanced" to draw lots of horsepower. And every software update adds new, easier functionality at the cost of making the computer run slower.
Replace PCs, don't upgrade them. Standardize configurations. Buy name brands. Specify "corporate" models. Corporate PCs have no frills, and are sold in the same configuration for long periods. These reduce cost of ownership.
JRVsystems stays on top of technology and can advise you on which machines to buy, which to replace, and help you integrate them with your system. Please contact us to help you make the right equipment decisions.
Make a daily contribution to ending world hunger by visiting www.TheHungerSite.com, a creative use of e-commerce technology.
©2010 JRVsystems. All rights reserved.