The speed at which technology is improving is very fast, and as you become comfortable with the computer hardware you have purchased, several new and improved models appear on the market. While some people prefer to keep their computers up to date, most of us have an ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ attitude when it comes to upgrading or replacing our computers.
This is a strategy that could prove costly in the long run. It is always best to update your computer on a regular basis, especially if you have had it for more than 2 to 3 years. Even if your computer has had a largely trouble-free existence, you really should consider regular updates and here are the reasons why you should:
1. Increased Processing Speed - This is one place where you can really notice an improvement in performance. If you are upgrading from a Celeron 433MHz processor to a 1.6GHz Pentium 4, you will really notice the difference in performance!
2. Faster memory access – Improvements in CPU speed are often accompanied by improvements in the speed at which data transfer occurs between the CPU and RAM. This is another area that provides performance improvement.
3. Size and capacity improvements: Technology drives a reduction in component size along with an increase in storage capacity. This means that a RAM card or hard drive similar in size to the older ones in your computer could be twice the capacity.
4. Software compatibility – Many of the new software packages that you want to use to enhance your productivity or entertainment experience may not work well on your old computer. It is best to upgrade your computer to fully enjoy the benefits of the new software.
5. Hardware obsolescence – As hardware ages; getting a replacement will be more difficult once manufacturers begin phasing out production. With the improvement of technology, old hardware becomes cheaper initially and becomes expensive as supply runs out.
6. Technical support issues – Many manufacturers stop providing technical support for older components when they stop producing. The older your computer is, the more difficult it is to find help to repair it when it is not working properly.
7. New Hardware Development: New hardware products appear on the market that revolutionize your computer experience and are based on newly developed technology. The chances that your old computer will support new devices are very low.
8. Faster Devices – Your old computer may not be able to keep up with the speed at which new devices are communicating.
9. New and fast communication protocols – You may not be able to implement newer or faster communication protocols on your old computer because the hardware cannot support them.
10. Operating system and file format – Your older hardware may not be able to run newer operating systems and some of the file formats are not supported.