SHOULD YOU REPAIR OR REPLACE A WONKY PC?
You never know how dependent your business is on IT until your computer starts acting up. Worse yet, when it does, trying to figure out what is going wrong is usually akin to balancing the books after drinking 11 shots of tequila. You have a rough sense of what has to be done, but just can’t focus on it properly.
One reason for the confusion is the bizarre ways that computers fail. Few have the good taste to just refuse to turn on. Instead, they may just suddenly reboot for no reason, slow to a slug-paced crawl, or bring up the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death” that tells you Windows is in serious trouble, and God knows why.
So what should you do in such situations? Should you try to repair a PC, or just throw the darn thing out and start again? Here, as far as we can tell, are your options.
Repair That Wonky PC!
If you know more than a bit about computers, then trying to repair the system may be a good option—but only if you truly know what you are doing. Make sure your data is backed up on another drive elsewhere (you have been backing up your data, haven’t you?), that you can afford to take time out of your workday to attempt a repair, and that no easily-thrown breakables are within your grasp.
If you decide to be sensible, then the next step is finding someone trustworthy to work on your PC. This can be a dicey proposition, unless you know someone you can count on. When in doubt, talk to other businesspeople and ask for their recommendations.
Based on my own experience in Ottawa, I can personally recommend Dr. Desktop (www.dr-desktop.com). Unlike some of the other repair people I’ve worked with, Dr.Desktrop’s people actually know something about computers, and have proven themselves to be patient and adept at making mine work again.
Take the time that my computer kept rebooting Windows XP continually for no apparent reason. The technician from Dr. Desktop soon figured out that a strip of failed memory was causing the problem. Once that was replaced, my PC was back to normal. Well, actually better than normal; he got my audio system working as well. It had been silent for months.
If you don’t know who to talk to, then call around to local computer stores, to ask their advice and find out what kind of service (and prices) they offer. Hint: Smaller, specialized computer stores can be a better bet than big-box stores, because their people only work on PCs. If possible, see if you can get a quote on the repair before you commit, so that you don’t get sucked into a financial black hole.
Replace That PC!
There was a time when replacing a desktop PC was a pricey proposition. Well, those days are gone. Computer vendors are now offering low-cost desktops (sans monitor) loaded with Windows Vista Home edition that can be quickly popped into place.
When it comes to price, the one that caught my eye was Dell’s Vostro 220 mini-tower. Normally priced at $509, it was $399 at www.dell.ca the last time I checked. For the money, you get a black PC equipped with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2200 CPU (2.20GHz, 1MB L2Cache, 800FSB), 160 GB hard drive, 3 GB of memory, 16X DVD +/-RW reader/writer, video card, 5.1 audio card, and keyboard/mouse (note: no monitor). I got a sample to test. It came preloaded with Vista, and integrated easily into my LAN.
Should you spend the extra money on replacing rather than repairing? That depends on what you want to repair. If you have a malfunctioning Pentium III or older, there is really no point fixing it, because it is such old technology. (The same can be said about some early P4s, too.) Meanwhile, if it is a newer PC but it is going to cost $400 or more to repair, then you might want to consider a replacement instead. After all, remember that the hard drives in that computer—indeed all computers—will fail eventually. Is it really worth spending $300 on a five-year-old machine equipped with five-year-old hard drives? I don’t think so.
Protecting Yourself
Before you go off and spend thousands more than necessary repairing/replacing a wonky PC, ask yourself a few important questions. First, is this a PC that needs to be in operation, or can its functions be covered by another machine? If this PC is mission-critical, how much are you able and willing to budget to repair it? And if you decide to go the replacement route, just how much functionality do you really need in a new PC? After all, your staff isn’t going to need high-end machines that can play video games. Chances are they require basic PCs that can handle word processing, accounting, email, and basic Web browsing.
One last piece of advice
If you decide to buy a new PC from a retailer, you might want to consider doing so from a reputable store that can provide comprehensive after-sales support. That way, when this new PC gets wonky years down the road, you will know who to call for help!
James Careless is a consumer technology writer with credits at the Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, and M2magazine.
