• How much will productivity increase? – In some cases, more powerful new systems only affect actual productivity in a minor way. For example, word processing software’s speed is primarily controlled by keyboard operations. A newer version of the software won’t increase your employees’ typing speed. On the other hand, replacing an aging PC can dramatically decrease time spent waiting for graphics software to process changes in an image or video. Assessing productivity improvements is an important issue.
• Will upgrading mean retraining? – In some cases, particularly with software, a major upgrade can force you to retrain current employees to handle the new version. Microsoft Office, for example, made drastic changes recently. These changes slowed down worker productivity until they learned the new version. Hardware upgrades, on the other hand, generally don’t require retraining.
• Is the new hardware or software compatible? – In most cases, new hardware and software can work with older versions or equipment if configured properly. Incompatibility with customers and clients is another issue to consider, if your business involves data sharing.
• Can I update hardware instead of replacing it? – In many cases, the answer is that you can. Adding additional memory and storage to older computers can improve their performance. However, this only works up to a point. The latest software may have requirements that your old equipment can’t meet. When that happens, you will need to replace the old hardware as well.
• Can I replace just some of my current hardware? – Probably. By replacing only the hardware that is slowing down your productivity, you can realize savings. Often the replaced hardware can be used to update even older hardware in your business, or re-purposed to add capability to your system. A careful analysis can save plenty.
• We have some pretty old PCs. Should they Go? – Maybe. Today’s PCs and laptops have a useful life of about five years. After that, you run the risk of hard drive and other component failure. In addition, older equipment is probably on the edge of compatibility with more modern hardware and software. Replacing some more recent hardware and moving the replaced hardware to replace hardware near the end of its life can be a workable solution.
• What about Laptops and Notebook Computers? – These useful tools generally have a shorter life than desktop computers. They’re also harder to upgrade with additional memory and storage. To keep your field staff productive, you may well have to replace these portable computers more often. Monitor how well they’re working and listen to staff complaints to help you make these decisions.
• How Do I Dispose of Old Computer Hardware? – Today’s environmental laws prohibit simply discarding computer hardware. You can find information on recycling old computer hardware right here on this website.

Computer Lifeline – Your Computer Update Expert in Minneapolis St. Paul, MN

At Computer Lifeline, we understand the need for updating small business computer systems. We can help you decide what to update and when, and we always work to help you keep upgrade costs down.. We can update both desktop and laptop computers with additional memory and storage. We can upgrade server hardware, too, to extend its productive life. When new hardware and software is needed, rely on Computer Lifeline to install it and integrate it into your current system. Contact us now to discuss your computer upgrade and update needs. We can help you keep your Minneapolis St. Paul computer system economical and productive.

Speed up Computer by Removing Junk Software

Many brand-new computers come with cheap software or trial software loaded by the manufacturers. These software have little value, but they can use up valuable computer resources and slow down the performance. It is very simple to remove these unwanted software – simply go to "Settings" – "Control Panel" – "Add or Remove Programs". Select from the list any software that you don’t recognize or don’t use and click the "Remove" button.

Upgrade from Dial-up to DSL or Cable Broadband

Switching from dial-up to broadband internet connection can greatly shorten the amount of wait time while using your computer. The most popular broadband connections are DSL and cable internet. Many software, including Windows XP, anti-spyware and anti-virus programs, constantly need to download the latest updates through the internet. Such download activities take place in the background and can slow down web surfing or other online activities. Having a broadband connection will reduce the amount of the time the computer takes for such download.

Upgrade RAM Memory

Most of the older computers came with 256 MB or 512 MB of RAM. If you are using Windows XP, consider upgrading the memory to 512 MB or 1 GB. Having more memory will increase a computer’s performance noticeably, especially if you often run several programs at the same time.

Upgrade Hard Drive

Are you running out of hard drive space to store photos and MP3 files? Any easy solution is to buy an external USB hard drive which costs about $150 – $300, depending on the size. Internal hard drives are less expensive if you know how to install it yourself. We offer hard drive installation to increase your storage space.

Since the new hard drives run much faster than the old hard drives, upgrading to a new drive can increase your PC’s performance.

Upgrade Old vs. Buy New

It can become difficult to decide when to buy a new computer and when to upgrade an old one. Even if upgrading an old computer costs almost as much as buying a new one, upgrading still makes sense under some circumstances. If you have a lot files and programs on the old computer, it can become very costly to transfer those files and programs onto a new computer. In such a case, if the computer is less than 3-4 years old, upgrading may be the better choice.

Name-brand computers have a much lower failure rate than generic ones over the long-run. Name-brand computers are well-designed for maximum performance and built with quality parts. In addition, they are backed with good technical support and warranty. Most reputable manufacturers offer inexpensive entry-level and mid-range computers that are excellent for homes and businesses.

When deciding what to buy, you will face many options. It is important to set a budget and stay within your budget. Otherwise, you may be easily carried away by the add-on options that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Desktop Computer Purchase

• Memory – Have at least 1,000 MB or 1 GB RAM and 150 GB hard disk. Windows Vista requires at least 1 GB of RAM to run optimally.
• Processor – Avoid buying the fastest processor. A 2 GHz processor is NOT 100% faster than a 1 GHz processor. The difference may be only 10-20%.
• DVD Writer – Back up files (photos, mp3 music, and documents)and create home DVD videos using your computer.
• Power Protection – Buy an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for power surge or failure protection.

Laptop Computer Purchase

• Brand – Choose a name brand that is reputable and has a solid tech support, such as Dell, Gateway, and HP.
• Extended Warranty – Buy an extended warranty. Laptops are more prone to failure than desktops and a repair can cost hundreds of dollars.
• Anti-Theft Device – Protect your laptop with a good anti-theft lock. Laptops are the frequent target of thieves.

32-bit vs 64-bit Computer?

Don’t buy a 64-bit computer simply because the salesman says it runs faster. If you use your computer mainly for word processor, email and web surfing, you will not notice a performance difference between a 32-bit computer and a 64-bit computer.

64-bit computers are more suitable for heavy-duty business computing purposes. As of now, only a few software come with a 64-bit version which is designed to take advantage of the faster processor. So if you have a 64-bit computer but can’t find the 64-bit version of the software you will likely use, you will not see a better performance.