Expert: Bobbert - 3/21/2008

Question
Not sure if your my guy but here it goes. My computer a Dell will be 4 yrs. in May, i have trouble with music and digital transfers and my sons says my computer is outdated. He also says for having DSL it's slow. Does yrs. matter what do you think time to start searching for new one? thanks debbie

Answer
Yes, the average operation life cycle of a desktop computer is 2 to 3 years, 4 years is EXCEPTIONALLY old for a desktop. Consider that most major hardware is redesigned entirely from the ground up, every 12 to 18 months, and every 3 to 6 months, that hardware is revised (in-between being entirely replaced). As far as keeping a desktop for a prolonged time, 4 years is about the longest I'd consider pragmatic, as after that point it is generally too outmoded to be capable of "keeping up with the pack". Honestly I'd say its definitely time to look for a new computer, I'd look at Dell first, see if they're having any special promotions, usually they offer a free monitor or printer with a minimal purchase amount (usually around $600, which is roughly the list price of an average computer (which I can almost 100% gurantee will be at least 4 times faster than your current system (if not 10-30 times faster, depending on what hardware you presently have, for example if your system was top of the line 4 years ago, maybe only 4-5 times faster, if it was a value box, look to the higher end in terms of speed increase)).

When it comes to buying a new computer, I generally work by the rule of thousands, for every thousand dollars you spend, estimate one year of use from the machine (one of year of use without feeling the age/lack of performance), up to around $3300 (or around 3 years). This isn't to say a $600 box won't last 3 years, but a $3000 box will likely give a much better run over 3 years.

-bob