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Computer Repair or Replacement – Cheap Computers are Not a Bargain

March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

In the PC Repair business these days, we are hearing more people say they can buy a computer for almost the same price as repairing their existing PC.  So why bother doing the repair?  An good repair shop will tell you if your computer is worth fixing or not.  If they value your continued business, they will be honest with you.

Some people like replacing their computer every year or two, so they they keep buying cheap, low end machines.  Problem is, their user experience will be awful.  Slow performance, crashing, lockups, bad battery life and lousy WiFi reception are some of the hallmarks of cheap PC’s.  Then they have to transfer over all their data, install all their programs, and redo all their personal settings.  Hey if you like this, knock yourself out.

Yes, computers have dropped a lot in price these days.  You can buy one for $300.  However, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

Here’s what you get with a cheap computer:

  • Cheap construction/assembly that cracks or breaks easily.
  • Cheap electronics that perform erratically and break.
  • Processors (CPU’s) two generations old, are slow and don’t support newer technologies.
  • “Bottom-of-the-Barrel” hard drives that fail manufacturers’ normal specifications and tests.
  • Motherboards made with cheap, flimsy materials, thin wires and weak solder points.
  • Circuit boards and chips that have several technical features disabled.

What does this equate to?

  • Slow, erratic performance with excessive system lockups and crashes.
  • Incompatibility with many types of software, Windows features and external devices.
  • Weak WiFi reception, resulting in slow, spotty signal with recurring drop-offs.
  • Poor battery life and/or batteries that die in a year.

So the decision is yours.  Do you want to enjoy fast, smooth and reliable performance?  Do you want your PC or laptop to last several years, so you don’t have to transfer your data, reinstall your programs and spend hours setting up a new machine every year or two?  Do you want it to be compatible with any software, add-ons or peripheral you want to buy?  Do you want it to run all the latest features that Windows and the internet have to offer?

If the answer is yes, don’t buy a cheap PC or Laptop.  Fix your existing PC and save up for a better model.  Again, if your computer guy is honest, he’ll tell you if your old beast is worth fixing.

Finally, the answer to the burning question…… How much does a good computer cost? 

At this time, Spring 2012, decent Laptops start at around $500 – Solid, performance models with great battery life start around $650.

Decent Traditional Desktops (towers) start at around $400.  Quality models start around $600.

What about those new All-in-One Desktops?  These are the ones with the tower and screen all together in a single unit.  Well, as I said in a previous blog post, they all stink, so stay away from them.  Read my post on All-in-One Computer Repair Issues for more on this.

 

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Computer Repair Issues: All-in-One Desktop PC Repair and Maintenance

March 17, 2012 By 2 Comments

All-in-One Desktop PCThe PC repair realm has a new challenge.  All-in-One desktops are now all the rage.  These are the type of computers that have the CPU and screen in one single unit.  In other words, there is no separate tower.  This is a real space saving and convenient design.  MAC desktops took this form years ago, and now Windows desktops are following suit.

There is one drawback to having this type of unit however.  Maintenance and the cost of repair.  The main issue is heat, which wears down components or burns them out.  They really cram lots of components into a small space, so they tend to run hot.   These units are basically laptops on a stand, with the LCD screen attached, so they are more expensive to repair, just like laptops are.

They tried making these PC’s several years ago, but it was a disaster because back then, processors chips and hard drives ran very hot.  It’s a lot better now with the lower voltage, cooler running components, so it’s a better unit overall.  Still, you have to be careful.  Here’s some tips to help you.

1) Keep the unit in a well ventilated area, so it can get air to pass through it freely.  Keep the surrounding area free of dust, so it doesn’t get into the vents and clog things up.  If the PC will be in a dusty area, like a workshop, don’t get one in the first place.

2) Don’t run too many programs at the same time, or run heavy duty applications, like video editing or high-end games.  This works the PC very hard and generates lots of heat.

3) Check your start-up programs and any other background programs that may be running.  If too many are running, this works the PC harder and generates more heat.  If you know how to check for these, by all means do it.  If not, take your unit to a computer repair technician and have them tweak and tune up the PC so it runs less background programs.

Feel free to buy one of these types of computers if you like, but just keep the above tips in mind.  Do not buy one if you’re a heavy gamer or if you work your computers really hard.  They’re not designed for that type of use.  If you’re a casual user that mostly uses the internet and email, these units are just fine.

I hope this helped you.  If you need any more information or have more PC Repair needs or questions, please see the Saguaro PC Tech website for our conntact information.  Thank you.

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Reasons to Buy a PC from a Local Shop Versus a Big-Box Store

February 25, 2010 By

While this article is specifically written for our shop, the same applies to any reputable local PC repair shop or dealer.  So read on.

The initial cost is higher with us (perhaps by $100 or so), but the long-term cost is much less, plus there’s much less hassle.  The reason ours are initially more is the following:

1) We use better quality and higher performing parts.

We’re constantly researching, experimenting with and tweaking different components to find the best balance between quality, price and performance.  Our machines usually outperform major brand models costing several hundred dollars more.

2)      We use standard design parts:

The big brands  are all proprietary design.  This means they charge almost double for replacement parts.  Not only that, they stop carrying replacement parts after 2-3 years, so you can’t repair them.  They want you to buy a new machine every 2-3 years.  With ours, you never have to buy a new computer again.  You can just upgrade whatever components you want, when you want.

3)      We include a 1 year warranty.

They usually provide 60-90 days.  Plus, you’ll need to ship your machine to them to get worked on.  You may be waiting 2 weeks to get it back.  With us, you’ll get it back in 1-3 days, depending on the issue.  Even if you get an on-site warranty, you have to spend several hours on the phone with India, passing through several loops of them trying to fix it over the phone before they’ll agree to finally send out a technician.

4)      You get local support from someone you know.

If you need tech support for a major brand PC, you get someone in India reading off a script.  With us you get… well.. us!  We’re all certified technicians with years of experience.  We’re local and you know us.  You can swing by our shop or we can come right out to your place.

In essence, it’s a decision of initial cost, versus the cost of lifetime ownership, as well as the complexity of dealing with a big corporation versus a local person (in other words, what is your time worth?).  For more information, go to our Website.

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