Computer falsehoods

by CharredPC

In my years of computer repair and refurbishing, I've run into many fallacies of which I have a hard time convincing customers are wrong. So here's the top six things that most big store 'computer guys' don't want you to realize:

FALSE: "My PC is old and slow now, so I have to buy a new one (or purchase expensive upgrades to my current one)."
TRUE: When you bought your PC 2, 5, or even 7 years ago, it was nice and fast. It's the exact same hardware, so why do you think it needs replacing? All the stuff installed on it- unused applications, adware, toolbars, along with a lack of maintenance- is what has left it clogged up and slow. Software is like marker, and hardware is a whiteboard; do you throw away a whiteboard because it has smudges on it, or do you just clean it so it’s like new, and keep using it?

FALSE: "It takes a certified computer tech at a big-name store to diagnose and 'fix' my slow computer."
TRUE: You pay Geek Squad good money when on average they spend twenty minutes actually working with your machine. For the most part, it sits there unattended doing things you could easily set up, while they sell more overpriced computers to unsuspecting consumers. Why be a part of that? You don't have to. Scan for viruses during your lunch break. Scan for adware while at the movies. Do Disk Cleanup and defrag overnight. Hey, you’re good! They should hire you ;)

FALSE: "I need to have the latest operating system, Windows Vista- this salesman said so."
TRUE: Currently for 99% of consumers, every single thing you want to do on Vista, you can do on Windows XP... faster. With this guide, you have nearly every positive aspect of Vista, but without the many problems that have made many people switch back to XP. Is it worth saying you have the 'latest and greatest' if it isn't as efficient or productive?

FALSE: "A slow computer needs more memory- I should purchase extra RAM."
TRUE: Not always. If you are low on RAM (128MB or 256MB) adding more will indeed help. However, this has created a myth that more RAM = faster PC. If your machine is only using 400MB of the 1GB you have installed, how will adding another gig help? It won’t. You’ll see a much bigger improvement by de-bloating, cleaning and tweaking your operating system.

FALSE: "My computer won’t boot up- it’s obviously broken. I must need a new one."
TRUE: You wouldn’t believe how many nice laptops I’ve had people offer to sell me for $100 or less because they are ‘broken.’ In reality, Windows was corrupted. That’s all. Remember the whiteboard analogy? Thirty minutes of wiping and cleaning (troubleshooting in safe mode or reinstalling XP) solved everything, good as new. It’s broken when the screen cracks. It’s broken when the hinges break. It’s not broken when you get a virus and XP can’t finish loading.

FALSE: "Newer is better, and my PC or laptop is several years old. I must need a new one."
TRUE: If you’re trying to play WoW on an original Pentium MMX, then I completely agree. But if you only browse the web, write school papers, check email and chat online with your 1.2GHz Pentium III… then why upgrade? Because you bought it more than four years ago? Why not try a little maintenance, a few tweaks, maybe some GUI enhancements, and save $500? It will look and feel like a whole new machine. You’ll still accomplish everything you want to, and when you do get around to purchasing a new computer in a year or two, that $500 will go much farther. Clever you, waiting and saving money!