The media regularly encourages us
to purchase the latest and greatest by inundating us with images of the newest
phones and technical gadgetry. Some of
us buy into it because we want our technology to be able to perform with the
newest games or software upgrades.
Others do it because they want to be able to impress people or show off
to their friends.
As consumers, we are showing a
trend toward rising expectations and it’s those expectations that sometimes push
companies to tweak their products just slightly and then market it as something
else entirely. These companies are
pushed by a combination of, what the marketing sector calls, the early adopters
and early majority.
Innovators and entrepreneurs are
enamored with the early adopters. Early
adopters don’t often care if new products will even serve a purpose before
adopting it. They take more risks than
the rest of the population. They are
quickly bored with the latest and greatest toys and are regularly looking for
something new. The early majority wait
just a little bit longer. They will
adopt new ideas just before the average member of society. They aren’t quite as eager to pick up the
newest toy, but they are nowhere near as skeptical as the average person.
So what are you to do if you don’t
fall into the category of early adopter or early majority? What if you want your technology to last so
long that you might even fall into the category of laggard? Personal Computers (“PCs”) should typically
last you an average of 3-5 years. Of
course, this is dependent upon the quality of the parts, how well you take care
of them, and how they are used. An Apple
or Mac product will usually last 2-3 years more than a PC but that is mostly
because you cannot buy a $300 Apple or Mac anywhere. Cell phone contracts are generally two years
long which is the life of an average phone.
Sure, some last longer, some shorter.
Again, it depends on the quality of the product, how well it’s been
cared for, and how much it is used.
There
are some tips and tricks that you can do, however, to make your new toy last a
little longer than the last one did.
- Buy quality products because you usually do get
what you pay for.
- Keep it covered and clean. Dust, dirt, and debris can significantly
shorten the life of your phone or computer.
- Keep it cool – overheating causes components to
malfunction, work harder, and work slower.
Provide air flow and be careful about keeping your phone in your pocket for
extended periods on hot days.
- Update regularly. Updates and patches may seem like a pain to
stay on top of, but they are just as necessary to the maintenance of your
technology as regular oil changes are for your car.
- Use a surge protector when plugged in or
charging and unplug your technology as added precaution during storms. One lightning strike to an unprotected outlet
would mean you are going shopping for new tech.
Just like a car, when you stay on
top of routine maintenance and treat your tech with care, you will likely
squeeze a few more years out of the piece.
Remember, when you consider the cost of your tech, it makes sense to
invest a few additional efforts to stretch your money farther and gain
additional quality and quantity from it.
Wade Stewart is the Managing Member of Stewart and Son Computer Services, LLC in University Place, WA and serves as a trusted partner to many local small and medium sized businesses.
You can read more from Wade at Stewart and Son by visiting the following blog sites:
http://stewartandson.wordpress.com/
http://smokingwires.blogspot.com/
Content Copyright Wade Stewart (C) 2014
Labels: advocacy, computer, hardware, industry, managed services, security, small business
