SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UPDATES
Memory and Hard drive updates
Operating system updates
Graphics card updates
Application updates
Adding extra Hard drives
Speed, Size, Reliability, Backup, Security
These are some of the benefits of updating or upgrading your hardware or your software. Is it always sensible
or feasible to do it, no.
If it makes sense can an upgrade
or update make a huge difference,
yes, most definitely.
FAQS - SYSTEM HW & SW UPDATES
CAN EVERYTHING BE UPGRADED?
Simple answer -No. It will depend upon your particular system and also what you have planned. We can discus that. As an example, assume that most Box computers can be upgraded, and laptops only a limited amount - usually memory, most times hard drive but not always, rarely can the CPU or graphics in a laptop be changed.
I'M STILL USING WINDOWS XP, UPGRADE?
That is entirely up to you. If it's working fine and all the software you are using is ok, and you are prepared to take the security risk of using an old operating system that does not get security updates, it is your choice. But you might consider Windows 10, it's not that expensive, and there are deals out there. Is it perfect, no, but then nothing is.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO UPGRADE MY SYSTEM?
That will depend upon many things. What is being done, where it is being done, how much of the work we do and how much you are prepared to take on.
A memory upgrade can take 30min, but a new SSD hard drive while only taking 30min to install on the system, will take much longer to either copy the data over, or install a new fresh operating system.
Also, if this work is all done on site it will cost more as there is lots of waiting around for software to install, and data to copy, especially off old slow hard drives. So, it depends, we can discuss all of that.
OLD STYLE HARD DRIVE OR SSD?
What is an "old style" hard drive anyway? It means it is electro-mechanical in use and operation - it has physical spinning discs a bit like a record/cd, not just 1, several, with arms that move across reading and writing data to the surface. Advantages - large capacity and cheaper, Disadvantages - heavy, noisy, hot, susceptible to physical damage- dropping, hitting, shock.
SSD's what are they? Solid-State Drive. Whats that? Well in your computer or device you have RAM memory, which is volatile, as in take the power away and the data goes. SSD's use non-volatile memory chips, so the data stays when the power goes. Solid-state as it has no moving mechanical parts, only electical signals.. Advantages - small compact size, light, cool running, handles drops and shocks well, less power use, VERY FAST!. Disadvantages- Cost per storage size- but getting better, Data loss recovery is case of failure (must backup), Life expectancy compared to conventional drives (must backup)