“If it still boots up, keep using it” is the most expensive computer policy a business can have. Old computers cost more in lost productivity, security risk, and emergency replacement than the price of refreshing them on a predictable schedule. Understanding the true cost of old hardware changes how businesses think about IT spending.
THE REAL COST OF AN OLD COMPUTER
The monthly productivity loss on a 7-year-old computer typically exceeds the monthly amortized cost of a new one — and that is before counting security risk, emergency replacement cost, and the risk of sudden failure during a critical task.
| Cost Factor | Old Computer | New Computer |
|---|---|---|
| Boot time | 2-5 min | 15 sec |
| Productivity hit | 30-60 min/day | None |
| Security updates | May be unsupported | Current |
| Failure risk | High + unpredictable | Very low |
| Emergency replacement | $200-500 premium | N/A |
| Employee frustration | Chronic | None |
REPLACEMENT TRIGGERS — REPLACE THE COMPUTER IF...
Steve Condit founded Simply IT to bring enterprise-grade IT management to small and mid-sized businesses across North Central Florida. With over 30 years of IT experience and a background in the US Marine Corps, Steve built Simply IT around the principle that local businesses deserve the same quality of technology partnership that large companies take for granted — without long-term contracts or national call center support.
