Your Electronic Circuitry Can Outlive You

Somethings are built to last. The Colosseum, for example, far outlived those who created it. While they may not last thousands of years, electronic devices have a much greater lifespan than other mechanical techbologies. In fact, they have the potential to outlast their creators. This is because, unlike car engines and your body, most computer components do not have moving parts. This lack of friction means that PC hardware will last for many years, which sinks the excuse of somebody needing to buy a new PC because their old one has, "worn out."

Computer hardware is made up of various types of electronic circuitry that relay electrical signals. As long as nothing out of the ordinary happens to your computer hardware (like physical damage or harmful power fluctuations), then your PC components should be able to relay signals for years without seeing a decrease in performance.

The "wearing down" of your computer is not from deteriorating hardware. The lack of performance a computer experiences is from more applications that are added. As more software is added to a computer, the registry becomes full, and a full regustry gives the user the perception that their PC is "wearing down." In actuality, the PC is just becoming too full; this means that it takes more time for the computer's electrical signals to move across the intact hardware.

For a really good example of how long computer components can actually last, let us take a look at NASA. In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager probes to explore planets and moons in our solar system. Their mission was successful and many years later the Voyager probes pushed past our system's most outer planets. With many of its scientific instruments still intact and beaming information back to Earth, the Voyager 1 probe is currently traveling ever closer to the very edge of our solar system.

When Voyager 1 finally makes it beyond our solar system into interstellar space (possibly by years end), we will have our first glimpse of what space is like beyond the gravitational pull of our Sun. In fact, the Voyager probes are expected to continue to be operational until 2025, at that point they will simply run out of power. One can even safely make the assumption that 100 years for now when the Voyager probes are recovered by a starship, they will be able to be powered on again because the hardware will be still be intact.

One reason the Voyager probes are still operational is because they are not upgraded to a new version of Windows every few years. In fact, if we did not have any need to upgrade our own PCs, then we could potentially use one well maintained computer over the course of our lifetime. In theory, a new computer that receives a clean install and is never updated will never see a dip in performance until the day it dies.

While it is true that computer components can last a very long time, they do not die slowly. This is why PC deaths are referred to as crashes, because they are sudden, and the threat of a crash is a big reason that it is essential that you backup your data. Up until the point of your PC's death, your computer should be running just fine. The hardware component that is most susceptible to crashing is also the most important, the hard drive. Interestingly enough, this is the one component inside of your computer that has moving parts. Due to the friction caused by insanely fast rotations of the hard drive platters (54,000-72,000 revolutions per minute), you can technically say that your hard drive is wearing down, and like a car engine, your hard drive will show signs of decreased performance before crashing.

All of you PCs other non-moving computer components will last significantly longer than your hard drive. Keep this in mind when you shop for your next mobile device. Many new devices use a solid state drive(SSD) instead of a standard drive. A solid state drive has zero moving parts; this means that a device with a SSD will be able to better withstand the wear and tear and dropping that mobile devices are prone to.

To get the most out of your PC, you can have Computerware monitor and maintain your computers. We can take big steps to boost your PCs performance and remotely monitor your hard drive so that you will not be caught off guard by any crashes. Computerware can keep your software properly maintained and updated so that your PC will operate at maximum efficiency for as long as you use it. If you would like to learn best practices that will extend the life of your PC, then call Computerware at (703) 821-8200 and be sure to ask us about our remote monitoring and maintenance service. We will be happy to work with you and find a service package that will fit the needs and budget of your business.