Helpdesk No. 4
Q: I have an old analog TV. I’ve been using a digital converter box and an antenna to get the local broadcast channels. I only have dial-up Internet service. Can I use the Roku, Boxee, etc. to get Netflix with what I have? —David Russell
A: No, it just wouldn’t work David. A dial-up connection or even an exceptionally slow DSL connection isn’t fast enough. But what you are doing works great. For people within range of a television station’s transmission, using an antenna can deliver a fine picture. And it’s not just for folks like David who stayed with analog TV. A strong signal from your antenna can actually produce a better HDTV picture on the screen than the ones delivered by cable or satellite. That’s because less video compression is used when signals are broadcast over the airways. Cable and satellite companies compress the signal more in an understandable attempt to get the most programming delivered using the bandwidth that they have.
Q: Bill, who do you use for an online data backup service? I need one. — Melanie Phippard
A: I use Carbonite (www. Carbonite.com) and it’s worked flawlessly. But I always feel it necessary to mention that there are other fine online services so that it doesn’t seem that I’m steering you to a specific product. And I can say that a competitor, Mozy (www.mozy.com), also is a fine choice. The best option is to go to both websites and read about the features of each service and the cost. You can make your choice and feel easy that you’ll get a good online backup service.
It’s hard to know when to pull the plug on an aging computer. After all, it’s an old friend and you are comfortable with that machine and have even learned to work around its flaws.
The temptation is to keep the thing running: to add a bit more memory, to buy a larger hard disk, or change to a more modern video card. That usually works just fine. But as a way to manage the dollars and sense of computing, it consumes a lot of dollars and makes no sense.
Sure, there are times when a rather inexpensive change can keep a computer running happily for a year or two. And sometimes that can make sense. But before you spend the money, you need to develop a cold-hearted approach to managing computer life-support. There are times when pulling the plug and replacing the machine is the best thing you can do.
Let’s talk a bit to determine the most sensible path when it comes to spending money on an old computer. I think we can build some rules that will let you spend your money in the smartest way.
Husted’s First Law of Computing
I came up with it 20 years ago and it still holds true. Heck, it’s a law, not a theory. Here it goes: It’s time to replace a computer when it can no longer do what you need doing in a satisfying way. When your computer fails this test, it’s almost certainly time to replace it, not patch it up.
Old age is a disadvantage
If your computer is 3 years old or older, that’s a strong argument for replacing it instead of repairing it. Now make sure you understand what I’m saying. If it is old but working fine and passes the First Law of Computing test, by all means keep it. But if it is that old and needs repair, you’re better off replacing it.
How old is your copy of Windows?
If you are running XP, then there is no reason to keep that computer, even though it’s running OK. And if it has problems, that adds even more urgency to things. XP – now that it isn’t supported by Microsoft – is open to a lot of problems that can’t be fixed. And don’t believe the ads you may see that say some miracle service or program can change things. That’s a lie. That’s the story on XP; get rid of it. And in general, if your version of Windows is three generations or more out-of-date, then it’s foolish to spend repair money on it. Buy a new computer when trouble strikes and get a new version of Windows in the deal.
How much will the fix or repair cost?
Let’s say that your computer passes all the tests I’ve offered so far. The version of Windows is relatively new, the computer passes my First Law of Computing when it is running right, and it is less than 3 years old. There still may be a sound argument for replacing it, not fixing it. I’ve come up with this simple mathematical test. If the cost of the fix or repair is more than a third of what you’d pay for a replacement computer, you should replace, not repair. And keep in mind that, unlike with many products, computers offer more performance for less money today. There is a computer in the $600 to $800 price range that would be a massive upgrade to your old machine. So let’s say that you can get a new computer that suits you for $700. You should junk your old machine and replace it with the new one if the repair cost is much more than $200.
I know it can be difficult to move on. And the initial cost of a new computer can seem stiff. But it’s often a bargain that will save you money in the long run.
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