Desktop PC Purchases
Don't be the first on the block to buy something new, unless you
have a really good reason and can cost-justify it.
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Buying the latest and greatest PC, whether
it’s a desktop, notebook or server, is a lot like purchasing a new
car at the beginning of the model year, as soon as it becomes
available. Sure, you’ll get the fastest processor, the most RAM
and the slickest supporting components. However, you’ll pay a
steep price for the novelty of being an early adopter.
People always ask me, “So Josh, what’s the
difference between the high-end $2,100 desktop PC and the
entry-level $599 desktop PC?”
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At the risk of oversimplifying matters, think
of the entry-level $599 PC as last year’s model, or what you
might’ve spent $2,100 on just one short year ago.
So you’re paying an enormous premium for
being first on the block to own a state-of-the-art PC. As a result,
your small business may incur massive depreciation expenses – much
like the way a new car loses several thousand dollars in book value
the moment you drive it off the dealer’s lot. Because these
expenses are rarely trivial, start things off right by keeping new
PC purchases under close watch. And don’t be shy about seeking out
bona fide bargains on last year’s model whenever possible.
If you’re looking to keep abreast of special
promotions and other PC bargains, check out the following Web sites.
Note:
You can apply similar logic to purchases of new notebook
computers and servers. However, a notebook or server, other
things being equal, almost always will be more expensive
than a desktop PC.
Action Items
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Do
most PC users in your company run mainly standard business
software applications, such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel
and Microsoft Outlook?
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How
important is it for your employees to have the latest and
greatest desktop PC hardware? Why?
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Do
you know the specific recommended hardware requirements of
each software application used in your organization?
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Are
there any specific areas, such as processor clock speed, RAM
or hard drive size, where an entry-level desktop PC would be
inadequate for your current and projected software needs?
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If
your company currently purchases top-of-the-line desktop PC
models, have you considered the features in the same vendor's
mid-range or entry-level desktop PC model?
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What's the average purchase price of
desktop PCs that you've acquired during the past two years?
- What's the average age of desktop PCs that your company
currently owns?
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