If you are like most people, you think computer service is for people that have something wrong with their computers, not for a computer that is running. Computer maintenance really falls into a few different modes which Ill make an attempt to define.
Denial Mode : Problems? I don’t have any problems.
Most computer users / owners only fix a problem after it becomes a crisis for them. That is to say, your computer might be running as loud as a truck for 6 months but it only gets attention after it decides not to turn on one day. The problem that needed “fixing” has been there for 6 months and could have been eliminated in under an hour for about $50, but now, it will take more time and more money.
There used to be a car repair commercial that had a tagline ” You can pay me know, or you can pay me later” and to a certain extent is true when it comes to computer repair. There are many things computers do or dont do that should alert us as users that there may be a problem than can be easily addressed now but if you wait long enough will be catastrophic tomorrow. Have you ever had a hard drive crash on you? It is one of these “OH NO” experiences because most people aren’t prepared for the options they have. When was the last backup done? Ever? Do you have the Operating System Disks that came with the computer? How many songs were there? Do you even remember how many programs you had installed and operating?
There are companies, local and national, that offer data recovery services for failed harddrives but make sure your checking account has a high balance because these places charge thousands of dollars to recover your digital pictures and music files.
Complacency Mode : I know its broken, but I dont have the time to fix it.
Really, not a lot of difference between this user and the denial user. The result will be the same ( See Panic ) The complacent user is aware that they have a problem, but believes that they just dont have the time to deal with it. The problem will fester this way until the user is forced to deal with it by graduating to the next category . . Panic Mode
Panic Mode : Ohmygod Ohmygod Ohmygod Ohmygod
This is a full failure due to a hardware problem or sometimes a software problem. It usually means that the user will have to deal with loss of use ( crippling for business users ) or loss of data ( devastating for business users ) or a combination of both. While it is possible to recover from either of these positions, it will be costly. Independent statistics claim up to 90% of businesses that lose data caused by a disruption or disaster are forced to close down within two years.
These computer problems can be avoided with preventative maintenance. The term Computer maintenance has all too often been mis applied by users as being the result of what happens when your computer “breaks” or fails. Computer Maintenance is really about taking steps to make sure you never get to “Panic” mode. It doesnt have to be expensive. Companies like ePRO, LLC can make arrangements with you to come to your home or office and physically clean your computer once per year by vacuuming the dust and debris than can choke off the air supply to the internal components of your computer. Companies like ePRO, LLC can also arrange to remotely monitor the condition of your computer and offer plans to “peek” at your computers health status once a month.
Computer Maintenance plans come is a wide range of options that can be a s simple as a site visit once per year to make sure everything is running properly, to all encompassing monthly remote monitoring.
Even though computer maintenance options plans might add a few dollars to the operating costs of your computer, it is far less expensive to proactively maintain your computer than the type of reactive repair costs you will need to deal with in the event of a catastrophic failure. Call a computer service company like ePRO, LLC today.
Source:http://thinkofmac.com/?p=183
