Is your laptop showing signs of slowing down and constant errors? Do you want to make sure if you can still squeeze out a few more years in the lifespan of your laptop?
The pandemic made a lot of people realize the value of laptops and computers. Businesses and employees had to adjust to a remote working schedule and setup. Students are taking their lessons and classes over the internet waves.
With this development, people had to whip out old laptops to adapt. How do you know when to replace a laptop, though?
If you’re using an old laptop for work or school, you may experience a few age-related issues. Keep reading to learn what those issues are and if they’re enough reasons to get you to shop for a new laptop.
The Performance of Your Laptop Is Slower
One of the biggest pet peeves of laptop and computer users is slow performance. As technology progresses, computers must get faster. When your machine is old, then you can’t expect it to perform as well as it did when it was brand new.
It’s natural for newer laptops to shift from a shutdown or sleep state to a fully operational state. However, the hardware and software of laptops age. You may experience this speed or lack thereof when you turn on your laptop and end up waiting longer.
You know it’s time when to replace a laptop.
The average lifespan of a laptop is between three and five years. Some laptops can survive longer than the average estimated lifespan. However, their components will be obsolete when running advanced applications.
With that said, you don’t want to jump the gun too soon. Your laptop may be slowing down from other factors, like malware. Make sure you clean your laptop of malware, unneeded programs, and the other common causes of slow speed.
New Apps and Programs Don’t Support Your Device
In this post-pandemic age, kids are now taking online schooling. Estimates say that 56% of the US workforce holds a job that’s compatible with remote work. However, only 3.6% of employees work from home half-time or more.
This means that we’re dependent on our computers, smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Software and apps for remote work and online education are topping the industry. Yet, you may experience more installation issues than others if your laptop is older.
Also, as we mentioned earlier, laptops can’t get upgraded per hardware component. Your laptop can’t get upgraded in parts. This means that you’re stuck with the same RAM, video card, and so on.
A major sign that it is the best time to replace your laptop is if new software won’t load on it. As computers progress, programs and software do, as well. If there is incompatibility with your laptop, then it’s time to upgrade and get a new one.
You Often Experience Unexpected Shutdowns
Have you experienced working on your laptop for one minute and then seeing a black screen on the next?
A crashing computer is always a bad thing, especially during work. It often means that you’ll lose progress, unsaved work, time, and/or resources. It’s also one of the things that can make you want to slam it shut with force or throw it at a wall.
It’s time for a change if your computer often crashes or shows you the blue screen of despair and unsaved work. To help you de-stress from the frustrations of dealing with constant crashes, go to Lenovo. There you can find a variety of brand-new laptops that will fit your needs.
Your Laptop Often Gets Exposed to Newer Types of Malware
Do you often have problems with viruses and malware? No matter how expensive your antimalware and antivirus programs are, your computer can still get exposed. The security features in your laptop will also depend on your software and hardware.
If your laptop computer can’t run and accept software updates, you’re at risk of data breaches. Your system also needs to update often. If it can’t do that because of age-related issues, your data isn’t secure.
Your Laptop Battery Holds Smaller Charges
One of the top benefits of using a laptop is that it allows you to be mobile. It’s much smaller and lighter than a typical desktop computer. Plus, it has a battery, so you can work without having to plug it into an outlet.
However, like the laptop itself, its batteries also have a lifespan. The average laptop battery has a lifespan of 2-4 years or 1000 full charges. The more you use your laptop, the less its battery will last.
Remember that every recharge of your laptop battery is one step closer to the end of its lifespan. The best batteries for laptops are lithium batteries. A laptop’s lifespan also depends on the battery life, how you treat the laptop, and how often you use it.
Your first charge is the most important one. When you buy a new laptop from this holiday’s top laptop deals, make sure you charge your laptop for 24 hours to make sure it has a full charge. If your battery has a complete charge in its first charge, you can prolong its life.
Your Laptop Has a Hard Time Keeping Cool
When you’re experiencing certain issues with your smartphone, you know it’s time to get a new one. The same applies to laptops and computers. The issue of overheating is a common problem with years-old and overused devices.
Most laptops overheat because of a variety of reasons. Some people like to place their laptops on the surface of their beds. This can cause your bed covers to close down the vents and airways for the laptop.
Another reason that laptops overheat is when it collects dust inside. Make it a habit to take your laptop to a specialist to clean it now and then. If you feel confident in opening up your laptop and cleaning its insides, then go for it.
You may also want to reduce the number of programs that are open and working in the background. These extra programs and apps can overwork the system, causing it to overheat. If you don’t see many unnecessary programs open, then you may have malware working in the background.
Does your laptop often overheat for no reason at all? Its age may be the cause of overheating. If it overheats at constant times and often, this is a time when to replace a laptop.
Your Laptop Hardware Is Getting Left in the Dust
We mentioned earlier that your laptop isn’t getting support from new apps because it has old components. If you’re unfamiliar with why, here’s an in-depth explanation. Let’s use the example of random access memory or RAM.
Your computer speed depends on how much RAM or memory you have. If your computer has a lot of free memory, it’ll be easier for your laptop to operate. Imagine working in an Office Essentials that has enough space for you to do your tasks.
Because of technological restrictions from their time, old laptops have smaller memory. Applications today follow a list of minimum requirements to operate. Your laptop’s memory or RAM is one of them.
If the laptop can’t meet those requirements, the software can’t operate. This is especially troublesome if the software you want to use is bulky and needs a lot of memory. Imagine being plus-sized and squeezing yourself into a workspace the size of a small shed.
The same applies to other components in your laptop, like the CPU and the hard drive. It’s smart to learn the specs of your laptop before you buy any new software. If your laptop can’t meet the requirements of the programs you need to use, consider a laptop trade-in.
You Have to Look Hard at the Display
Finally, let’s look at one of the most glaring signs of when to update a laptop. Do you find yourself having to squint at your screen to read the text on it? Are the photos in your laptop looking blurry compared to when you look at a phone or TV screen?
If you have a laptop with a low-resolution screen, you need to start looking for newer models. Other than a low resolution, old laptops also have poor color reproduction and dim backlighting. When you’re looking at a vintage display, the quality of your work can get affected.
There is also another possibility that doesn’t connect with having to buy a new laptop. Instead, you may need a new pair of reading glasses. If even a new pair of glasses isn’t cutting it, then you also need a new laptop, anyway.
Know When to Replace a Laptop
That is our guide on when to replace a laptop. We hope you learned the right time to replace or upgrade your laptop computer. We also hope you learned from this guide if you can keep using your laptop to optimize its lifespan.
Did you enjoy learning about what happens to a laptop when it’s too old? Do you want to find out more about how you can make the most of your devices? Check out our other tech posts now for more content like this.