Why Hanging Onto Old Computers Costs More Than You Think
Every business owner has heard the sighs and seen the frustration of employees waiting for their computers to load and process. What seems like “just a minute here and there” adds up to thousands of dollars in wasted productivity each year.
The Hidden Cost of Downtime
- On average, employees lose 15–30 minutes per day to slow logins, freezes, and crashes.
- Multiply that across a team of 25, and you’re losing hundreds of hours per month.
- Example: a five-minute delay × 20 employees = 8+ hours of lost work daily.
- Plug in your numbers:
(Employees × Minutes ÷ 60) × Hourly Rate × Workdays
When Slow Tech Hurts More Than Just Speed
- Client Perception: lags during Zoom calls, presentations, or file sharing hurt credibility.
- Employee Morale: constant tech frustration drives disengagement.
- Hidden IT Costs: outdated systems lead to more help desk tickets and emergency fixes.
Why Businesses Put Off Refreshing PCs
- “If it still turns on, it still works” mindset.
- Sticker shock of upgrading multiple machines at once.
- Lack of visibility into how much productivity is already being lost.
The Case for a Refresh Strategy
- 3–4 year refresh cycles keep machines fast and secure.
- Standardizing hardware lowers IT support costs.
- Cloud-first approach means lighter, faster, more affordable devices.
- Tax advantage: Section 179 deductions on new equipment.
IRS Publication 946 (PDF)
How an MSP Helps You Save
- Proactive monitoring reveals when devices slow down before performance is dramatically affected.
- Lifecycle management = predictable budgeting instead of emergencies.
- MSPs often bundle device procurement with support for cost certainty.
- Slow computers aren’t just an annoyance — they’re a silent drain on revenue, productivity, and morale. Southern California businesses that stay competitive keep their computers in peak operating condition and have upgrade and replacement plans.
Is your team wasting time on sluggish systems? Let’s run a quick productivity cost analysis and show you what faster, updated tech could save your business.