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THE COMPUTER GRAVEYARD, PART 2
Last month we looked at ways to dispose of outdated computers relegated to the computer graveyard. With at least one estimate predicting that 500 million computers will reach obsolescence by 2007, there’s a good chance you already have such a graveyard of your own.

Why, though, do computers seem to become outdated as soon as you get them home from the store? The answer lies in a computer industry axiom called Moore’s Law.

In 1965, Gordon Moore, co-founder of microchip manufacturer Intel Corp., noticed a striking trend in the growth of microprocessor performance: the capacity of the fastest processor available doubled every 18 to 24 months, while the cost of the processor remained relatively unchanged or even declined.

This observation, Moore’s Law, has for the most part held true during the last 35 years and continues to serve as the basis for computer performance forecasts. Computer components such as hard disks and random access memory have seen similar, though less dramatic, growth in performance and capacity.

Does this mean you need to buy a new system with the latest and greatest processor every year or two to stay current? The chip manufacturers probably would prefer you think so.

On its Web site, Intel addresses the question of when to buy a new computer this way: "Intel processor technology is always improving, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to buy your new PC. There is never a ‘wrong’ time to buy, so our advice is to buy the most powerful PC that fits your budget."

Intel’s advice notwithstanding, buying new computer equipment on a regular basis probably will continue to be an unfortunate fact of life for most businesses for the foreseeable future. There are, however, a few things to consider before making your next round of upgrades.

First, remember that if Moore’s Law continues to hold true, any system you buy today is bound to look outdated in comparison to the systems of tomorrow. However, just because a system does not have all the newest components does not mean it cannot meet your needs today and continue to do so in the future.

Second, try to match the performance capabilities of new systems with your current needs, as well as requirements projected for the future. A workstation running simple business applications probably does not require the very latest in technology, but buying above your current needs might provide a longer life for new equipment.

Third, keep in mind that buying the latest system will not necessarily guarantee a dramatic increase in performance. According to a report in the January 2001 issue of PC World, Intel’s older Pentium III processor actually outshone the latest 1.5-gigahertz Pentium 4 in many performance measures.

Finally, remember that once your equipment ceases to meet your needs, it still might be put to good use by organizations that accept donations. For more details on that option, see the March installment of CyberNews.

Joe Hoyle, electronic media editor, ADA Publishing, a division of ADA Business Enterprises Inc., "hoylej{at}ada.org".

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