I still talk to owners who are proud that their main office computers are seven or eight years old and “still working.” The machines may turn on, but that is not the same as being reliable or secure.
After about five years, most business-class computers start to show their age. Updates become slower, new software runs poorly, and the risk of hard drive or power supply failure climbs. When one finally dies, it often happens at the worst possible time and forces an emergency purchase.
A better approach is to plan replacements on a schedule — typically every four to six years depending on the machine and how hard it is used. Spreading the cost over time and retiring systems before they fail keeps the office running smoothly and avoids the scramble of sudden hardware loss. It also makes budgeting far more predictable.
