Author: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, Computerworld |

Weekly insights and recommendations on using technology to achieve small business success

I live at the forefront of technology. I usually update my computer, smartphone, Wi-Fi access point, and other hardware bits every 18 months. usually. Many companies usually replace their PCs and servers every three years. usually.

But 2021 is not an ordinary or typical year. Supply chain issues are slowing the delivery of everything from iPhones to cars to holiday toys.

This will not-I repeat-this year or even the next few quarters will not improve. As Deloitte Semiconductor Industry Research Director Brandon Kulik recently told Ars Technica, “The shortage will continue indefinitely. Maybe this doesn’t mean 10 years, but it’s certain that we are not talking about quarters. We are talking about years. ."

You see, the slowdown in the supply chain is not just about the congestion of container ships outside the Port of Los Angeles. It is not only because of COVID-19 that global manufacturing and transportation have slowed down. This is a perfect storm of factories, transportation and logistics systems that have been neglected for a long time.

For example, we have neglected storage and warehousing for decades and supported just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing. When all components do arrive in time, JIT works well. If they don't do this, you are really in trouble. Assuming a miracle happens, we have all the chips we need in all the right places. Can this solve our shortage of cars, computers and smartphones? Do not.

In addition to CPU, FPU, etc., the chip also needs a plastic substrate to form a printed circuit board. Connecting the chip to the substrate of the circuit board—perhaps the least sexy technology ever—is also essential. And, yes, we do not have enough substrates or substrate factories.

result? I see it every time I try to buy a new car, but I cannot buy the car I want. You will come across it when you want to update your company PC and cannot buy a machine you like. As IDC analyst Linn Huang recently pointed out. "Semiconductor shortages and still-affected logistics will soon force OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] to raise prices." How much? He expects that "prices will rise by 10% to 15% soon, and they are likely to rise further."

So what can small businesses do? I recommend sticking to the PC you already own. As I pointed out, Windows 11 does not bring you any improvements, so you do not need to upgrade to it or buy a new computer to run it now.

In addition, although I or a video rendering expert may appreciate the difference between the best-selling AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and one of the top CPUs in 2018 (such as Intel Core i5-8400), most office work has not changed from the latest and fastest. CPU.

Of course, some upgrades may make a difference, but you don't have to buy a new PC for them. For example, replacing an old, slow HDD with a new, fast SDD is always a victory. Or, as always, just increase the RAM from 8GB to 16GB to give a squeaky PC a new look. 

Will the idea of ​​turning on your personal computer or laptop surprise you? The computer repair technician is still there. Find someone with CompTIA A certification, you should do well. (If you are really willing to eject the top of the machine, but you are not sure what to do, check out the excellent iFixit repair guide.)

If your hardware is indeed running too slow for efficient work, please take it to one of your local stores or consult your internal IT team to see if you can speed it up. There are still many cheap and free good software updates and cleanups that can improve the performance of old computers.

If your PC is really ready to enter the junkyard instead of a new and expensive box, look for a reputable second-hand equipment dealer, such as Back Market, to replace it. Or, do what I do, which is to look at refurbished or backlog hardware from Dell and Lenovo. These usually represent good deals and sometimes provide warranties that are as good as newer products of the same kind.

Of course, it is not as fun as having the best new hardware. But between shipping delays and price increases, it makes sense to make the most of the equipment you already have—or buy old equipment at a discount.

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols has been writing articles about technology and technical business, because CP/M-80 is a cutting-edge PC operating system, 300bps is a fast Internet connection, WordStar is the most advanced word processor, and we like it!

Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc.

Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc.