No one wants to buy a computer only to replace it in a few months. It’s one thing to buy a single desktop PC for your home, however. It’s another thing entirely to purchase an entire fleet of PCs for a hospital or factory.
In these high-demand work environments, computers need to serve for years upon years to maintain workflows and reduce costs.
Longevity-Enhancing Features
How long a computer lasts depends on numerous factors, such as working environment, usage, and maintenance efforts. On average, a desktop PC lasts 3 to 8 years, whereas laptops last 3 to 5 years. This assumes an average office environment, however. Harsh industrial and medical environments are anything but average.
To handle such work environments and extend their longevity, specialized industrial and medical computers will implement features like:
Fanless Cooling
In a conventional desktop PC, cooling fans are the part most likely to break down and fail. Other components soon follow when they do, as processors overheat and damage themselves. However, an intelligently designed PC with fanless cooling does not have this flaw.
High Ingress Protection Ratings
Another common threat to computers is water or dust entering the case and damaging the circuitry within. A computer with a high ingress protection (IP) rating prevents this from ever happening. IP65, meaning the casing is dust-proof and water-tight, is perfect for more demanding roles.
SSDs
Conventional hard disk drives (HDDs) rely on a spinning disk on a platter to read and update information saved on the computer. However, like fans, these spinning disks are a mechanical liability and prone to breaking down. They also suffer from data fragmentation, where information is broken up to save space at the cost of performance. Solid-state drives (SSDs) have no moving parts and do not suffer from data fragmentation, making them more reliable than HDDs.
Battery Health
For mobile computers like laptops and tablets, a declining battery is often the first sign of an imminent replacement or expensive repairs. However, a tablet with hot-swappable batteries is a great alternative that dodges this issue. This is because drained batteries can be exchanged with fresh units as they drain, which reduces their overall wear and prolongs their service life.
24/7 Operational Capability
Most computers are not designed to operate continuously without a chance to rest. However, high-demand environments like healthcare or oil rigs do not have the luxury of pausing. Design features like fanless cooling and rugged components contribute to 24/7 operational capability while also causing less wear and tear on the computer itself. These features ensure that the computer can serve for years without any problems despite constant usage.
Applications That Want Long Lifespans
Theoretically, any workspace or application that uses computers wants devices with long operational lifespans. However, two roles in particular value this trait:
Industrial Computers
Any business, especially industrial ones, wants to maximize its ROI (return on investment). One of the best ways to do so is to get the most out of their equipment and use it for as long as possible. Additionally, any change in equipment would disrupt work processes, leading to a loss in efficiency that no business wants. Therefore, industrial computers are designed to be as durable and long-lasting as possible.
Medical Computers
Given the operational pace of a typical hospital, any interruption in services can have severe consequences. Hospitals rarely have the time or budget to repair broken equipment, so getting the most out of every medical computer is essential. They also cannot afford to spend time on lengthy training periods and prefer to stick with a particular model or software program for as long as possible.
Benefits of Long Computer Lifespans
While choosing computers with long lifespans is a necessity, it still comes with massive benefits for doing so, such as:
Lower Expenses and Total Cost of Ownership
The total cost of ownership (TCO) refers not just to the upfront price of equipment but also to recurring expenses and any unplanned expenditures, such as maintenance and replacement. Now let’s compare:
- Option One: a computer that costs $4,000 and lasts for eight years
- Option Two: A computer that costs $3,000 and lasts for four years
In this hypothetical scenario, the first computer has a higher upfront cost but a lower TCO over the same period when compared to Option Two.
Operational Consistency
High-pressure working environments don’t want to or can’t afford to change their workflows constantly. For example, a hospital can’t pause operations for several weeks while its staff learn how to use the new computers. Using computers with long operational lifespans reduces how often you’ll have to update your workflows, saving you time and efficiency.
Maintaining Legacy Hardware
Many industrial and medical facilities use legacy equipment that is still perfectly functional but no longer supported by the original manufacturer. These devices use interface ports and software that many modern computers are incompatible with. Long-lasting computers with legacy compatibility features allow these facilities to continue using their equipment for extended periods of time, giving them a greater ROI and more time to source effective replacements.
Regulatory Approval
Much of the equipment used in high-stakes operating environments, such as the medical and industrial sectors, must meet regulatory compliance for features such as safety and reliability. Constantly changing equipment would also mean constantly re-applying for regulatory approval, which is costly in both time and money.
When Is It Time To Replace Your Computer?
Sadly, no piece of equipment can last forever. This is as true for computers as it is for any other tool. It’s critical to recognize these signs of a faltering device so that you can replace it before it fails entirely.
Slow Startup and Shutdown
A functional PC should be able to boot up and be functional within 30 seconds of hitting the power button, and shut down completely in the same time span. If the computer can’t, it’s often a sign of hard drive or RAM issues. Computers equipped with SSDs dodge most of these issues, leading to longer lifespans.
Noisy Fans
Noisy fans are often a sign of an overworked and overheating CPU as they try to blow cool air over the failing component. Fanless computers avoid this failure point, but the threat of a failing CPU is unavoidable. If your computer is running slowly or abnormally warm to the touch, check its diagnostic systems to ensure it isn’t overheating. If it is, it may be time for a replacement.
Can’t Update OS
A computer’s operating system is critical to its security and typically sees frequent updates to address issues or weaknesses. Being unable to update your operating system, such as when the developer phases it out, is a very good reason to replace that PC. However, some medical and industrial PCs are an exception; they have their image “set” and don’t want to update the OS.
Can’t Update or Run Software
Most users want computers to use the newest and most capable software possible. Medical and industrial end-users, on the other hand, want to continue supporting their older legacy tools and software. The need for legacy compatibility reduces the requirement to work with new technology, but doesn’t negate it entirely. You will inevitably need to replace equipment at some point; it’s just a question of “when.”
Long-Lasting Computers from Cybernet Manufacturing
While no device can last forever, the right measures ensure you can get the most out of your computers. The mark of a responsible owner is knowing how to extend their computer’s lifespan and recognizing the warning signs of one that needs to be replaced.
If you’re looking for medical and industrial computers with long operational lifespans, contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing. We’d be happy to discuss how our devices are engineered to be rugged and long-lasting.