Can I still upgrade from Vista to Windows 10, or should I buy a new pc? These are the words that any electronics manufacturer is happy to hear, in hopes that the customer will choose the latter. Software upgrades come and go, but to many consumers, this is a common question, or battle on what to do next. This article shows the different options consumers have when a new software upgrade becomes available. Is their equipment current enough to bother with the upgrade? Did the consumer get to the software upgrade in enough time to get it for free or at discount, in other words did the consumer ignore the pop-ups and emails to the point that it’s now to late for the free upgrade or the discounted upgrade? Will it cost them money? If so, is it worth it if they’re going to need to upgrade their equipment soon? If they do need to upgrade, is their current software up to date to be able to do it, or do they need to upgrade either way? So many options and possibilities, it can be confusing.
For companies who use an IT Asset Management company, these questions are easily taken care of. The ITAM team will become aware of the upgrade immediately and since they have already assessed the on hand equipment, they’ll know instantly what is the most efficient and cost effective way to go. In addition, if equipment does need to be replaced due to the upgrade, the ITAM team in place will already have a process in place for disposing of that equipment safely and securely. For companies who don’t have an ITAM company in place, this can be quite the feat and keep their IT team quite busy – with assessing equipment, installing the upgrades, buying replacement equipment, and then disposing of old items.
However, with individual consumers, this can become confusing and potentially hazardous to our environment. If a person is able to upgrade, and their equipment is still current enough to keep around, this is the best situation. If they need to pay for the upgrade or their equipment is too old for the upgrade, the consumer may be in the market for a new pc. For OEMs this is great news. They have another customer and another sale. But for our environment this can be bad news. It’s not as easy for individual consumers to recycle their equipment as it is for companies who have strict regulations they have to stick to. Many consumers hold onto the old equipment until they get a neighborhood pick-up notice for electronics, and then hopefully they remember the pick-up day. And with highest hopes, these old pieces of equipment don’t end up in the trash or a back yard to become hazardous waste. This is also a great time for recycling companies to reach out to individual consumers and neighborhoods and be available and known to acquire these old items.
About AER Worldwide
AER Worldwide mitigates risk and provides global solution to handle your entire end-of-life materials management needs. We provide eco-friendly solutions and services throughout the entire IT product life cycle. Our Reverse Logistics efforts, or “aftermarket” services, help organizations after the initial sale and provide IT asset disposition support throughout the life of the equipment. With global locations, AER Worldwide will provide eco-friendly services, with certified brand protection techniques. To learn more about AER Worldwide, visit www.aerworldwide.com.
