I guess it should be a little expected at this time of year.. shortly after Christmas, when the credit card bills start rolling in.. people are complaining about their spending when it comes to the computer. Just like an older car, an older computer will likely require more maintenance. That is, unless that old computer is using Windows 10. I say this because it shouldn't matter how old your computer is, if it is operating on Windows 10, the most current (and last) operating system Microsoft intends on producing. From here on in it is only updates and most of these are automatic. The problem is your (windows) computer still requires things like Antivirus and for that you can and should be using AVAST (FREE) antivirus.. Although Avast creates a pro "paid" version, it is not needed, nor should you even consider this product in my opinion. This is because the paid version includes so many things that I would be disabling/turning off anyway. Even the free version provides you with certain features that I do not recommend using and the reason is generally for performance sake, if not for reasons of security and future problems from using specific items within this antivirus software that may no longer be provided down the road. The Password management would be an example.
So where I want to vent a little is with regards to the fact that I hear people complaining about having to spend money on maintaining their computer and in the case of my own clients, I say to simply let me know WHENEVER they get a prompt that some sort of update is available, or in the case they are prompted to "BUY SOMETHING".. any time you are thinking about pulling out your wallet to pay for something on the internet that pertains to the servicing of your computer you should be questioning this, not just paying for it. Why I get so upset is because when I am the person that has to repair a problem which is directly due to the fact that the computer user decide to just click YES or OK and allow the installation of software after a prompt that there was an update available, instead of questioning what this update was for and if they really needed it. The results are usually that I will now have to spend even more time first removing the updates that weren't required because it was for additional software that was "sponsored" by another free product that was being used. As much as I may try to disable certain 'automatic updates', whenever an update is installed, the settings are usually changed back to the way the software manufacturer would rather have you use their product--so that you get all notifications and possible upgrade options. So the next time you get a prompt from your FREE Avast antivirus telling you that you need to renew your subscription (because that is really all you have to do--it is free, you just register and they email you a new product code which is good for a year), but because they would rather have you upgrade to their paid product and gladly take that $40 from you each and every year, you get out your wallet and just pay it. STOP THIS!
If there is one service that you should pay for each and every year, it is your off-site backup. Backblaze is by far the best $50 you will spend for your computer. Or should I say, your data!
If you want to throw away $40 then give it to me as a tip instead of complaining that your computer maintenance is getting out of control!
End of rant.
