Should Computer Stores Enforce PC Optimization on New Computers?
There was a report circulating around about a computer store obliging its customers to include a PC optimization tool for every PC that they buy. Most customers complained about this compulsory add-in because they are buying a new PC expecting that the speed and performance are on its optimum level according to the computer’s specifications.
Thus, these customers are really annoyed that they are coerced to “waste their money” on something that they don’t really need in the first place.
What makes the issue more controversial is the customers’ claim that when they compared the performance and speed of the reportedly “optimized” PCs and the ones that are “un-optimized” or those that come with factory settings, they didn’t really find any difference. Well, except for one case wherein the “optimized” PC seems to perform worse than its counterpart.
Well, the truth is, PC optimization should be applied to PCs that need it. We only optimize a computer if its performance and speed have declined. This isn’t the case with new computers. New computers are expectedly fast and perform on its prime.
As computers age, more and more files are saved on it and more and more applications are installed on it, which eat up computer resources such as capacity and memory. This is the time when users need to optimize their computer’s performance by using an optimization tool such as PC Speed Up to get rid of unnecessary files and perform other tasks for the purpose of enhancing its speed and performance.
It is therefore somewhat daft to optimize something that is already optimized in the first place especially when it involves almost half a hundred dollars. Though the reported computer store claims that the built-in yet costly optimization tool could improve the computer’s speed by 200% and that it would boost up the computer’s services so as to make it more useful, most of its customers aren’t impressed, especially those who know the real deal behind PC optimization.
The truth is, it’s not bad to add an optimization option into a computer sales pitch but making it compulsory doesn’t seem right. It is worse if the computer store would relay wrong information regarding optimization to their customers.
Like one store is telling its customers that buying a built-in optimization tool for their laptop is much better because choosing to optimize their PCs on their own could take at least two days, which is definitely not true as most optimization tools readily available for consumer use actually work fast.
Another fictitious info that this specific store tells its customers is that without the built-in optimization, the computer would be “incomplete” in the sense that it wouldn’t come with an anti-virus application and Microsoft Office. C’mon! Optimization tools don’t install anti-virus or Microsoft Office in a computer! This is really absurd.
Some customers though know nothing much about computers so upon hearing this information, they agreed to pay more than they should to have their new computer optimized.
Should computer optimization be enforced on consumers buying new computers? Definitely no; this is still a matter of choice. Thus, if a customer doesn’t want the add-on, then he shouldn’t be forced to get it. A computer user would know when he needs to optimize his PC and when that time comes, there’s no need to force him to purchase an optimization tool.
Paul morris is a Computer Engineer by virtue of education and have been employed as a Software Engineer, a Business Analyst, a College Instructor, a Technical Trainer, and a Freelance Writer in different industries including the Academe, IT, SEO and Product Distribution. He is currently teaching Microsoft Office 2010 in a college in Hawaii. Click here to read his technical articles.
