Introduction
The functioning of any company today critically depends on the technology it uses. The use of appropriate devices can help to attain numerous benefits. For instance, enhanced effectiveness, reduced cost, and higher client satisfaction can be achieved by integrating innovations. At the same time, it is vital to ensure the available technology is not outdated and can perform the major tasks available at the moment; otherwise, it will serve as a barrier to future improvement. Under these conditions, the timely updating of computers, software, and networks vital for a company’s work is a critical demand for modern businesses. It should be given specific attention as it demands costs and plans for replacing outdated devices with new ones. The proposed scenario implies the same update process as the core demand for the following functioning of the department store.
Background
The company wants to enhance its IT infrastructure to improve its order processing activities and introduce new features. For this reason, the upgrading procedure was initiated to consider available options. At the moment, the store uses eight computers with the following features:
- Quad-core processors;
- one terabyte hard drives;
- 5 GB RAM;
- Windows XP, Linux, or Mac OSX.
By now, the given specifications were sufficient; however, the focus on adding new features introduces the need for upgrading. The following future tasks should be considered while choosing the hardware and software:
- Running a processing application;
- Communicating with customers;
- Storing customer data on the local PC.
Under these conditions, the planned upgrading process should offer solutions able to meet these requirements and contribute to the boost in the department store’s effectiveness. At the same time, it is vital to consider the price for all components to ensure the company can find the necessary finances.
Operating System
Multiprocessing is one of the core demands outlined by the department store. It means that the chosen operating system should be able to support and utilize more than one computer process, also helping to perform several tasks simultaneously. Several modern operating systems support multiprocessing, including Linux/Unix and Windows. However, regarding the existing tasks, Windows family, precisely Windows 10 Pro, seems the best possible option. Thus, it costs $199, while upgrading from XP to 10 costs $99 (Microsoft, n.d.). It supports multiprocessing, which is one of the core demands, and, moreover, it is more user-friendly and helps to minimize potential compatibility issues as it is prevalent (Microsoft, n.d.). Moreover, developers create numerous applications using this platform, which will simplify the choice of the needed software and increase its effectiveness. For this reason, Windows 10 Pro is the best update option.
Processor
The choice of a processor is also an important step vital for upgrading four computers. Thus, the critical demand influencing the choice is multiprocessing, running applications, and resolving several tasks at the same time. At the moment, quad-core processors are used on all company’s PCs. Thus, considering the scenario and current tasks, the Intel Core i7 is viewed as an appropriate option. It can be bought from the official vendor using Amazon and costs $417 (“Intel Core i7-12700KF,” n.d.). Several reasons justify the given a choice and the necessity to buy the processor. First, it is a powerful and up-to-date solution allowing the company to benefit from its computers’ stable and practical work (Intel Core i7-12700KF,” n.d.). Second, the Intel Core i7 series remain relevant and the moment and will preserve its topicality within the next several years. It means that the company will not have to initiate a new upgrading process.
RAM
RAM requirements are linked to the OS, planned workload, applications, and tasks that would be performed. Thus, the company plans to perform several tasks at the same time while also processing requests from clients and providing them with needed information. It means that RAM should be sufficient enough to meet all these requirements. It is recommended to use at least 8 GB RAM as it will ensure high-speed response and the absence of delays. One of the possible options is Kingston 2X8Gb,16 Gb in general, costing $105 (Kingston, n.d.). The official vendor can deliver it to the company and guarantee the stable work of the device. This choice will help to support the stable work of new applications and create the basis for new improvements in the future.
Hard Drive
Several factors also influence the choice of hard drive. First, the OS requirements influence the choice of the given device. Second, the planned applications and operations should also be considered. Finally, the number of clients who will use the computer is critical for selecting the hard drive. The increased number of clients means big information portions that should be stored to improve strategic planning. Thus, Kingston KC3000 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD with a capacity 512Gb and costing $133 can be a suitable option (“Kingston KC3000,” n.d.). First, it allows for storing significant amounts of data, which is critical when working with clients. Second, it is a safe and reliable device that can be used for purposes similar to those introduced by the department store. For this reason, the given hard drive can be used to update computers.
Software
Finally, selecting the software that will help the company to align interaction with clients and ensure they are satisfied with the increased quality of service. Thus, a backup database should be created to avoid losing data (Qureshi & Sharif, 2021). It can be made by using cloud services, such as Google. Second, the company focuses on the idea that the Internet will be used as the major tool for communicating with clients and acquiring information from them. For this reason, a free Internet browser, such as Google Chrome, can also be used. It will help to access clients from different locations and cooperate with them (Qureshi & Sharif, 2021). Furthermore, messaging with clients demands a stable Internet connection, meaning that the company should ensure that the provider can meet these requirements and avoid data loss.
Public platforms for exchanging messages and emails can also be utilized. For instance, Yahoo is one of the possible choices. It ensures a high level of protection, can be used by most clients and is understandable for them. Under these conditions, it becomes one of the possible choices for the company. At the same time, the recommended upgrades will provide the department store’s management with a chance to use other applications which they find useful for achieving their goals. The integration of the recommended changes will eliminate limits linked to the hardware and promote the diversity of choice for the firm, which is vital to support its competitiveness and future development.
Costs
In such a way, the following recommendations are related to the major components of the computers that should be upgraded to remain capable of performing existing tasks. These are OS, RAM, hard drive, and processor, which are fundamental for attaining a high speed of response and reliable work. Thus, the final cost of updating one computer is around $854 (OS $199 + processor $417 + RAM $105 + hard drive $133). Upgrading four PCs will cost $3,416, which can be viewed as a long-term investment in the development of the firm and its future success. Thus, if the cost is too high for the firm, it can be reduced by selecting a less powerful processor and RAM. Furthermore, the hard drive with lower capacity can also be chosen as an alternative to reduce spending for updating.
Conclusion
Altogether, the scenario shows that while selecting hardware and software for a computer, it is vital to consider the goals and purposes the company introduces. The increased number of users, along with the stored data and the requirements for multitasking, means that the PC should possess enough resources to process all information and ensure it is used effectively. Under these conditions, Windows 10 Pro, with Intel Core i7, 16 Gb Ram, and 512Gb hard drive, is chosen as a possible option. Using these components will cost around $854 per computer; however, it will create the basis for future excellence and improved client service, which is also vital for higher satisfaction levels. All components can be bought directly from vendors and delivered to the needed destination point. The given upgrading process is viewed as an essential part of the company’s functioning and a positive change vital for goal achievement.
References
Intel Core i7-12700KF Desktop Processor 12 (8P+4E). (n.d.). Amazon.
Kingston. (n.d.). Kingston FURY Beast DDR4 memory.
Kingston KC3000 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD. (n.d.). Amazon.
Microsoft. (n.d.). Windows 10 Pro.
Qureshi, H., & Sharif, H. (2021). Snowflake cookbook: Techniques for building modern cloud data warehousing solutions. Packt Publishing.