How to Tell Your Boss Your Computer Sucks (Without Getting Fired)

Introduction

Hey guys! This week on another episode of When You Need 'Em Ask Neadom, we're gonna find out how to tell your boss that your computer just sucks. Oh my god, I hate it! Stay tuned and find out exactly how to do that—and not get fired.

The Challenge of Speaking Up

This is Neadom Tucker, owner of Kotori Technologies, and yes, today we're going to talk about how to tell your boss that your computer just sucks. It's a really kind of hard thing to do. You may just be sucking it up and dealing with it, but you're getting frustrated at your job.

Most owners and managers really don’t want to know that you're frustrated. But in most cases, your boss wants you to do well and be successful. We often don’t want to complain, but if your computer is slowing you down, it’s time to speak up—strategically.

Justifying the Cost

How do you justify the cost of a new computer? Most computers cost between $800 to $2,000, sometimes more. But the most expensive resource isn’t the computer—it’s you. Labor is the biggest cost in any business.

So talk to your boss about how much time you spend waiting on your computer. If you’re logging in and then going to get coffee because it takes so long to boot up, that’s wasted time. If Word takes more than a second or two to open, that’s a problem. You’re worth a computer that lets you do your job efficiently.

Who to Call

If your boss gives you the green light to get a new computer, don’t go to Best Buy, Office Depot, or Walmart. Call your IT company. They know your setup and what you need.

If you don’t have an IT person, go directly to Lenovo, HP, or Dell. Call them. But remember—they won’t know your exact setup like your IT person would. They won’t know if you have three HDMI monitors or a mix of VGA and DVI. Your IT person will.

If You Don’t Have an IT Guy

If you don’t have an IT person, still avoid the big box stores. Buy directly from the manufacturer and make sure to get an on-site warranty. If something breaks, you want someone to come to you—not to have to take your computer in and wait weeks for a fix.

Getting the Right Recommendations

If you’re unsure what to buy, search for managed service providers or IT companies in your area. Check reviews. A good budget for a basic PC is $800–$1,200. If you’re looking at $500–$600 machines, expect them to last only a year or two.

Conclusion

That wraps up another week of When You Need 'Em Ask Neadom. If you’ve got questions, hit us up online at Kotori Technologies.com