Total Cost of Ownership
 What
is "Total Cost of Ownership"? In short, it is
a recognition that there is far more to the "cost"
of a personal computer than its initial purchase cost.
In fact, the purchase cost of the PC usually represents only
a small fraction of
the total cost of using and supporting that PC over its lifetime.
The Gartner Group,
a consulting firm, has been a leader in calculating the total
cost of PC ownership in various environments. Typically,
they estimate that this cost is a stunning $11,000 to $12,000
per year! At first glance, this might seem to be impossible
for a piece of hardware that only cost one or two thousand dollars
to begin with. But, their calculations show, many more
costs arise from categories like the following:
- User Wasted Time
- Software
- Technical Support
- Peer Support
- Training
Many of these categories
are very difficult to track from an accounting standpoint, but
are potentially huge. Your costs may vary depending on
the skill levels of your users, their typical salaries, the
size and cost of your support staff, etc. It is a safe
bet, however that the other costs associated with your PCs and
network far outweigh the hardware cost.
Reducing Total Cost
of Ownership
 CompStar
helps control TCO by taking pro-active steps to improve the
computing environment. Each client environment is analyzed
and an approach tailored to their needs, but a TCO program typically
includes:
- Installation of
Zero Administration and other system management tools
- Standardization
of hardware and software environment whenever possible
- User training
- one-on-one or group
- Greater control
of User desktop and allowed software
- User observation
to identify sources of lowered productivity
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CompStar Technologies is a leading Indiana-based provider of networking, technology, and communications services. With offices in Mishawaka (serving South Bend, Elkhart, Warsaw, Michigan City, Fort Wayne, Niles, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor, Michigan) and Indianapolis, CompStar provides network design / support, network security, wireless networking, business telephone systems, VoIP (voice over IP), and cctv / video surveillance systems. CompStar is the Technology Division of Direct Line Communications, headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana.
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