When it comes to home computing, there are thousands of reasons to do it and only a few drawbacks. You get connected to the entire world (for better or worse), can flex your creativity with writing or art, and get work done for your job. On the other hand, when you face any serious issues on your computer or laptop, it’s easy to get way in over your head trying to fix them.
Basic issues like slow performance due to lack of cleaning can be easily solved by you. But, when it comes to poor battery performance or hardware issues, that’s something that might be beyond your ken. You might even need security software or malware removal. And once you identify your need, there’s the issue of whether you should call local tech support, ask for online tech support, or muddle through yourself.
Let’s weigh out the pros and cons of each.
Local Tech Support:
This includes getting the support you need from a local business offering repair services. You can look for the nearest computer repair shop or ask for recommendations from people you know.
Pros:
- Trust – If the tech support company is from your area, you can physically go there and meet them face-to-face.
- Expertise – No doubt, if it’s a well-reviewed local company, they have some amount of authority and corporate backing.
- Ease – Local professionals of a certain size generally have the resources to be at your doorstep when you need them to be. They will more likely give you the attention that you require to solve your problem.
- Recovering disasters – If there are any major issues like power failures or surges, your laptop or computer can get disrupted. Only a local tech support person can come over to your house and take a look at everything to get a full picture of what could have gone wrong.
Cons:
- Cost – Hiring a local professional certainly costs more than trying to work on it yourself.
Remote Tech Support:
This option often includes guiding you through the issue over the phone or accessing your computer remotely using specialized software.
Pros:
- There are many sites where you can get low-cost remote tech support, leading to it becoming a popular option.
- You don’t need to go anywhere to get help.
- The help you get will probably be worse than local tech support but better than what you could do on your own if you’re relatively unknowledgeable about computers.
Cons:
- Risky – It is risky giving out all your details online, unless you’re working with a well-established company, which raises the cost.
- Lack of attention – They can’t come personally to your home and try to work on the problem. They can only tell you what to do while you will have to work on it from your end.
- Possible lack of expertise – Unless it’s an extensively well-reviewed company, there’s no guarantee that the support person is experienced or proficient in their field. There are also many scams online preying on people who don’t know a lot about technology.
Self-support
You will more than likely have to search through help documents or find information online using Google. However, this doesn’t mean that you can solve every issue because you might not have the skills, knowledge, or access to the right diagnostic software.
Pros:
- Cost-free – Since you aren’t hiring anyone, you can get the job done for free.
- Learning – If you’re the curious type or want to know more about how your computer works, DIY computer repair is a great way to learn.
Cons:
- Lack of proper training and skills – It’s easy to solve basic issues, but sometimes the wrong choice can make problems works. You might try to solve a serious problem like a hard disk failure and end up losing all your data.
- Losing the warranty – If you decide to continue with fixing it yourself, your computer’s warranty may become void.
Weigh the Pros and Cons for the Right Choice
You should go through the pros and cons before choosing whether to fix your computer yourself or try for outside help. One last consideration is how critical your computer is to your livelihood. If you use it for your profession, it’s probably worth paying to fix it.
