Is it worth repairing your console?
In this day and age a lot of people would consider modern technology to be almost disposable. You can expect to see people use the latest gadget for 1 to 2 years before it is considered obsolete and left to gather dust – so is it worth repairing your console or just upgrading and buying a new one?
Answering this question relies on establishing a number of facts about your console in order to come to a reasonable conclusion. Ask yourself:
- How old is my console?
- What appears to be the problem?
- Could I attempt to fix it myself?
- How often do I use the console?
- Can I really afford to replace it?
By answering these questions you’ll soon be able to work out whether replacing or repairing is called for.
Age
Age isn’t as important as you’d think. New consoles go wrong all the time, and old ones can really stand the test of time. It is one of those manufacturing anomalies that seem to rely on luck. The factor in age here isn’t so much about reliability but about console generation. Is it old that actually it’s losing its compatibility with new games, or is unable to play new games at their best? If that’s the case then this is a strong argument to replace or upgrade. Just being old and grubby is not reason enough for the added expenditure.
We are currently experiencing technical difficulties:
This is where things get a little more complex. If the console is smoking with flames coming out of the back then it is highly likely that your console is beyond repair and will need replacing, but if the disc drawer is a little stubborn then you can probably live with it. The majority of issues arise when the console appears to behave erratically. It could be that the software is corrupt or it could be that the hardware is corrupt. Finding out what the issue is often requires some digging around online and once you have discovered what the likely cause is, you’ll know whether it will need professional repair or replacement.
Could I fix it?
Again this depends on whether or not you feel confident enough to take the risk. The upside in attempting a repair is that you get to learn a little bit about how the console is put together, and the feeling of successfully fixing something yourself is a good triumphant feeling and not just because you saved money. The downside is that you could ruin it completely. Many people every day try to repair something but end up breaking it more. If you feel absolutely sure that you know what the problem is and have a good idea on how it should be fixed, then go for it.
Do I use my console enough to replace?
Another question to consider is whether you actually use your console enough to warrant a replacement. If you are an occasional gamer, it’s probably a lot more cost effective to just have it repaired. Getting it repaired could extend the consoles lifespan enough to eventually make it obsolete. This would give you good grounds in which to eventually upgrade to the latest generation console without feeling like you’ve only just had your old one replaced.
Price
One must weigh up the costs of repairing, replacing and upgrading. It may seem attractive to just replace a console that is frustrating you, but going for a repair could mean you have spare cash to actually add an extra few games. After all, gaming is what it’s all about. If money is tight, stick to a repair and save your pennies for the latest generation or use it to add to your library.
Bio
James Hudson is a keen console and pc repair enthusiast from South East England. He spends a lot of time helping firms as a freelancer and wrote this article on behalf of console repair specialists Device Hospital
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Waleed Rishmawi
September 27, 2013 at 3:39 pm
Well said, thanks for sharing.
Robert
October 3, 2013 at 7:51 pm
Good article, James.