Chapter 16: Maintenance

Computers are machines; they require maintenance when something breaks down. To minimize the time your system is unavailable due to a breakdown, you must perform periodic preventive maintenance on your system. The advice given in the following tip applies to you, too. Unless you have been trained as an i5 technician, you are not qualified to repair the machine, no matter how many electronics courses you took in college.

IBM or Third Party?

You may be tempted to believe that, because the machine has the IBM name, only IBM can perform repairs. This is not true. Many companies can service your i5 because they have fully trained technicians, many of whom are former IBM employees.

Usually, these third-party service providers charge less than IBM to attract customers. After all, computer repairs can add up to a considerable amount of money, not only in many hours of labor, but also in spare parts.

Don't be fooled into believing, however, that any third-party company that provides service is good and reputable. That is not true. As in any other business, there may be good companies and bad ones.