3 ms·

I don't know of studies, but my anecdotal experience suggests that computers do actually become less responsive with use, and that reinstalling the OS restores

I don't know of studies, but my anecdotal experience suggests that computers do actually become less responsive with use, and that reinstalling the OS restores them to their original performance. What I am almost certain happens is that computers accumulate cruft (registry entries, competing installed software, forgotten preferences) that slows down what seems to be normal operations for the computer. This is far worse with people who don't know anything about computers. I just saved my in-laws from buying a new computer because they thought the old one was wearing out. Turns out they had installed two anti-virus suites, which is enough to bring just about any machine to its knees. If you had a machine you locked down and never installed anything on it, there's no reason why it would slow down gradually over time. Computers just don't work that way.

danpat 15y ago
Agreed. What I'm looking for is a study that quantifies some of what's going on here. How much actual performance is lost over time, how quickly does it happen, and how are both of those factors perceived? The case of your in-laws sounds pretty typical, we've all heard it. Purchasing a new computer seems like a rather dramatic solution, but in their minds, fairly justified. I guess another question in my mind is the opportunity costs involved. Is the time spent restoring a computer to it's original state worth it when compared to simply purchasing a new machine? Of course, this varies with the ability to quickly re-install, so I'm considering this question mostly on the small end of the scale (home users, small businesses, where economies of scale haven't kicked in).