The hidden costs of buying a new computer

Most people budget a new computer purchase by factoring in how much the computer and monitor will cost. Or if they are lucky and can re-use their existing monitor, just the cost of the computer itself.

If only it were always that simple.

Take for instance the new computer I recently purchased. Because I went from a 32-bit version of Windows XP to a 64-bit version of Windows 7, I incurred a few “hidden” expenses. Don’t worry if you don’t know what that means. Just know that I went to a new computer that isn’t guaranteed to be compatible with all of the existing “stuff” I already have.

Like my QuickBooks software. I have been happily chugging along with the 2006 version of my QuickBooks software for nearly 4 years, never really caring about the new features released in versions 2007 through 2010. But when I went to re-install my 2006 version of QuickBooks on my new computer, I received a message saying that the software was incompatible with the version of Windows 7 I was running.

Spend time or money?

Sure, I could have called Intuit (the manufacturer of QuickBooks) or spent an hour surfing the Internet looking for potential solutions or workarounds, but I didn’t want to. I wanted QuickBooks up and running immediately without having to waste any time getting it to work.

So I did the most convenient thing I could think of. I purchased the new 2010 version of QuickBooks. On the down side, the new software cost me about $140. But on the up side, Amazon.com had the software available as an instant download so my instant gratification needs were quickly satisfied.

What hidden costs have you had with a new computer? New keyboard? Mouse? Printer? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.