Why replacing PCs for Windows 11 might be your most expensive IT mistake

Most business owners and IT managers in growing companies face the same challenge: aging computers, slower performance, and the Windows 10 deadline. Microsoft has made it clear that older hardware will not qualify for the upgrade to Windows 11.

So you start replacing devices. Laptop after laptop. A large investment you did not plan for.

Here is the real problem: you are committing to another three to five years of high maintenance, high cost, and limited flexibility. You will continue to pay for expensive software licenses, antivirus renewals, and endless IT support hours.

And yet, your team spends most of their day inside the browser. Email, documents, dashboards, CRM systems; everything runs online. Why keep paying for full Windows machines that are overpowered for your real needs?

This is not a technology issue. It is a business efficiency issue hiding in plain sight.

This approach leads to hidden costs, frustration, and wasted time. Every update disrupts someone’s workflow. Every security patch demands IT attention. Every delay eats away at productivity.

The worst part is that you rarely see it directly on the balance sheet. It shows up in slower operations, frustrated employees, and the quiet cost of downtime.

Every month this continues, your business is losing efficiency while competitors move faster with leaner systems. You are not falling behind because of your strategy, but because of outdated tools and habits that no longer serve your business.

Here is what most decision-makers do not realize: you do not need to play the Windows replacement game anymore.

There is a secure, cloud-based alternative that requires minimal support and offers up to 70% savings on total cost of ownership. It integrates with existing systems, deploys in minutes, and scales effortlessly.

It is already used by thousands of organizations across Europe, from logistics firms to education networks.

So why are most small and mid-sized businesses still ignoring it?

Imagine your team starts work in seconds every morning. No updates. No antivirus scans. No downtime.

Picture a fleet of fast, reliable devices that manage themselves. No Intune or anit-virus license renewals. No time wasted on system resets. Just tools that help people do their jobs efficiently.

Your IT team finally focuses on strategic improvements instead of daily troubleshooting. Your finance team sees predictable, lower costs. And your employees enjoy smooth, consistent performance that helps them stay productive.

That is what a ChromeOS environment delivers to small and mid-sized businesses today.

Let’s look at the numbers.

KEY ASSUMPTIONS
‍Number of Devices: 25
IT Support Cost per Hour: €85.00

Windows 11 PC One-Time Hardware Cost: €1,200.00
Annual Software/License & AV: €100.00
Annual IT Support (Hours): 8

ChromeOS Device One-Time Hardware Cost:  €700.00
Annual Software/License: €50.00
Annual IT Support (Hours): 1

3-YEAR TCO (Per Device)
Hardware: €1,200.00 vs €700.00
Software/License: €300.00 vs €150.00
IT Support: €2,040.00 vs €255.00
Total TCO (Per Device): €3,540.00 vs €1,105.00

TOTAL 3-YEAR SAVINGS (Fleet of 25 Devices)
Windows 11 PCs: €88,500.00
ChromeOS Devices: €27,625.00
Savings Per Device: €2,435.00
‍Total Savings: €60,875.00 (68.79%)

These numbers speak for themselves.

Here is how to get started:

1. Assess your current workflows: Check how many of your business processes already run in the browser. The result will surprise you.
2. Pilot a ChromeOS setup: Choose one department and test ChromeOS Enterprise for 30 days. Measure performance and satisfaction.
3. Scale what works: Once the pilot proves successful, roll out ChromeOS across your organization and start saving from month one.

If you manage between 10 and 250 employees, now is the time to modernize.

👉 Book a 30-minute consultation and I will help you design a ChromeOS pilot plan tailored to your company.