Learn creative ways to save money and create wealth every Thursday on the Evening Report at 6:00pm, by watching Change in Your Pocket.

A Computer Tune-Up

As technology gets smaller, desktop computers are no longer the standard. So, does that mean you should drop your Dell in the dumpster? Hardly.

"We`ve seen the market changed to the notebooks, tablets, things like that. But we still do build quite a few machines," said C-Ram owner Tim Aman.

In nearly 20 years of doing business, Aman says C-Ram has tried to match retailers on price. But the bulk of the store`s phone calls are for repairs.

"It`s service after that, we give you lifetime support on your computer where you don`t get that in a box store."

As a computer owner, there`s nothing wrong with protecting your investment.

"It`s not like a car, where you can just trade in your old car, get a little bit of money down for a new car. With a computer, your old computer is about as useless to anybody as a paperweight," said Amega Ink owner Jerod Hawk.

Rather than pushing customers to buy new every other year, Hawk prides himself on giving gently used computers a tune-up to improve their performance. Hawk says just because a computer`s a few years old, that`s no reason to scrap it. He says more often than not, the problem is a matter of replacing a part. And once in a while, the computer just needs a good cleaning.

"Dusting it is one of the most important things, too. Just simply making sure that the computer`s keeping properly cool."

"Although the iPhone continues to dominate the marketplace, Hawk says he believes desktops and laptops will always have a place in both the office and classroom. And those who are willing to hold off on getting the newest, sleakest model will save plenty of change in their pockets."

Hawk also recommends installing a good anti-virus program to protect your computer from spyware and viruses.