Getting the right tool for the job is critical, the same is said for the right computer. But finding the right computer for your business requirements isn’t always obvious. There are lots of tech acronyms that can cause confusion for those that don’t follow the latest tech news, or care about the latest tech. West View IT is a supplier of all tech hardware for our clients. Your business may not be ready for a Managed IT service so we wanted to share some of the things that we consider when we find the right kit for our clients, so you know what to look for when searching for the right device.
Easier to listen to our blog?
Windows 10 Pro – Look for the “Pro”
We are going to leave the Mac vs Windows debate for another day, We supply and support the Windows infrastructure so we shall assume you are OK with that.
The first thing to look out for is the version of Windows 10 you are getting. There are two commonly accessible versions of Windows. (excluding enterprise versions)
1. Windows 10 – (A.K.A Win10) – This is a consumer (Home Edition) and does not include some key features that your business will need now and in the future as your business grows. I would recommend you avoid this version, it may be slightly cheaper, but when you grow your business and expand your technology needs, you will end up spending HUNDREDS on moving across to the Pro version.
2. Windows 10 Pro – As mentioned already, go for this option. the Pro version gives you built in security features such as BitLocker and allows you to connect to a Work Based Server or Cloud based Server called Microsoft 365 Endpoint Manager. Pricing can be as little as £10 dearer then the consumer equivalent, but this small investment will make things more secure and furture proof.
Look for the SSD (Solid State Drive)
Let’s talk about Hard Drives, There are two commonly available. You have the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and the Solid State Drive (SSD). In a nutshell… Hard Disk Drives are MUCH slower but can sometimes boast more space, whereas Solid State Drives tend to be smaller (not always) but are much faster.
We NEVER buy/recommend a HDD and we suggest the same to you. Always go for a SSD!
Finding the right Processor (The geeky bit)
This really can be difficult, there are so many to choose from. We always recommend Intel processors. Why? – because we have had a very good experience with them. Others are available, we just choose these. It can be difficult to tell the processors apart but knowing the range can be a big help when looking for the right one
(we recommend this one)
- Low Cost
- OK for light work
- No good for some applications
- Not very powerful
- Good for Gereral Office Work
- Our Entry level recommendation
- Big price increase
- Good for photoediting and specialism
- very good performance.
- Gaming Performance
- Very Big Cost
- Requires considerable cooling.
- Big Power consumption.
If after all of that you find yourself unsure or not confident to buy the right thing. Give us a call and let’s chat about it. We won’t try to sell to you, we would be happy to provide advice. If you would like to stay up to date with the latest news and tips, please sign up for our mailing list below.