Desktop Buyer’s Guide 2019, Part V: Other Considerations

In parts one through four we talked about choosing the right specifications for your desktop, depending on its role. We talked about selecting the right CPU, RAM, storage, and display options. This final post we hit a few other tips and ideas we came up with that didn’t fit into the other posts.

What Brand is Best?

Honestly, it’s going to depend on the day of the week and the exact specifications you want. Even then, when it comes to desktops, all computer manufacturers have access to the same parts. Dell, Asus, Lenovo, HP, Acer, and the countless other manufacturers out there will use the same basic components to make a desktop. Things don’t start to make a difference until you get way up there on the higher-end of computing, like gaming rigs and video production, and then you have plenty of companies that specialize in that.

Where the brand does start to stand out is for laptops and all-in-one devices. This is where companies can differentiate themselves. For example, HP and Microsoft both have high-end graphic design all-in-one desktops. Microsoft, HP, and Lenovo all have laptop options with pen inputs for artists. At this point we are talking about heavily specialized hardware that make these devices stand out, so we’re leaving the realm of the desktop.

When it comes to specialized hardware, we suggest reading a lot of reviews, sampling the device at your local big box store, and if it is for your business, having a chat with the experts at Directive.

Full-Size Desktop vs Compact Desktop

This is in reference to the size of the desktop case itself. Full-size desktops tend to be easier to upgrade and maintain, and can sometimes cost less. Compact desktops, also known as slim desktops, might still have upgrade capabilities but they will be more limited. 

The smaller design tends to be suitable for most office workstations, where gaming PCs and video production needs more space within the desktop for hardware and cooling.

Read Reviews and Benchmarks

There are plenty of sites that are dedicated to reviewing specific models of desktops and other computer hardware. If you are looking at a specific desktop at the store, go online and see if it has any reviews, including user reviews. Higher-end systems will usually have more in-depth reviews with benchmark scores, and you’ll want to pay attention to that when spending more money.

Be Aware of Bloatware

This can be a big problem when buying pre-configured desktops from some brands. Computers will come pre-installed with software. Some of it will seem pretty helpful, like Microsoft Office trials or antivirus. Keep in mind that if you are buying a device for your office, you’ll want to clean out the extra software, so you are only using your centralized antivirus and your licenses of Office, etc. 

Getting Rid of Your Old PC?

First, you’ll want to migrate the data and wipe the old drives thoroughly. It’s best to leave that to professionals, unless you plan on destroying the drives. Even then, depending on your industry and the compliances you need to fall under, you may need it done professionally. 

Otherwise, there are lots of options for recycling your PC, but we encourage you to not just throw it away, as a computer contains many harmful elements that can cause a lot of damage when not processed properly.

We also highly recommend not donating a PC used for your business unless you have professionally wiped or replaced the drives. It’s a great gesture, especially if the PC can help out a student or shelter, but you’ll want to make sure your data is absolutely unrecoverable.

Purchasing Workstations for Your Business?

Let us help. We can help you purchase one or many desktops, and make sure they are configured, optimized, and licensed so your staff can work effectively. We can also help with the infrastructure and networking side to make sure your office can handle your growth. 

On top of that, we offer 24/7 monitoring and maintenance to keep your computers running smoothly, and we can even provide tech support for your end-users.

Want to talk about how we can help you grow your business? Reach out to us at 607.433.2200.