Solved Best business desktop?

Berton · Nov 26, 2021

Haydon said:
We went up to the Xeon, and it will appear to me that not much (nothing?) is to be gained for typical SOHO use. If you go to your doctor's office, you see such a typical SOHO computer.

Now going down (although not all the way down to the bottom) to the Dell Vostro. What exactly are we giving up here? Or is the simpler device even the more appropriate SOHO device? Not just prudent but even wise frugality?

That's a reminder to me that I forgot to mention the Inspiron line of Dell that seem aimed more at consumers, I have 2 older Inspiron Notebooks and they have been fine. I also have an old Inspiron Desktop running Linux Mint.

BunnyJ · Nov 26, 2021

Haydon said:
We went up to the Xeon, and it will appear to me that not much (nothing?) is to be gained for typical SOHO use. If you go to your doctor's office, you see such a typical SOHO computer.

Now going down (although not all the way down to the bottom) to the Dell Vostro. What exactly are we giving up here? Or is the simpler device even the more appropriate SOHO device? Not just prudent but even wise frugality?

What are you going to use it for? Xeon's are great but they're not need for most small business needs.

Hazel123 · Nov 26, 2021

What's your budget? I've always used HP computers mainly and found them reliable. We bought an HP Omen desktop PC for stepson last year and very impressed with it. While that is a gaming PC I am sure there are others HP make and it's a very good PC - importantly it is also upgradeable. Everything in it can be upgraded. The graphics may (or may not) be useful. His is Core i5 16gb ram a 250gb ssd and a 1tb hard drive plus Nvidia 2060 graphics which was about £1000. There were higher spec models available. It does of course work well for office work as well. If you do any design type things the Nvidia graphics could be useful.

I believe Lenovo Thinkpad P series work stations are very good for business too and supposed to be built like a tank and long lasting (not a desktop though).

HP also make this all in one desktop, if space is an issue

https://www.hp.com/gb-en/shop/product.aspx?id=4M747EA&opt=ABU&sel=DTP

pparks1 · Nov 26, 2021

Where I work, the technology team members typically get a Dell Precision laptop. My previous model had a Xeon in it, and my current model has an i9 in it. There honestly isn't much that I do, where I require local processing power. Battery life to me would be much more important than raw horsepower. It's always a pain to have lug around my power brick with me knowing that my battery isn't going to provide all day power.

I test a lot of scenarios within Virtual machines, so the most important thing for me is hard drive space/speed as well as significant amounts of RAM to run labs with multiple vm's.

Haydon · Nov 26, 2021

If I look at desktops in commercial of professional offices, then I see mostly Optiplexes, Lenovos, etc. I have never seen a Vostro in the flesh although Dell markets it as a business computer at a lower price point than the consumer type Inspiron. The Dell support community has far fewer Vostro desktop postings than desktops of other lines, which can either mean that there are far fewer Vostros out there or that Vostros are far less troublesome or that Vostros are maintained by techs that don't post there.

As someone said earlier, 99% of us use only 1% of our computers. We all buy Swiss army knife kind of computers, and performance-wise, they will all do the job. But techs that service thousands of computers each year may notice that some brands/models need less servicing than others, for example. It is the reasoning behind (acquired and justified) subjective like/dislikes that is valuable.

There is no budget, BTW. Neither underspending nor overspending on your workhorse would be unwise. Buying the most appropriate workhorse is best.

BunnyJ · Nov 26, 2021

Haydon said:
If I look at desktops in commercial of professional offices, then I see mostly Optiplexes, Lenovos, etc. I have never seen a Vostro in the flesh although Dell markets it as a business computer at a lower price point than the consumer type Inspiron. The Dell support community has far fewer Vostro desktop postings than desktops of other lines, which can either mean that there are far fewer Vostros out there or that Vostros are far less troublesome or that Vostros are maintained by techs that don't post there.

As someone said earlier, 99% of us use only 1% of our computers. We all buy Swiss army knife kind of computers, and performance-wise, they will all do the job. But techs that service thousands of computers each year may notice that some brands/models need less servicing than others, for example. It is the reasoning behind (acquired and justified) subjective like/dislikes that is valuable.

There is no budget, BTW. Neither underspending nor overspending on your workhorse would be unwise. Buying the most appropriate workhorse is best.

I would suggest getting a PC with a 6 core 12 thread.. solid for every possible business use and affordable and given how hard it is to get a decent graphic card the Ryzen 5 5600G might be the best choice.

Winuser · Nov 26, 2021

I take it you're not going to tell us how the computer is going to be used?

BunnyJ · Nov 26, 2021

Winuser said:
I take it you're not going to tell us how the computer is going to be used?

At this point I doubt it. It would help to know so we can suggest the best option for the task(s),, aka right tool for the job.

The Pool Man · Nov 27, 2021

badrobot said:
When you say business, I guess the hardware does not matter too much if it is just mostly for productivity software like MS Office and the likes.. Any PC can perform those tasks. What you probably want to invest on is backup options and data security.

That's where I am on this. I think if a person wants a desktop for business purposes -- I'd deploy a series of Mini PCs. They can take up no room, run at low watts, and can be purchased with the spec you needed in the first place. Or if you need more ram or internal storage, many offer a fast easy way to pull that off.

For instance I own an Asus ExpertCenter Mini Tower. I love it because it's extremely quiet. It offers easy access to clean the fan (key!) and expandability, but really -- I'd be happier with as silent a Mini with fan access. That precise model doesn't really exist yet but I sense it's almost here.

marne · Nov 27, 2021

I just ordered the Dell windows 10 Pro Vostro 5890 with SSD 512 for 2 reasons mostly.
1st: Windows 10 Pro is a safer choice when it comes to protecting your PC and securing your information.
I am using an Acer Windows 7 that I love but, it being my main computer where I do my private business on, having to rely on it, figured to be safe, time to get something new.
2nd: I always wanted SSD since I experienced what it is like.
Dislike Windows 10 too much so stayed with 7, but----
Now, our hands are tied with the having to have a Microsoft account before we can set it up. I do not have nor want one.
I read that by purchasing Windows 11Pro, you do not have to sign in with the Microsoft account?
I do not want Windows 11, hoping works the same for Windows 10Pro in not having a Microsoft account in order to set up the new computer from out of the box when I get it.?

Also, read the Pro is not loaded with as much useless bloat.
Any step by step help on how to get the new computer up and running, is deeply appreciated.

BunnyJ · Nov 27, 2021

SO you're running 7 on it?

Winuser · Nov 27, 2021

BunnyJ said:
At this point I doubt it. It would help to know so we can suggest the best option for the task(s),, aka right tool for the job.

For all we know an abacus might do the job.

Edwin · Nov 27, 2021

Winuser said:
For all we know an abacus might do the job.

Really!?!?!? I just gave all mine to the thrift store!!!

Haydon · Nov 27, 2021

LOL, just say the same thing to your doctor who wants your opinion for a new, full size desktop tower computer for his office.

Reasoning is important, much more important than the opinion itself. An opinion without reasoning is just that, a baseless opinion.
----------------
As hinted at further above, Windows 365 (Cloud PC) is a consideration. The cheapest option is $20/user/ month or $240/user/year, compared to Microsoft 365 Personal at 69.99/year.

Windows 365 Plans and Pricing | Microsoft

Discover which Windows 365 plan is right for your organization.

www.microsoft.com

I wonder how much Cloud PC the cheapest option is at '1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 64 GB Storage'

Perhaps something better than an abacus.

Edwin · Nov 27, 2021

Haydon said:
... Windows 365 (Cloud PC) is a consideration. The cheapest option is $20/user/ month or $240/user/year, compared to Microsoft 365 Personal at 69.99/year.

Not this cat!
I like to buy my software, not rent it!
Too easy for them to change the rules with subscriptions!

Haydon · Nov 27, 2021

Edwin said:
Not this cat!
I like to buy my software, not rent it!
Too easy for them to change the rules with subscriptions!

I tend to agree with regard to some golden oldies that I still have and still use.

However, I like it very much that I am always up to date with my Office 365 without any effort on my part. With regard to the OS and everything else that goes with it, Windows 365 offers the same convenience

although at a hefty price point

BunnyJ · Nov 27, 2021

Haydon said:
LOL, just say the same thing to your doctor who wants your opinion for a new, full size desktop tower computer for his office.

Reasoning is important, much more important than the opinion itself. An opinion without reasoning is just that, a baseless opinion.
----------------
As hinted at further above, Windows 365 (Cloud PC) is a consideration. The cheapest option is $20/user/ month or $240/user/year, compared to Microsoft 365 Personal at 69.99/year.

Windows 365 Plans and Pricing | Microsoft

Discover which Windows 365 plan is right for your organization.

www.microsoft.com

I wonder how much Cloud PC the cheapest option is at '1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 64 GB Storage'

Perhaps something better than an abacus.

We still don't know what you want to use this device for.

Winuser · Nov 27, 2021

Haydon said:
LOL, just say the same thing to your doctor who wants your opinion for a new, full size desktop tower computer for his office.

Reasoning is important, much more important than the opinion itself. An opinion without reasoning is just that, a baseless opinion.
----------------
As hinted at further above, Windows 365 (Cloud PC) is a consideration. The cheapest option is $20/user/ month or $240/user/year, compared to Microsoft 365 Personal at 69.99/year.

Windows 365 Plans and Pricing | Microsoft

Discover which Windows 365 plan is right for your organization.

www.microsoft.com

I wonder how much Cloud PC the cheapest option is at '1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 64 GB Storage'

Perhaps something better than an abacus.

I seriously doubt that any doctor is going to ask a patient what desktop computer they should buy.

Winuser · Nov 27, 2021

Edwin said:
Really!?!?!? I just gave all mine to the thrift store!!!

You should have saved at least one. Now you'll never know if they give you the correct change when you go shopping.

cereberus · Nov 27, 2021

Define the word "best". It depends on what your requirement are e.g. superfast CPU for calculating PI to a zillion spaces, a great GPU for zapping all the Wall St brokers etc. My company considers "best" as being the cheapest device they can get away with. Others want a pc that will outlast an abacus.

My experience is that what the user wants or needs is often diametrically opposed to what the company is prepared to let them have. This seems to be worse, the bigger the company. The bigger the company, the more the IT departments try to standardise on devices (always in the name of security).

If you are in a company that gives you the device you want,,then you are lucky!