New Computer or Tablet

Dear Trusted CTO: What laptop do I buy and where do I get it?

Dear Trusted CTO:  Is a refurbished desktop a safe bet?

Some are more reliable than the new PC’s and can be a much better value.  Software patches take a year or 2 to work out.  Durring the same period product reviews and repair questions appear.  I believe that reliable refurbished dell Optiplex Desktops are actually easier to find than reliable New Computers.  Think of a new computer like hiring a 13 year old while a refurbished computer is like hiring a 28 year old.  You can check the references.  Thirteen year old’s have more behavior problem and few real references.

Reply:

Time vs money, If you think of a computer is a business expense then I recommend determining  it’s value based on total costs to buy & maintain divided by hours of use.  It may also be a trade off on low cost per hour/vs how much of your time the slower or broken computer wastes.  So to figure value,  you should add the cost of your wasted time as an additional cost.  This will help you see why low price is not the only focus of my recommendations.   At the same time most common business operations like surfing the internet, reading and writing email and running software like quickbooks is easily handled by any windows 10 or newer computer in good repair.  So the worlds newest and fastest computer will not really save most users any more time.

The easiest to maintain computer will have a proven tack record.  New computers sold in retail stores (like best buy)  have no track record and manufacturing quality is too often very poor.  Unlike a used car the right refurbished Dell Optiplex computer will have a much longer useful life than the average new retail computer plus they are available for $150 and up.

Building a computer from scratch is a pain and more expensive. Reliability reviews for parts are rare.  So low quality manufacturing is a liability.  Later, driver updates and support for home built Desktops is complicated and shortens the useful life of the desktop computer.  On the other hand dell.com/support can diagnose your computer hardware and automatically locate out dated drivers.  You will not find that convenience on a PC you built yourself.

Modern laptop alternatives: I know that typing is easier on a big keyboard and a flat screen but did you know that you can hook both up to a smartphone, tablet, hybrid, chromebook or a raspberry pi?  Before you go off and start buying new Laptops you should be aware that smartphones, Phablets, Tablets and even Raspberry Pi  are replacing desktops and laptops.  Give pause to the fact that your old PC now sells for $150 on ebay while the smartphone in your pocket cost you $600-$1500.  What do you need a PC for again?  Are you sure it is necessary to your current life?  Id your naswer is No then dont buy one.

Many who formerly used laptops now find that they have lower cost, more durability and more versatility by owning a tablet plus a desktop.  A tablet for portability & presentations while the desktop serves best for your desk, or large local file storage or even as the brain of your home network and/or entertainment center.  Still others simplify with just one Phablet and a iCloud or OneDrive account for storage.

Laptops are still quite versatile but have always been the least durable and most expensive PC’s made.  In my book laptops generally have the worst ROIs for computing.  They have a place with those who can not make up their mind what they want or need a little of everything.  Laptops do everything OK but nothing well.

Maybe just use your TV as your PC? 

Add a hidden fanless Micro PC to your big screen  Just add a bluetooth keyboard with trackpad.

Desktop Computers recommendations 

I have had great luck with the Dell Optiplex line.  Some have lasted 15+ years and still going. Dell Optiplex is my recommendation for lowest cost per hour of use on a reliable computer.  For standard business computers I recommend the extra value of a refurbished off lease dell Optiplex computers.  There lots of parts available and there are lots of replacement in the event that your computer fails.  Look on Amazon or Ebay for great reviews on that particular Del Optiplex (great examples of Optiplex computers for $150 to $350).  See these 3 amazon Wish Lists:  Windows 11 desktops,  On Amazon.  For business users any of these will do.  If you are editing or rendering video then choose the newer faser Hard drive interface in these PC’s Windows 11 + NVme.

Be advised that you will see very low prices on desktops that have windows 11 loaded but they were loaded dispite not meeting the Windows 11 CPU requirements.  Unfortunately at some point those may not also loose thier ability to get windows 11 updates.  I would generally recommend staying away intel proccesros older than 8th generation.  Here are examples:  Windows 11 (ish)

If your business is video editing, CAD rendering or intensive graphics arts you 1st need to find the system specifications for your software.  Video Editing hardware requirements are a few steps below gaming computers.  Gamers require higher resolution Ai video rendering in real time so they drive the top end progress of computer hardware.  The great news for video editor is that a gamer’s old (6-24 months) PC could be your next video rendering work tool.    Once you have your software system requirements then find a gaming computer that exceeds those specs.

Loading and configuring a NEW computer…

… costs at least $100-$200   So  if you are not doing it all yourself add setup to your budget.   The recommendations below include the computer,  Some common upgrades and the configuration.  They do not include MS 365 subscritption.   See: Your Office Suite for 2014 or Standard Software for free alternatives on MS Office 365.  If you do not have time for that, I say then at least prepare you computer by visiting our post about Ninite.com or RPM and you can quickly and easily and automatically installing the essential recommended software to make your new computer more functional and safer online.

This link is my Amazon list of best value Windows 10 computers.  Markets change rapidly and computers go out of stock so I try to keep this “Amazon Wish List” updated with several good options.  Last I checked there were 12 good options on the list.  Any of these should meet most anybody’s needs.

You will also notice that the Optiplex lines come in different size cases even for the same model number.  Generally case size is more about desk space than performance.  The sizes range from:  Ultra Small Form Factor (USFF),  Small Form Factor (SFF), Mini Tower (SMT) to Desktop (SDT). The larger form factors generally have spare open slots for extra hard drives and RAM upgrades.  This explains some of the differences in the models in the wish list.

Most people upgrading desktops keep their old favorite keyboard, mouse and monitor.  Otherwise almost all monitors and USB peripherals are compatible with newer computers.

If you are upgrading then some older printers are not compatible with windows windows. There are too many printers to name or compare but a good base place to start is comparing against Printers

Gamers with over $800 to spend on a desktop?  This site is generally not written for you.  Your priorities and needs are pretty opposite of the concerns of business computing on a budget.  You might start at Alienware – Custom Gaming Computers.  Also gamers are generally buying a new computer at least annually so reliability is generally unknown.

What about a Tablet?    

 Amazon Tablets & Laptops   Costco Tablets

Tablets are very durable and functional for certain uses.  They are very stable and especially great for reading or viewing email webpages, books or videos.  People who type or create a lot will want a unit with a keyboard.  If that is you than buy an optional Bluetooth keyboard and a tablets can replace a laptop for most users.  For size, durability, cost and versatility I generally favor a tablets over laptops for many households.   If you are smart enough to tether your tablet to your cell phone or connect to Wi-Fi then get the wifi only version of the tablet and avoid the monthly bill for your tablet internet service.

Over and above the cellular internet service Tablets can tap your monthly budget with other costs.  A lot of the tablet marketing is aimed at selling you additional services.  These include:  music,  videos, apps, and shared cloud storage. However with a little digging there are often free ways to do the same things.  Consider free alternatives like smaller versions of, Dropbox, One Drive,  Google Drive, and iCloud.  To connect your tablet to your network files or printer see the article: Productivity vs the App

Despite the advertising all tablets  generally do the same things because popular apps work on any mobile platform.  Start with the OS that your phone uses.  In that case you will find learning the tablet to be easy.  Next it is a matter of determining the size and connections you want and then consulting the current reviews.  The next important consideration is the retailer of your new tablet.  Also contrary old misconceptions tablets can open Office documents and print to your wifi home printer with minimal configuration.  Costco’s pricing, selection and great return policy makes it a great place to start looking at tablets. Amazon for tablet accessories.   Don’t forget to order a protective case and an optional keyboard.

Screen size is the first thing to consider.  Generally you get 7″-12″.  Try them out  hands on. Each size has its advantages.  Larger tablets and laptop screens are better for people with large fingers and for seniors who want to read with out their cheater glasses.  However with the zoom feature many do not need  cheaters to read a 7″ tablet.

Second, consider the connections you want.  Android tablets generally are easier and cheaper to connect to external monitors, flash drives and have more functional docking stations for lower costs.  Apple seams to aim you towards tapping your budget for connections that would cost almost nothing for tablets with more versatile connections.  see: Technology for your Presentation

Third is where you buy it.  Costco Tablets are my favorite due to their forgiving return policies, quality product offerings and competitive prices.  If you “go wrong” at Costco you can simply return your electronics device for a full refund (in the 1st 60 days).  Amazon always has competitive options.

Once you have figured out the basics you can split hairs with product reviews.  Amazon and cnet reviews are great resource for that.  Start at:  Tablets and Tablet PC Reviews Reviews

What about a laptop?

 Amazon Tablets & Laptops  Costco Laptops

For the price of a laptop you can buy a desktop plus a 7″ tablet and of all devices laptops have the worst reliability and highest repair costs.  So you may be wise to  re-evaluate.  If you still want a laptop then I generally buy new and generally shop for a good warranty as well.  As far as the search process do the same as for the tablets above.  Laptops are bulkier than tablets but normally offer larger hard drives and may or may not offer larger screens and graphics resolutions. Laptops are not very durable and the most expensive to repair.  If you use CAD or do video editing then consider a gaming Laptop.  Otherwise you may not find  screen resolutions to exceed your software system requirements.

Which one is faster?  

What you are asking is what geeks and gamers call “Bench Test Comparisons” of the CPU and or the graphics card etc.  Find those at this webpage:   Search bench tests of a CPU Model etc.    You may be surprised that not all i9 processors are faster than i7’s etc.  You will want to look more closely into the model numbers of your specs.

6 step Process for buying a software specific PC:

Some people have a specific software tool that is essential to their purchase.  Examples, are CAD, video editing, phgotoshop or a specific game etc.   You want to make sure that your computer is correct for that need.   Here are your steps

1.  Google your system requirements for the software you want to run.  for (anchient) example:.

Sony Vegas Pro 12 system requirements

Microsoft® Windows Vista® 64-bit SP2, or Windows 7 64-bit
2 GHz processor (multicore or multiprocessor CPU recommended for HD or stereoscopic 3D)
500 MB hard-disk space for program installation
4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
OHCI-compatible IEEE-1394DV card (for DV and HDV capture and print-to-tape)
USB 2.0 connection (for importing from AVCHD, XDCAM EX, NXCAM, or DVD camcorders)
512 MB GPU memory
Windows-compatible sound card
DVD-ROM drive (for installation from a DVD only)
Supported CD-recordable drive (for CD burning only)
Supported DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW (for DVD burning only)
Supported BD-R/-RE drive (for Blu-ray Disc™ burning only)
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.51 (included on application disc)
Apple® QuickTime® 7.1.6 or later for reading and writing QuickTime files
Internet Connection (for Gracenote MusicID Service)
GPU-accelerated video processing and rendering require an OpenCL™-supported NVIDIA®, AMD/ATI™, or Intel® GPU with 512MB memory or more. (please see the GPU acceleration page for more detailed specifications and driver requirements)

2. consider only hardware that exceeds those requirements:  Look for specific bench marks for video rendering of the types video sources and outputs you prefer to render.  This will help you consider how many seconds/ big task you are saving for each $100 you are spending

3. price computers with those specs in a dell Optiplex or a MAC desktop. (Others are designed to fail in 1-4 years). while I know of Optiplex still in use 16 years later.

4. I would generally not buy a PC loaded with windows 10 or older.

5. Price refurbished options with in your budget and specs.

6. Consider an allstate Protection Plan.

*Partially vetted Shopping links by category:  Products change quickly in technology.  Almost impossible to find reliable products every time.  However using good strategies you have a better chance of locating a reliable product.  Products choosen are chosen by brand experience, popularity and/or customer reviews.  These are a god place to start. Anytime you buy a product on eBay or amazon it is essential that you look at the individual seller’ reviews.  Look for a seller with hundreds of comments and the highest rating possible.  Shady sellers tend to have low number of reviews as they change identities often to duck claims or poor reviews.