The Right Tool For The Job.
Today, I’d like to talk about a topic that doesn’t get as much attention as in the past. Namely, what you should look for in a new computer. Computers come in different configurations, each suited best for an expected use. Selecting one made for how you work will save you hours of frustration of spinning wheels and adapting to the computer’s limitations. A quality PC can give longer life and reduce downtime and data loss.
Windows
For small business user, look first for a machine with Windows 10 Pro rather than the home edition. The pro version of Windows is intended for an office environment. Chances are good that it will have less pre-loaded consumer software (known as bloatware or crapware) that can slow down your new computer, and is more likely to be built with better components and possibly a longer warranty as well, though there’s no guarantee of this.
Hardware
Hardware wise, there are several key components to look for. First, you want the CPU to be an Intel core i5 or i7 of the current generation (currently 8th gen). avoid the i3 unless you really don’t care how productive the user will be. The price difference is so small as to not be worth it. I recommend 8 Gigabytes of memory as a floor, 12 or 16 if you will be using it heavily. Solid state drives are becoming more affordable, and worth considering if you hate waiting for your computer to boot up. A workable alternative is to go with a smaller (128 – 256 GB) SSD for the OS and a larger regular HD for storage. Choose video and monitor based on preference. The standard onboard video is usually sufficient for everyday office tasks.
Software
A few points on software. First, Microsoft Office isn’t, and never was, free. Many manufacturers often included Office in the overall price of the computer, but that practice is less frequent now. Microsoft seems to be trying to move to a subscription based model with Office 365, but the purchase once option is still available. Antivirus protection is also not free… mostly. Yes, there are free antivirus programs, though most of them do not authorize commercial use. Fortunately, good business class AV protection is rather affordable. While I don’t wish to discuss specific products here, there are several I’ve used that have done the job. This is one area where a subscription/cloud based service can make sense. Finally, consider data protection. Will you be backing up to the cloud? To a USB drive? A server which in turn gets backed up? Software to automate this task is essential. No matter how determined a user is, eventually, manual backups will be missed.
PCs are not all made alike. Purchasing one suited to the expected way it will be used is key to being more productive with it.
