New office computer spec.

[organicguy]

Need to replace farm office computer (old one is 13yo) before secretary goes on strike and retires.
Bit out of date with spec!
I'm told 256 ssd.
What else and what soft ware.
Only office work, no gaming or tv.
Just TFF and the odd video.

TIA

OG

 

[___\0/___]

Lenovo ThinkStation P520c - 30BX004SUK Business | Box.co.uk

This is the one that I bought and am really pleased with it. This one doesn't have a ssd but you can get versions with it. Also budget for a graphics card as you need to add one I went for the

ThinkStation Nvidia Quadro P1000 4GB
GDDR5 Mini DP * 4 Graphics Card with HP Bracket

 

[steveR]

Need to replace farm office computer (old one is 13yo) before secretary goes on strike and retires.
Bit out of date with spec!
I'm told 256 ssd.
What else and what soft ware.
Only office work, no gaming or tv.
Just TFF and the odd video.

TIA

OG

Desktop or Laptop? Ask the secretary...

What software do you use already, or want? Do you need/use the MS suite of programs? eg; Word, Excel etc...

With so much software going to"the cloud", you can run them off a Chromebook happily enough.

 

[Netherfield]

Double that SSD size, 500 gig only £50 or so. 1 Tb around £90.

 

[Boysground]

I have 500gb ssd starts in seconds, all important stuff is in the cloud so I have far too much storage. I5 is nice and speedy.

Graphics card so that you can run 2 or more screens is worth every penny. I have 2 27 inch screens much much better than a laptop.Your secretary would be very happy.

Bg

 

[steveR]

I have 500gb ssd starts in seconds, all important stuff is in the cloud so I have far too much storage. I5 is nice and speedy.

Graphics card so that you can run 2 or more screens is worth every penny. I have 2 27 inch screens much much better than a laptop.Your secretary would be very happy.

Bg

Agree, for a desktop (or even a static laptop) 2-3 biggish screens are a must these days. I run 2 x 22" and did have a large, central screen that was stolen by a daughter for WFH in the first lockdown!

 

[Timbo]

Lenovo ThinkStation P520c - 30BX004SUK Business | Box.co.uk

This is the one that I bought and am really pleased with it. This one doesn't have a ssd but you can get versions with it. Also budget for a graphics card as you need to add one I went for the

ThinkStation Nvidia Quadro P1000 4GB
GDDR5 Mini DP * 4 Graphics Card with HP Bracket

Buy an ssd for the OS, use the as-supplied hard disk for data.

Add at least 2 good size 24"+ monitors

 

[Boysground]

I have suggested a third monitor. Mrs Bg is not keen and I probably don’t need it. Would look great in my office

Bg

 

[Turnip]

Laptop with a docking station that has an external monitor, mouse, keyboard. My preference would be a MacBook but not everyone will appreciate those.

With regards to external monitor I would recommend one curved monitor instead of two separate ones. Dell U3415W is my current and quite happy with that.

 

[organicguy]

Desktop or Laptop? Ask the secretary...

What software do you use already, or want? Do you need/use the MS suite of programs? eg; Word, Excel etc...

With so much software going to"the cloud", you can run them off a Chromebook happily enough.

I think desk top so we don,t have issues with batteries going forward.
Need to run spreadsheets, word, internet, quickbooks, dairy program, e-mail.
Our internet is so slow would be concerned trying to run stuff from the cloud!

 

[steveR]

I think desk top so we don,t have issues with batteries going forward.
Need to run spreadsheets, word, internet, quickbooks, dairy program, e-mail.
Our internet is so slow would be concerned trying to run stuff from the cloud!

So a PC running Windows probably, to keep your Secretary sweet...

Deffo get a twin screen setup when you order your machine. The annual cost of Office might annoy you, but there are alternatives.

 

[J B]

The annual cost of Office might annoy you, but there are alternatives.

I bought a 5 user 'lifetime subscription' to MS Office 365 off ebay ... was rather expensive ..... £4.99!!!
Then I lost the log in details when I got a new PC so bought another .... £1.99!!

 

[steveR]

I boughOpen t a 5 user 'lifetime subscription' to MS Office 365 off ebay ... was rather expensive ..... £4.99!!!
Then I lost the log in details when I got a new PC so bought another .... £1.99!!

Ahhh, one of "those" subs. No fly's on you JB. I still have a student copy of Office on my office PC, but tend to use OpenOffice.

My accountant keeps sending me "locked" spreadsheets and the like, and his Clerk is mystified how I open them for editing... Open in OO and save as a different format, and boom

 

[Y Fan Wen]

When Terry Pratchett was asked why he had six screens, the reply was, ''cos I don't have room for eight'!

 

[steveR]

When Terry Pratchett was asked why he had six screens, the reply was, ''cos I don't have room for eight'!

A great man and writer. He used to "hang out" on a bulletin board back in the 80s I was on. Great fun, and quite a techno-junky

 

[J B]

A great man and writer. He used to "hang out" on a bulletin board back in the 80s I was on. Great fun, and quite a techno-junky

Bulletin board?
Was that before usenet?
Does anyone remember UKBA?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Bulletin board?
Was that before usenet?
Does anyone remember UKBA?

Don't forget CompuServe....

I was 100276,3332 - a real snappy address

 

[steveR]

Don't forget CompuServe....

I was 100276,3332 - a real snappy address

Well remembered... I can't recall mine, but probablyt have it on a piece of paper somewhere...

 

[steveR]

Bulletin board?
Was that before usenet?
Does anyone remember UKBA?

Both came about the same time I'd say. Usenet got the pictures of nekkid ladies though....

 

[J B]

Both came about the same time I'd say. Usenet got the pictures of nekkid ladies though....

Not on UKBA!!!