Technology investments can make a world of difference to your company’s bottom line. With the right PC, employees can run company software and perform their jobs efficiently. The problem is Australian businesses often fall into the trap of purchasing the cheapest option available or going for the most expensive, bleeding-edge tech.
When purchasing technology for your business, it’s imperative to have a solid investment plan. This entails assessing your company objectives, processes, and budget so you can determine the best computer specifications for your users. This article covers what technology specifications are necessary for four basic groups: small budget businesses, everyday office workers, creative professionals, and remote employees.
Super budget PC/laptops
When your business is running on a tight budget, it’s tempting to put off technology investments to balance cash flow. This is a false economy. Employees who have to create manual workarounds with inefficient technology waste hours of company time that could have been used for more productive endeavours. Also, if productivity levels decline due to slow processes, you’re likely to miss profit-making opportunities and lose customers.
Technology investments should still be a core component of your company’s strategy. What’s important is to make conservative and well-informed investments. You don’t want to purchase the cheapest desktop or laptop available only to find out that it can’t run your company’s software.
The machine you invest in should be powerful enough to accommodate your basic computing demands. By today’s standards, that means you need a PC with these minimum specifications:
- Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processors with a base clock speed of 1.6 GHz
- 128 GB of solid state drive storage for fast application load times
- 4 GB of RAM
Laptops like Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 2 and HP Pavilion 15cw series shouldn’t have problems running web browsers and productivity apps. Plus, they offer more than enough under the hood to run enterprise cloud platforms like Microsoft 365.
Everyday business PC/laptops
While the average office worker can run standard productivity apps on budget PCs, everyday businesses must stay competitive. As such, your devices should be able to scale and adapt to your company’s requirements as it grows.
For instance, your computer should have room for hardware upgrades in case storage and memory requirements suddenly spike. It should also come with a strong processor that’s capable of running software programs five years ahead of their time. This enables you to keep up with the latest technology trends until you eventually have to replace computers out of warranty. To find the ideal computer for your office, look for these features:
- CPU with processing speeds of 2.2 GHz and higher
- 8 GB of RAM with the option to upgrade up to 64 GB of RAM if necessary
- 512 TB of solid state drive storage with additional slots to increase storage capacity
- Compact and ergonomic CPU design to reduce desk clutter
- Large, multidisplay monitors for multitasking and content creation
Creatives and designers PC/laptops
Ordinary business PCs aren’t sufficient for creative professionals. Due to the nature of their job, creative professionals work with advanced, graphically intensive software. Engineers and designers, in particular, use computer-aided design (CAD) software with 3D simulation, catalogued assets, and a unified design environment.
To run this software, you need CAD-compatible machines with fast processing power, excellent graphics and visualisation capabilities, and reliable performance. A reliable creatives and designers PC should have the following specifications as a minimum:
- Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 9 processors with speeds that go up to 4.7 GHz
- 16 GB of RAM, depending on how many assets and background tasks
- NVIDIA® P1000 Quadro 4GB or higher workstation-optimised graphics card
- 512 TB solid state drives with extra slots for additional storage drives
- Support for Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
- 9-in-1 media card reader
- Two or more 27″ IPS enabled LED screen with QHD resolution (2560 x 1440 @ 60Hz)
In addition to PCs, you may also need peripheral devices for CAD work. This includes graphics tablets like Wacom One, stylus pens, audio and video equipment, dual or widescreen monitors, and even virtual reality headsets. There are a lot of elements to consider in the creative field, but consulting with a managed IT services provider simplifies the process.
High mobility PC/laptops
Remote work has become standard practice not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also due to its many benefits. Those who work remotely avoid stressful commutes and get the freedom to be productive from anywhere.
However, you need flexible, lightweight, and secure devices to empower a remote workforce, and there are many models to choose from. You can opt for notebooks like Dell Latitude 5300, super lightweight PCs like Lenovo ThinkPad X13, or 2-in-1 tablet laptops like Fujitsu Lifebook U939X. Whatever high mobility device you choose, here are some crucial specifications to consider:
- CPU with processing speeds from 1.6 to 4.2GHz
- USB Type-C and 3.0, HDMI, and headphone/microphone ports
- High-definition, anti-glare display (1920×1080 pixels)
- Interactive/stylus compatible screen
- 8 GB of RAM
- 10+ hours of battery life
- Device weighing between 1 and 2 kg
- USB/Bluetooth headset
- HD built-in webcam
We always recommend that you purchase an extended warranty with your new device. Avoid the return to base type warranty as they are not well suited for businesses and instead opt for the Next Business Day onsite warranty service.
Given how many hardware specifications you have to consider, we understand how daunting it is to find the right technology. Fortunately, you don’t have to do this difficult task alone. Our technology consultants at Empower IT will assess your company’s computing requirements and recommend best-in-class solutions that meet your budget. We’re also partnered with vendors like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Fujitsu, so you get the best deals for hardware. Get in touch with us today to find the right technology for you and your employees.
Last updated: 03/09/2020
