I get asked this question quite often by customers looking to get the best value for their small or mid-sized business. It can be tempting to look at prices from your favorite retailer like Amazon or Costco and think you are getting a great deal. But after more than 30 years in this industry, I can tell you that the hours of frustration and down time saved in the long run are worth more than the extra few dollars spent upfront. The main reason this happens is that a cheap computer you find at leading retailers is a consumer grade rather than a business computer. Here are some of the key differences:
Longevity
A business computer is typically built with higher grade materials. This makes them better able to withstand the wear and tear of daily use over an expected lifespan of 3-5 years. Business machines also come with better and longer warranties. For example, you may get onsite service the next business day for your business class machine, vs. having to mail a consumer machine to the manufacturer and wait weeks for the repair.
Work Readiness
Consumer grade machines come with a home version of the operating system. This means you will need to upgrade the O/S to take advantage of essential business and security features. On the negative side, consumer machines arrive pre-installed with unnecessary bloatware. This slows your machine down and can be time-consuming to remove.
More Features
They may look similar, but does the consumer grade machine really have the same processing power as its business computer counterpart? What about business class features like a fingerprint scanner for biometric security?
Better Components
Consumer class machines are designed to be thrown away and as a result are put together with cheaper components. For example, the microphone may be lower quality. This is fine when talking to Grandma on Zoom. However, it could be a huge detriment when you are pitching a big proposal over a virtual meeting. Video cards consumer machines also may not meet the specifications required by major software vendors such as AutoCAD and Adobe.
Another trend I have seen on consumer laptops is soldering the RAM modules directly onto the motherboard. This causes an issue if you want to upgrade your computer’s memory in the future.
Given the choice, I always encourage our customers to buy their equipment through us. That way we can design the best system to meet your needs and get the lowest pricing from top vendors such as Dell. Plus, we set up and configure your devices for you. If there is an issue, or if you simply do not like a particular laptop, it is Invario’s problem – not yours, and we will make it right.
No matter where you get your equipment, be sure to get a business class computer for reliability, longevity, and lower total cost of ownership.
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