Which desktop/laptop brands do you use?

[DCUK6]

Just put the bid in for some new desktops and laptops.

I've used prices that weve paid before using one company but cant see il be using them again.

 

 

I've had good experiences with Dell. Bad experiences with HP (A fair few of them to). Just tried two Lenovos which were OK.

 

What so you use and why?

[sonofsanta]

Novatech. Stone. I always ask VeryPC as well, maybe this year will be their year (5p discount per machine per rep point on EduGeek? Maybe?).

 

Custom build all the way, because then SSD upgrades aren't silly money.

[hardtailstar]

Ive used the following across three schools

 

Dell

Stone

Verypc

Samsung

Toshiba

Acer

[Grey-gear]

All new computer are HP and we have a few legacy Dell desktops and some Toshiba and Acer legacy laptops

[Chris_]

Viglen and Stone desktops, can get the spec we want at a reasonable price with a 5 year warranty.

 

Usually Samsung laptops.

[flyinghaggis]

We used to primarily use Dell's but found the quality dropped away on their OptiPlex range a couple of years ago so have since moved to Lenovo's.

[korifugi]

Laptops: Toshiba generally, not too shabby build quality on the Sat Pro R-50s that I've recently gotten for one site...

Desktops: Often HP, but I've been very impressed with the Lenovo ThinkCentre M73s that were suggested by a supplier.

[Norphy]

We use Stone. They're generally consistent, built well and have very good support.

[pooley]

Just bought 30 laptops off verypc - very happy with price and spec

[Sagima]

Novatech are proving to be quite competitive nowadays - from barely using them a couple of years ago they are no probably our second largest supplier. We got our devices form them last year and probably will again this year if they can do us just as good a deal.

We used to use Dell but their pricing, attitude and support have put them on the same mental list I keep BT and RM on

[CamelMan]

PCs - Novatech/ Lenovos

Laptops - Lenovos generally but sometimes Tosh or MSI

[scotyboy56]

Dell, always dell, went to lenevo computers for one room (only decent computers that would fit on the desks), which was a mistake and Samsung laptops for staff one year which was another mistake.

[DCUK6]

Few people on Lenovo's. Found a very good price on these at the minute

 

Which model did you go for scotyboy56?

 

If Dell price were a bit more competitive i would love to go back. Always keep a eye open for offers. Shame the vostro's are gone though. Solid as you like in my old school.

 

Not seen stone, will take a loo.

[scotyboy56]

Few people on Lenovo's. Found a very good price on these at the minute

 

Which model did you go for scotyboy56?

 

Not sure which we went for but the reason we never went back is we have had a horrendous time with there support. We have never had an issue with Dell, everything is NBD as our warranty says, but with our lenevo Support we have NBD on site warranty, yet took them a month or so to come in and they didn't have the right parts etc. took about 4 months to get it fixed in the end. If I remember correctly it was something to do with the power button.

[stitch]

Viglen and Stone desktops, can get the spec we want with a 5 year on site warranty.

 

Usually go for Acer Laptops, but have decided to try a few Lenovos to see how they go.

[localzuk]

HP, Very PC, Lenovo, Viglen. That's pretty much our list!

 

At the moment, I'm going to VeryPC as first choice to be honest!

[DCUK6]

Can anyone comment on Fujitsu stuff?

 

Can either get i3 Lenovo desktops with 2 year warranty for cheap or pay for i5 Fujitsu's with 1 year for just under what i said we could get desktops for in the bid.

Looking at the [h=1]ESPRIMO E420[/h]Thinking, il get these, swap out the SSDs the previous tech put in the old machines as the i5 would benefit even more than i3's and then move the i3 machines out of ICT and into classrooms.

 

 

Just opened Dells website and fairly quickly closed it again. How much! I know they are good but £80+ more almost per desktop. Wouldnt go anywhere else for servers but cant justify that on desktops.

Edited March 26, 2015 by DCUK6

[Edu-IT]

Fujitsu is OK from what I have seen but won't win any awards for style.

[clockend25]

A2Z (RIP)

Dell

Stone

Zoostorm

 

Currently. What a collection. Will look at Very PC when we next refresh, although when that will be I don't know.

[andyturpie]

We are all Viglen Integra desktops (all identical chipsets) and Toshiba C50-A laptops. We always only go for one model per platform. Saves faffing around with different drivers etc.

[jonathon28]

VeryPC, Apple, Lenovo, HP

[3s-gtech]

Lots of HP desktops and a few laptops, lots of Lenovo laptops and desktops. Few other brands - a couple of Surfaces, some Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Asus, in tiny quantities.

[DCUK6]

We are all Viglen Integra desktops (all identical chipsets) and Toshiba C50-A laptops. We always only go for one model per platform. Saves faffing around with different drivers etc.

 

 

That would be so good but must require a huge budget. When that model goes out then you are either going to have start mixing them or replace the whole lot again in one go when they are old.

 

Though asking might help but it seems there isnt really one brand that comes up all the time. Lenovo,Stone, Hp, Viglen come up a fair amount.

No one has mentioned fujitsu, i5 price sounds tempting but would need reviews first and there arnt any.

 

Have emailed stone and very-pc based on the number of mentions.

 

Viglen cost to much from what ive seen, wouldnt go HP.

 

 

 

 

Just wondering, does anyone still buy the full size towers? Dont understand why they still do cheap ones, can only see the point if your gaming or something.

Edited March 26, 2015 by DCUK6

[andyturpie]

That would be so good but must require a huge budget. When that model goes out then you are either going to have start mixing them or replace the whole lot again in one go when they are old.

 

Three year lease cycle, out with the old in with the new, but as the costs shrink each lease cycle as we have found the an i3 with 8gb ram and 120gb SSD is sufficient for the last two cycles and hardware prices drop continuously.

Edited March 26, 2015 by andyturpie

[maark]

have used mainly dell in the past but lost faith a bit - they don't seem interested in education and will try and charge you more for bulk purchases than for one off their website.

Also never buy dell vostros - worst bit of kit we have ever had.