manamaga2512 Posted March 20, 2017 Posted March 20, 2017 Hi all, we have sold some of our iMacs as we slowly make the transition back to Windows. Been offered two options with windows machines and just wanted opinions / votes as to which may be the better option to go with: Dell Vostro 3268. Small form factor Intel core i3 7100 500gb HDD 4GB RAM 21" AOC monitor £399.70 OR HP 280 G2 Intel core i3 6100 500gb HDD 4GB RAM 21" AOC monitor £372.03 Clearly there's not much between them spec wise but what are your thoughts on the makes? Dell or HP? What do you have in your schools? Many thanks.
Danp Posted March 20, 2017 Posted March 20, 2017 Don't buy any machine without an SSD. Have a word with Dave at ICT Direct, he has just sorted me out with some nice machines. 1
Norphy Posted March 20, 2017 Posted March 20, 2017 (edited) Forgetting the SSD argument for a second... The two machines are near enough identical in spec. The Dell has a slightly newer generation CPU but this alone doesn't justify a £28/pc premium. Both Dell and HP are tier 1 manufacturers and at those price levels, there isn't going to be much to choose between them. What are the warranties like on them? Does the Dell have any additional coverage? Edited March 20, 2017 by Norphy
sidewinder Posted March 20, 2017 Posted March 20, 2017 Don't buy any machine without an SSD This x1000 Would also try and sneak in 8GB RAM too So I'd go for the HP and hope the £28 difference covers at least one of those upgrades
6Foot2 Posted March 20, 2017 Posted March 20, 2017 Our machine history can be summarised as follows: Starting in 2003 and moving through to the present we have used: RM -> Viglen -> Dell By far the most problems we experienced were with the Viglen stations (I can't remember the PC models or the screens) We had a high DOA rate for both monitors and PCs and reliability was poor also. We are almost exclusively Dell now. We find that the kit is reliable, stands up to a lot of punishment (although students DO break it) and when there is an issue the helpdesk is usually efficient and helpful. 1
manamaga2512 Posted March 20, 2017 Author Posted March 20, 2017 Thanks all, warranty is 1 year on site. Didn't think about SSD actually, I'll get supplier to re-quote. I was actually looking at ICT Direct but unfortunately, the few iMacs we sold were to one of our suppliers, we traded them in for credit on this occasion so we really have to spend the credit with them. We have plenty more iMacs though so would also be interested in the best places to sell them to if anyone has any suggestions on that front. At least then we'll have the cash and more flexibility in terms of where we can buy from.
manamaga2512 Posted March 20, 2017 Author Posted March 20, 2017 Also, those who have SSD's, what size do you have?
manamaga2512 Posted March 20, 2017 Author Posted March 20, 2017 Off the top of my head (not at work just now) mostly A1311 core i5 2.5ghz quad (2011/12 I think). Also some of the slim ones A1418 core i5 2.8ghz quad (2015).
fiza Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 @manamaga2512 you should consider machines from stone and verypc. For the prices you are looking at we got some decent machines with ssds and 5 year onsite warranties.
manamaga2512 Posted March 21, 2017 Author Posted March 21, 2017 @3s-gtech Just got into workand checked. The machines we have are as described above, date are late 2015 and Mid 2011's
manamaga2512 Posted March 21, 2017 Author Posted March 21, 2017 @manamaga2512 you should consider machines from stone and verypc. For the prices you are looking at we got some decent machines with ssds and 5 year onsite warranties. If we can sell the rest of our iMacs to raise the cash, as opposed to trading them in with one of our suppliers for credit (which ties us to buying from them really) I will certainly take a look. When I started here 10 years ago we had Stone machines so I have no problem considering them again :-)
HBPS Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 https://www.businessdirect.bt.com/products/hp-280-g2-sff-intel-core-i3-6100-4gb-500gb-hdd-windows-10-professional-y5p86ea-abu-CF3K.html cash back options with BT
Danp Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 Also, those who have SSD's, what size do you have? 120gb for curriculum machines.
manamaga2512 Posted March 21, 2017 Author Posted March 21, 2017 We do have an option of some Dell boxes with 128GB SSD but only core 2 duo processors. Does the SSD compensate for the lower spec processor?
fiza Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 Also, those who have SSD's, what size do you have? 240GB SSDs for 95% and some 120GB for admin machines.
Norphy Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 We do have an option of some Dell boxes with 128GB SSD but only core 2 duo processors. Does the SSD compensate for the lower spec processor? To an extent but not by that much. The Core 2 Duo is an architecture that is 10 years old now. The machines would still be usable but who's to say for how long? 1
3s-gtech Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 @3s-gtech Just got into workand checked. The machines we have are as described above, date are late 2015 and Mid 2011's What are the resellers offering you for those? They're all still desirable machines - I'd be interested in a chunk of the earlier machines (I suspect the later ones are beyond my limited funding at present).
ICTDirect_Dave Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 Just as a rough guide if you came to me you'd get the following bundle for £300. HP 8300 SFF i5 3470 3.2GHz Quad CORE CPU 8GB RAM (DDR3 1600MHz) New 120GB SSD DVDROM Windows 10 Professional COA New Keyboard & Mouse 22" Widescreen Monitor 3 Years Advance Replace Warranty And that's if you buy only one. Buy 20+ and I can squeeze that price even more 2
manamaga2512 Posted March 21, 2017 Author Posted March 21, 2017 What are the resellers offering you for those? They're all still desirable machines - I'd be interested in a chunk of the earlier machines (I suspect the later ones are beyond my limited funding at present). Put it this way, I don't think it's enough considering the market value of them. But saying that, he does have to sell them on, and they collect and wrap and box each of them so it's a compromise I suppose.
manamaga2512 Posted March 21, 2017 Author Posted March 21, 2017 Just as a rough guide if you came to me you'd get the following bundle for £300. HP 8300 SFF i5 3470 3.2GHz Quad CORE CPU 8GB RAM (DDR3 1600MHz) New 120GB SSD DVDROM Windows 10 Professional COA New Keyboard & Mouse 22" Widescreen Monitor 3 Years Advance Replace Warranty And that's if you buy only one. Buy 20+ and I can squeeze that price even more Dave my man, you are on my contact list!! Would you be interested in any iMacs? LOL
HBPS Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 Also, those who have SSD's, what size do you have? 240GB for teacher and pupil machines across the Site 1
ICTDirect_Dave Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 Dave my man, you are on my contact list!! Would you be interested in any iMacs? LOL Excelent! PM Me a list of serial numbers and a condition for the ones you want rid of and I shall let you know
3s-gtech Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 Dammit, I'd then need to buy them off Dave! Dave, is £5 profit per machine (plus your lovely three year warranty of course) enough? You can keep the HDDs! 1
mthomas08 Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 1: Def SSDs, I can't stress the difference in feeling. It makes a basic spec PC feel like a good one even after a few years. 2: We don't buy branded PCs, we get RedCats and they are same spec at just over £200 per PC. With SSDs after a few years they've been fine and still feel like new.
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