Best desktop computers for Schools?

[johnabbots]

Hi everyone,

 

 

For the last 5 years we have been lucky enough to replace a large amount of our computers with the VeryPC Flex https://very-pc.co.uk/products/classroom-pc/flex

 

I personally love this case as its height adjustable, all of the cables are locked away, it has front USB and audio ports and we have had the least damage of any case with these. In fact I don't think we have ever had a case damaged.

 

I also love the fact that unlike an all in one if the monitor dies or gets damaged it can be replaced and also it has standard components inside and you can get PSU's on ebay for less than £10

 

All of this and the price VeryPC give me is pretty competitive. I'm thinking of sticking with it again for another year but I'd be really interested to know what other people are using and if anyone has anything better?

 

I'd be really interested to know what the big boys like Dell and HP do which is comparable?

 

Plus just all of you lovely Edugeek's opinion really on this and any other cases you think are better?

 

 

 

 

Cheers

 

John

[synaesthesia]

Given half the chance we'd go down that route too, but refurbished machines are just too tempting from HP & Dell and @ictdirect - although when our Flex's are no longer fit for purpose we'll more than likely replace the innards; the majority of our computers around the school are 15+ year old RM chassis & power supplies with core i5s/8gb/SSD inside

[mikeprice]

Given half the chance we'd go down that route too, but refurbished machines are just too tempting from HP & Dell and @ictdirect - although when our Flex's are no longer fit for purpose we'll more than likely replace the innards; the majority of our computers around the school are 15+ year old RM chassis & power supplies with core i5s/8gb/SSD inside

 

I think he means @ICTDirect_Dave - very helpful bloke - and gives genuine advise and sells good stuff

[Jamman960]

I brought Stone PC's with their UNI stand when we did our refresh a few years ago - https://www.stonegroup.co.uk/stone-products/stands/premium-stand/

 

The only frustration I had was the time it takes to build the things, I'm hoping we can replace the PC itself without replacing the stand when we come to our next refresh.

 

Annoyingly the stands were £20 when we first brought a batch but that rose to £40 the year after

 

James

Edited March 14, 2019 by Jamman960

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Given half the chance we'd go down that route too, but refurbished machines are just too tempting from HP & Dell and @ictdirect - although when our Flex's are no longer fit for purpose we'll more than likely replace the innards; the majority of our computers around the school are 15+ year old RM chassis & power supplies with core i5s/8gb/SSD inside

I think he means @ICTDirect_Dave - very helpful bloke - and gives genuine advise and sells good stuff

Thanks both!

I'd be really interested to know what the big boys like Dell and HP do which is comparable?

Hi John,

 

Both HP and Dell have some modular options or all in one solutions.

 

Examples are the HP USDT form factor. HP do the IWC stand to which you fit a screen on the front and the PC on the back. There are also cable management options for these.

Conversely Dell do a similar stand for their Small Form factor Optiplex. Again, you fit the screen on the front and the PC on the back, but in this case your power an network go directly into the stand and all other cables are hidden behind a cable management box on the back of the PC. They work a treat.

 

Both take up very little room and are cost-effective solutions.

 

Finally HP do Excellent genuine all in one PCs. The 800 G1 AIO has a 4th gen i5 & 23" full-hd screen, all major component are easily accessed from the back which makes them worth considering even if you're sceptical about having a single bit of kit for both PC and screen. Dell also do AIOs but they're not remotely as easy to take apart in case of problems.

[steveg]

I've just brought my first lot of computers from VeryPc - went with some intel NUC computers mounted on monitors and have been very happy with them so far.

 

They are replacing some refurb dells we got a few years ago. Nothing wrong with the refurbs, they have just come to the end of their useful life. I wouldn't be put off buying them again, just the budget allowed for new pc's this time and I don't know how much we'll have in the future, so long life was important.

 

Steve

[DrBeaker]

Stone or ICT Direct are the ones I had as contenders. Our Trust after some arguments has funded us with a load of brand new kit thankfully.

[HTCPCP]

Personally, I'd go for VeryPC and get them wrapped too - Looks really impressive (especially in a full room kit out) for open days and visitors.

 

If however you are using it for somewhere they aren't going to be seen that much, or could come under a bit of abuse, then a refurb from ICT Direct is where to go. Yes the Optiplexes and ProDesks and ThinkCentres (IMO) don't look as good, but they are well built machines. However, a word of warning, they do use some non standard kit - fan headers are my main gripe here.

[dhicks]

Finally HP do Excellent genuine all in one PCs. The 800 G1 AIO has a 4th gen i5 & 23" full-hd screen, all major component are easily accessed from the back which makes them worth considering even if you're sceptical about having a single bit of kit for both PC and screen.

 

@ICTDirect_Dave - We were looking at some of these on your website the other day, with thoughts on replacing some laptops and older devices around the school with HP all-in-ones as general staff / pupil workstations. Seemingly, another school we know has had issues with USB 3 / display port connections with these machines, which caused issues with connections to Smart boards and projectors, and they seemed to have cooling issues / failed fans fairly reguarly. Could that just be a duff batch that particular school had?

[Jcx500]

Used Stone in the school build last year and can't complain they are great.

[johnabbots]

Thanks everyone for your input its really good to hear what other schools are doing.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

@ICTDirect_Dave - We were looking at some of these on your website the other day, with thoughts on replacing some laptops and older devices around the school with HP all-in-ones as general staff / pupil workstations. Seemingly, another school we know has had issues with USB 3 / display port connections with these machines, which caused issues with connections to Smart boards and projectors, and they seemed to have cooling issues / failed fans fairly regularly. Could that just be a duff batch that particular school had?

The 800 G1 doesn't have a cooling problem to my knowledge, however we've had a few with failed fans. We've made sure to test these thoroughly now and have a surplus of new replacement components to swap in if any fail our testing routines.

 

As for the displayport and USB 3? I've not encountered any problems with these. A standard windows 10 installation installs the necessary drivers. It is less simple on W7 as you have to get all the pertinent drivers from HP ahead of imaging. But, each time I've used any of these they've been rock solid.

 

I ran three continuously at BETT this year and they didn't miss a beat.

[dhicks]

I ran three continuously at BETT this year and they didn't miss a beat.

 

Many thanks, good to know - we might see about getting one to try out, at £300 each we can't go too far wrong!

[robyholmes]

We go for VeryPC Flex Micros and very happy with price and spec. Common parts are used which should keep costs down. 5 year warranty also means we don't have to worry about repair costs for 5 years. Meaning we can put more money in to replacements.

[Ditto]

Previous school installed Zoostorms (with Ryzen chips) as advised by a long serving contractor. New school has just bought a bunch of Zoostorms. Decision was made by new SBM on cost much to the NM annoyance! Mostly OK, but sound drivers are proving troublesome.

[caffrey]

@ICTDirect_Dave - We were looking at some of these on your website the other day, with thoughts on replacing some laptops and older devices around the school with HP all-in-ones as general staff / pupil workstations. Seemingly, another school we know has had issues with USB 3 / display port connections with these machines, which caused issues with connections to Smart boards and projectors, and they seemed to have cooling issues / failed fans fairly reguarly. Could that just be a duff batch that particular school had?

 

We have the 8300 AIO's here and now and again the fans stick at full blast while the PC is off, no particular one in a suite of 20. We have to remove the power to fix it.

[Passat1983ICTech]

Michael Holland

Account Manager

Mobile : 07584 561 822

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 0161 7721157

[AdamL]

+1 for @ICTDirect_Dave We have brought a few HP EliteDesk 800 G1's lately and have been very impressed with the value in cost. Good customer support too !

[Jawloms]

Michael Holland

Account Manager

Mobile : 07584 561 822

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 0161 7721157

 

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