IT's Equipment - What shall I get?

[localzuk]

This all comes down to what you use it for. If you spin up VMs, do video editing and the like, then a beefy machine isn't a bad thing to have. If you deal with a lot of people and need different software to open quickly so they're not kept waiting (and therefore reducing their T&L time) again, a beefy machine isn't a bad thing.

 

If you don't need to do those things, and your current machine manages what you do without ever being an issue? No real need to update it. I'd say you probably wouldn't go wrong adding some more RAM to your machine though. 4GB is OK in user-land, but I find just having my "base" set of software open uses more than that these days.

[DrBeaker]

True that all schools have a tight budget but will it be called a luxury if SLT wants to get high spec device even though what they need to do is completely working fine?

 

I know a place that a member of senior SLT got a Macbook purchased by the school for them - as it was what she 'wanted'. Never any justification for it compared to a normal laptop.

 

I would say that upgrading is OK as long as you can justify it. If the speed of your current system is causing genuine problems then that is a good reason

 

Personally - I would think that the most important feature of an IT Tech system should be highish memory and multiple monitors. I tended to have several things running at one time - stuff I am working on, monitors, other etc etc (and one on Edugeek - of course)

 

This allows for those times when you have your head deep in a task and an 'emergency' crops up - if I can work on the problem on a different screen it helps me get back to where I was after I fixed the problem

 

I also like multiple screen for when I need to work on a problem - and do research at the same time

 

And - having a setup like that lets people see the concept - a lot of school staff (including teachers) could benefit from this but won't use them for 'reasons' - seeing the concept allows you to talk about it and can make them think about doing it - e.g. SIMS on one screen - teaching stuff on another - possibly another connected to IWB

 

The separate monitors also enables you to segregate your work into different items. E.g. Email on one screen, research on another, RDP session on another etc. For me IT is the one department I can easily justify team members having dual-screens if not more. I've got 3x 22" Dells and 1x "24" Dell I brought myself for use for me at work. I'm just trying to figure out a way to mount them above one another easily as the desk is a bench fixed against the wall not a normal office desk.

[1TF0rward]

I have now upgraded the RAM in my 8300. Seems to have drastically improved it! So I'm happy with that. I "only" have 2 monitors, I think that is enough for me. I have spoken to ICTDirect_Dave about a laptop and has recommended a nice one for a good price. I will purchase that one or something similar in the new budget year. I have more on hand issues than being sat down so taking a laptop that I can see is a necessity.

 

Thank you everyone for all the input. This has been very helpful.