Best Minicomputer

[witch]

We need a computer to sit behind the screen in reception. We have Lenovos in the IT suite but they are expensive (and not made anymore) and I was wondering if anyone has any that they would recommend? Edited October 9, 2019 by witch

[FishCustard]

What does it need to do?

[bald_pig]

If it's for simple display stuff, I'd be looking at a compute stick or NUC.

[mikkydoos]

Intel NUC all the way.

[3s-gtech]

How mini? We have one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/AWOW-Mini-Compute-Stick-Bluetooth/dp/B07T44VFJR?th=1 for digital signage, it has been pretty good. Comes with Windows 10 license, plenty of power for the job.

[noelmm]

We have just installed a Raspberry Pi 3 to give our reception team access to the Live View of a CCTV camera. It was easy to setup and hides behind the TV. If you don't need anything too intensive done you could consider something like that.

[witch]

It will be up in the ceiling,running the reception TV, so it doesnt have to be that mini. I did look at the Intel NUC but some reviews said it struggled to play videos? It will be running powerpoints (yay) and lots of videos of the children.

 

We have a ONELAN system - but it isn't user friendly enough apparently

 

I think they want it on the network so it needs to be a bit gutsy

 

If I went with a stick - how does that work in terms of content etc?

Edited October 9, 2019 by witch

[mikkydoos]

It will be up in the ceiling,running the reception TV, so it doesnt have to be that mini. I did look at the Intel NUC but some reviews said it struggled to play videos?

 

Depends on the processor/Onboard GPU. Minimum i3 with 8gb RAM and I'd say you'd be fine. I've got loads. Theyre faultless and fast. Really great little machines.

[witch]

Depends on the processor/Onboard GPU. Minimum i3 with 8gb RAM and I'd say you'd be fine. I've got loads. Theyre faultless and fast. Really great little machines.

 

Are they on your network? Or standalone? How are they accessed?

[dhicks]

Minimum i3 with 8gb RAM and I'd say you'd be fine.

 

We have 3 recent NUCs from VeryPC with a similar specification, and they make great desktop machines - we have them running dual-monitor workstations (even a three-monitor one, I think), and they don't seem to have any problem handling multiple screens. We have a couple of older models on the back of touch screens, and those handle 4K with no problem.

 

We use Raspberry Pi 3s for our display machines - we have them simply boot up and load a browser pointed at a Google Slides presentation. They 3s can strugle with video sometimes, so I'd go for a Raspberry Pi 4 if buying new.

[The_Techie]

We have a mixture of Pis and NUCs pointing at a Planet Estream feed, but you if you need something better you could try an HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Ultra Small from these guys https://medhurst-it.com/ex-lease/#1520252860134-d26897bc-3894

[mikkydoos]

Are they on your network? Or standalone? How are they accessed?

 

 

Theyre Windows 10 (Used to be 7), on the domain and are running on whiteboards, display screens... An i3 handles anything thrown at it.

HDMI/Mini display only though... no VGA.

 

A wireless KB/Trackpad for the classroom, or for display screens.... Real VNC / Tight VNC.

 

 

Love 'em.

[bald_pig]

We have a mixture of Pis and NUCs pointing at a Planet Estream feed, but you if you need something better you could try an HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Ultra Small from these guys https://medhurst-it.com/ex-lease/#1520252860134-d26897bc-3894

@ICTDirect_Dave has the same machines cheaper: Refurbished HP Elitedesk 800 G1 USDT - Core i5 - ICT Direct

[witch]

I am still a bit unsure about how teachers would access it to change the powerpoints?

Lets say I bought an NUC - then what?

I'm presuming I stick it on the network and they remote into it?

Edited October 9, 2019 by witch

[mikkydoos]

I am still a bit unsure about how teachers would access it to change the powerpoints? Sorry, stupid question I am sure but I just dont get it.

Lets say I bought an NUC - then what?

 

Bung it in the ceiling and remote control with a VNC program..

 

VNC is a remote desktop access method that allows you to control another PC over a network, similar to Teamviewer.

 

Install the client on the NUC, server on which ever PC's and you can control the machine in realtime, NOT like Windows remote desktop where it's session based.

You'll stand in front of the screen and see everything the remote user is doing.

 

 

Have a look here....

 

http://www.realvnc.com

 

 

 

 

It's dead easy.

 

 

EDIT: VNC Viewer is RealVNC's free product. It works!

Edited October 9, 2019 by mikkydoos

[witch]

It would have to be free - they wont pay out a lot for something that wouldnt be used anywhere else. VNC viewer is only free for home use, apparently

 

Why wouldnt remote desktop work?

[Jcx500]

About to order a hp mini prodesk from ict direct costs about £190

 

Xibo is good for signage / presentations

Edited October 9, 2019 by Jcx500

[witch]

 

Xibo is good for signage / presentations

 

Sadly, we have some perfectly good software for presentations - ONELAN - but the school dont want it anymore

 

All I have been told is that teachers will be adding content which will mostly be powerpoints.

[FishCustard]

How about a Chromebit and Google Slides(?) - that way staff can edit the presentation wherever they are and you can set it to auto-refresh every X minutes with some tweaking and some HTML/JS (happy to share my code).

[The_Techie]

It would have to be free - they wont pay out a lot for something that wouldnt be used anywhere else. VNC viewer is only free for home use, apparently

 

Why wouldnt remote desktop work?

 

Use tightVNC https://www.tightvnc.com/ its free for commercial use

[ICTDirect_Dave]

@ICTDirect_Dave has the same machines cheaper: Refurbished HP Elitedesk 800 G1 USDT - Core i5 - ICT Direct

 

Medhurst have previously bought a lot of their ex-lease PC kit from our trade department so they'll always struggle to beat us on price.

 

I've got bags of these, and also some 800 G1 and G2 Desktop mini machines that will really be perfect for use with a telly

[witch]

Use tightVNC https://www.tightvnc.com/ its free for commercial use

I see it is an msi so I could potentially install it across the network?

Edited October 9, 2019 by witch

[The_Techie]

I see it is an msi so I could potentially install it across the network?

 

Go to the download section of that website, you can download either 32bit or 64 bit, both are MSIs. When you install it gives the option of server or viewer for installing. put server on the machine you want to control and viewer on the machines that need to take control

[mikkydoos]

Use tightVNC https://www.tightvnc.com/ its free for commercial use

 

I gave up on TightVNC due to it's slowness.

 

RealVNC Viewer is much better for me.

 

I was using Windows to Mac however.

 

Try them out @witch. No harm. Either or.

 

VNC is about the best way to give your end users the full Windows desktop/Office experience with the least amount of faff.

Edited October 9, 2019 by mikkydoos

[dhicks]

I am still a bit unsure about how teachers would access it to change the powerpoints?

 

You could set the NUC up with Windows, have it auto-login to a "presentation" user with access to a shared folder with a PowerPoint file in. Then have a Windows startup shortcut that loads up PowerPoint with that file from the shared folder in presentation mode. Then all teachers have to do is edit / change the PowerPoint file in the shared drive - you can control who has access by controlling access to the shared drive.

 

You could have the NUC reboot overnight so new PowerPoint files are loaded in the morning, or have something monitor the shared folder and reboot / reload PowerPoint whenever there's a change.