Easily Repaired PCs?

[Gongalong]

Hi folks,

 

Curious to know if there are any particularly easily repaired PCs out there.

 

We've got great mileage out of our Very PCs, particularly with the Broadleaf Max case, and they may still be the option going forward (if still available!). But are there other cases out there that are rugged, and particularly have easy to replace front panel connectors? Aside from damage to the case it's the front panel connectors that wear out first.

 

Or has anyone used a different strategy to prevent wear and tear to their PC connectors?

 

TIA

[robyholmes]

Have you considered mounting a USB hub somewhere which can be easily replaced if damaged?

[strawberry]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-3-5in-Black-Multi-Panel/dp/B00AC81FO0

 

probably the best option along with some little grommits for the existing audio ports

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

No worries @Gongalong. I can help you out with some new USB/Audio headers for your BLX's, won't stop the damage mind, but at least you'll be able to replace any that have been damaged;

 

BD-VPC-USB-PANEL-BL

VeryPC Broadleaf USB/Audio header

£6.60ea + Delivery

791 available in stock

 

I know that they're not the easist part to replace as you have to unscrew the entire front face plate etc

 

We've done some projects recently, one for a Library springs to mind where their software build config included us 'switching off' the front USB/Audio ports at the BiOS level for the Flex Micro. In a public setting that was the damage they were experiencing the most so decided to have us disable them during build, and with the lockable rear cable shroud preventing access to the rear I/O shield, and VESA mounting them on the monitors it was a good solution for them.

 

And in a Detention Facility setting, we didn't even install the USB/Audio header at all in the Broadleaf One and fabricated a completely solid front face plate, with an opening solely for the vandal resisitant power button. That way they retained the solid, metal chassis construction and prevented front panel intrusion completely.

 

Lots of your machines historically had the card readers didn't they? I wonder if some low cost USB card readers with additional USB ports could do the trick too, that could be handed out on demand?

[mikeprice]

To take the original question backwards

 

anyone any comments about an makes or models that are an especial pain in the neck to fix??