Which desktop would you recommend for school use?

[SteveB_NI]

I'm in a great position now within my new job where I'm given flexibility to order equipment to refurb areas of the school & increase their computer provision.

 

I've been looking at new desktops & I was thinking of the following:

 

1: HP Compaq Pro 4300 SFF or:

2: HP Omni 120-1120ea Desktop All in one

 

I basically want to pair option 1 up with a 21.5" widescreen LCD monitor, but the all in one (option 2) looks good to me too... I also require these desktops to be connected via a mixture of WiFi and wired LAN so the wifi capability of option 2 appeals to me too... unless you think a wifi pci card will be just as good to buy and add to option 1.

 

Damage isn't really an issue here - and these machines will be used by AS/A2 level students predominately.

 

Basically just want your opinions!

 

Thanks!

[Flakes]

I know you say damage isnt an issue, but i think your mad if you go for the all in one, if the screen fails your down an entire computer untill you strip it and replace the screen, where as on the 4300 you just replace the screen. out of those two the 4300 pro.

[SteveB_NI]

Good point Flakes - I was thinking that myself just after I posted! Cheers

[jonatkinson]

Ive been buying the Dell Optiplex 390 series in both its desktop and SFF sizes. Seem like a nice robust machine, plenty of speed for a decent price (paying around £350 a unit with a 3/Year warranty)

[FN-GM]

I wouldnt go for option 2 as its a consumer machine.

[Achandler]

We have 80+ All-In-One computers (Lenovo Business) here, we bought an extended warrant yon them was extremely cheap at the time.

 

Had them nearly 3 years and not one screen has broke. All faults we did have with them have been fixed, and is surprisingly the HDD every time.

[nicholab]

I would look at the cost of the warranty vs the number of spare machines you can buy with the money.

[Achandler]

Warranty per machine £30, cash back for each warranty £25, £5 for an extended warranty. So £5 x 80 = £400, each machine was over £450 (ex VAT).

 

Value for money is the most important thing for me.

[Guest Guest]

Another vote for the Dell 390. I've been getting them with a dell pro 21' monitor and 4 years warranty for just over £400. Got around 200 of them now with a failure rate of 1-2%.

[nicholab]

That is worth getting the warranty.

[SteveB_NI]

Thanks all - I'm now about to order a quantity of HP desktops - HP Pro 3500 - which is a Micro tower. I'm getting them upgraded to wireless desktops to enable more flexibility with where they get eventually located!

 

Anything I should worry about regarding these before I put the order in?