Before buying a computer for work, it’s important to consider whether your best bet is to get a consumer model or one built specifically for business use.

You’ve probably seen business computers with the same brand name that you have at home, (Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, etc.) but that’s where the similarities end is the manufacture makes both consumer and business grade computers. Investing in the right system now will pay off long term, saving you time, money and a whole lot of frustration. The decision of a consumer or business computer system is up to you, but it is helpful to note that you won’t find many business computers in places like Best Buy as they are catering to the everyday consumer. If you want to pick up a business computer or want to work with SchrankLABS on getting a new computer contact us TODAY. Remember, that high price tag you see with a business computer does not mean nothing, for example it stands for reliability and in the case of the Lenovo ThinkPAD the hidden magnesium alloy chassis, that you will not find on their consumer lineup.  When you work with SchrankLABS as your preferred computer and hardware vendor we work with you to delivery the optimal configured computer for you.  

Business-class  features

When you invest in a business computer, you want certain features built-in and ready to go. For a business, those include features that will make your network more secure and staff more productive. For example remote desktop software and data encryption tools, longer support from manufactures and easier maintenance are just a couple of examples. Lenovo ThinkPAD, Dell Latitudes and HP EliteBooks are all examples of business computers. The operating system that comes pre-installed on a business-class computer will also have features the consumer options do not, including the ability to join corporate networks. Computers designed for home use come with Windows Home or Starter editions, which may require hours of expert assistance to connect into a secure business network. I have seen countless hours invested in a laptop or desktop computer the second it is taken out of the box because the office manager was also in charge of managing IT and decided it was best to run out to Best Buy or another big box store and bought a laptop or desktop from there, only to find out that the brand new computer is not compatible with the business network and cannot be joined to the corporate domain. This is because it’s a consumer grade computer that was shipped with a version of Windows Home which by design does not have the ability to join a corporate domain. Now we have to purchase a new Operating System Windows Professional or above and hours of support time to install and get the machine prepped to spec so it can be used for business purposes, which we could have avoided all together by spending an extra couple hundred of dollars and got a much better computer to begin with.

Durability and Reliability

It’s no surprise that consumer computers don’t have the same build quality as business computers. In fact, consumer models only have an expected lifespan of around 2 years. They do not build them to last, using cheaper components to build them passing the savings onto the consumer but at a cost of durability and reliability. Support and warranty terms for business class computers are longer and provider quicker service.  Business computers are built to last 3-5 years with higher quality components and rigorous testing at every level, with an emphasis on reliability and long term durability. 

Warranty and Service

The typical business computer has a standard 3 year warranty were as a consumer computer typically has a 1 year warranty. Business grade computers are easier to work on in terms of hardware repairs, consumer computer repairs can take several hours of disassemble before even getting to the part that needs to be repaired. When a business computer fails, users enjoy a professional experience with priority status and a dedicated support line, all designed to reduce down-time and get you operating faster. 

Contact SchrankLABS today by email at [email protected] or phone 262-347-3199 and see what we can do for your business.