Purchasing new workstations with monitors
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@tim_g said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@travisdh1 said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@black3dynamite said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@eddiejennings said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
It's rare for us to purchase new workstations (generally it only happens when we have a new hire). On High has dictated that everyone have a dual-monitor setup, which is nice :smiling_face: . The last several purchases have been laptops, which just dock at locations which already have monitors. This is the first desktop purchase in years, which requires monitors; thus, I was curious how you folks approach it.
Dell Outlet is another option.
You can call and negotiate with Dell Outlet reps and have them hold inventory, too. They allow you to sort the live inventory (Cancelled orders, returns, refurbished) so you know what you are getting.
However, I can't imagine the need for Dell anymore. Onsite support is a crap shoot and with the Intel NUC-ish hardware + SSD Drive and Windows 10 restore options seems like it will be less hassle to manage yourself.
you're deploying NUCs in your office these days?
I am not deploying anything, but from my own experience with them at home I don't see any reason to use anything else.
Yeah, a NUC is more than enough for normal office work.
No don't do it. Win10 requires 2GB ram. Office also has a minimum. FF or Chrome also has a min. Keep adding software and you will quickly find that your 4gb system will be nothing but problems for the user.
4gb was fine up until a couple years ago. 6gb is min now with 8gb ram being ideal.
Maybe you get lucky and a user will be fine with only Windows and Edge... And use absolutely nothing else, ever. Then okay, but it will still be a pain for them .
We got 16gb in ours, what is the 4gb about?
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@matteo-nunziati said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
here in Italy there is no real difference in price buying from dell of any online shop (any brand). so I usually buy monitors with pcs.
Yeah nuc are nice, but if you assembly one you also had to add the windows tax (considering standard office workflow, linux is not cosidered here) and it doesn't worth anymore.
I'm currently working with a microsoft oem. then they deploy nucs internally and it really worths it!
So you do the Intel NUCS and like them? I dont know if there is a Dell or HP equivalent system.
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@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@tim_g said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@travisdh1 said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@black3dynamite said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@eddiejennings said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
It's rare for us to purchase new workstations (generally it only happens when we have a new hire). On High has dictated that everyone have a dual-monitor setup, which is nice :smiling_face: . The last several purchases have been laptops, which just dock at locations which already have monitors. This is the first desktop purchase in years, which requires monitors; thus, I was curious how you folks approach it.
Dell Outlet is another option.
You can call and negotiate with Dell Outlet reps and have them hold inventory, too. They allow you to sort the live inventory (Cancelled orders, returns, refurbished) so you know what you are getting.
However, I can't imagine the need for Dell anymore. Onsite support is a crap shoot and with the Intel NUC-ish hardware + SSD Drive and Windows 10 restore options seems like it will be less hassle to manage yourself.
you're deploying NUCs in your office these days?
I am not deploying anything, but from my own experience with them at home I don't see any reason to use anything else.
Yeah, a NUC is more than enough for normal office work.
No don't do it. Win10 requires 2GB ram. Office also has a minimum. FF or Chrome also has a min. Keep adding software and you will quickly find that your 4gb system will be nothing but problems for the user.
4gb was fine up until a couple years ago. 6gb is min now with 8gb ram being ideal.
Maybe you get lucky and a user will be fine with only Windows and Edge... And use absolutely nothing else, ever. Then okay, but it will still be a pain for them .
We got 16gb in ours, what is the 4gb about?
Oh I was thinking of the wrong device... I was thinking Intel sticks.
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But at the end of the day, a $160 Minix with Win10 Home and RDSH 2016 would be my choice any day over deploying and managing a bunch of computers.
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@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@matteo-nunziati said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
here in Italy there is no real difference in price buying from dell of any online shop (any brand). so I usually buy monitors with pcs.
Yeah nuc are nice, but if you assembly one you also had to add the windows tax (considering standard office workflow, linux is not cosidered here) and it doesn't worth anymore.
I'm currently working with a microsoft oem. then they deploy nucs internally and it really worths it!
So you do the Intel NUCS and like them? I dont know if there is a Dell or HP equivalent system.
well "I'm working with" stand for the fact I've chaged my job and now I'm a consultant in my "comfort zone": machine automation and vision.
They deploy Intel NUCs internally and they are ok with specs: put a cheap ssd in and enough ram. No win tax as they - as oem - have a huge number of licenses ready to use.
Dell and hp had nucs - as others have (e.g. zotac) - but win caused the price to raise. also dell and hp provide nucs in the home users market no business afaik. btw I think they have discontinued them, but your regional site can sell different stuff from mine. -
@thwr said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
New colleague, new machine, new monitors. Research assistants usually stay for 5 years or so, which perfectly matches hardware cycles. Depending on the shape of the hardware after 5 years, monitors and sometimes computers are further used for demonstrators and test systems.
I usually buy same vendor and brand (Dell / Fujitsu etc), due to service.Maybe if you would get them a new computer they wouldn't leave.
I'm kidding in your situation, but it reminded me of a place I heard about.They were trying to "run lean" since they were a non-for-profit. They would run computers until they died and then buy junk to replace them. The equipment was so bad, that it was effecting staff turn over. When I think about what it costs to hire staff, all I could think was that replacing computers is cheap compared to replacing staff.
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@EddieJennings To answer your original question, it doesn't much matter when you order monitors. I like to replace them every 3-5 years. Just budget and plan for it. The only thing to consider when ordering new machines is if you'll need new video cables or if the monitor only has a VGA connection. For instance a machine ordered today might only have display port/HDMI/mini display port and your monitor may only have DVI for a digital connection. In that case you'll want to order some cables if you don't have any on hand.
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@mike-davis said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@thwr said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
New colleague, new machine, new monitors. Research assistants usually stay for 5 years or so, which perfectly matches hardware cycles. Depending on the shape of the hardware after 5 years, monitors and sometimes computers are further used for demonstrators and test systems.
I usually buy same vendor and brand (Dell / Fujitsu etc), due to service.Maybe if you would get them a new computer they wouldn't leave.
I'm kidding in your situation, but it reminded me of a place I heard about.They were trying to "run lean" since they were a non-for-profit. They would run computers until they died and then buy junk to replace them. The equipment was so bad, that it was effecting staff turn over. When I think about what it costs to hire staff, all I could think was that replacing computers is cheap compared to replacing staff.
I run equipment mostly until it dies. HP Probook series units.
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@mike-davis said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@EddieJennings To answer your original question, it doesn't much matter when you order monitors. I like to replace them every 3-5 years. Just budget and plan for it. The only thing to consider when ordering new machines is if you'll need new video cables or if the monitor only has a VGA connection. For instance a machine ordered today might only have display port/HDMI/mini display port and your monitor may only have DVI for a digital connection. In that case you'll want to order some cables if you don't have any on hand.
You replace monitors every 3-5 years? why?
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@dashrender I budget for it. Don't always do it, but if I think back the last few cycles, today I'm buying 24" 1080 monitors. Before that it was 21" and before that it was 19". I'm sure 5 years from now a 24" 1080 will be nothing compared to a 4k curved whatever sized thing they come up with.
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@mike-davis said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@dashrender I budget for it. Don't always do it, but if I think back the last few cycles, today I'm buying 24" 1080 monitors. Before that it was 21" and before that it was 19". I'm sure 5 years from now a 24" 1080 will be nothing compared to a 4k curved whatever sized thing they come up with.
I suppose if those make sense for the business that can make sense. My management wouldn't have up upgrade for the sake of a new size. Average monitors we have deployed are still 20 or less. Maybe half have a widescreen.
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@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
I suppose if those make sense for the business that can make sense. My management wouldn't have up upgrade for the sake of a new size. Average monitors we have deployed are still 20 or less. Maybe half have a widescreen.
yes, it probably makes a difference who is using it. For some types of work it really makes a difference. People doing CAD would love to have something with the resolution of paper.
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@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@mike-davis said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@EddieJennings To answer your original question, it doesn't much matter when you order monitors. I like to replace them every 3-5 years. Just budget and plan for it. The only thing to consider when ordering new machines is if you'll need new video cables or if the monitor only has a VGA connection. For instance a machine ordered today might only have display port/HDMI/mini display port and your monitor may only have DVI for a digital connection. In that case you'll want to order some cables if you don't have any on hand.
You replace monitors every 3-5 years? why?
My 4 year old 24" inch dells have a issues with colors from the top to bottom of screen. Red could be pink on top, Maroon on the bottom.
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@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@mike-davis said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@EddieJennings To answer your original question, it doesn't much matter when you order monitors. I like to replace them every 3-5 years. Just budget and plan for it. The only thing to consider when ordering new machines is if you'll need new video cables or if the monitor only has a VGA connection. For instance a machine ordered today might only have display port/HDMI/mini display port and your monitor may only have DVI for a digital connection. In that case you'll want to order some cables if you don't have any on hand.
You replace monitors every 3-5 years? why?
My 4 year old 24" inch dells have a issues with colors from the top to bottom of screen. Red could be pink on top, Maroon on the bottom.
So either you have a fluke of a bad monitor (happens) or a whole bad batch where made (recall anyone?). I'm talking talking about just 1 or 2 being replaced 3-5 years.. Mike basically said all of them replaced.
If you have a piece of bad gear, you replace it regardless if it's 1 day old or 20 years old. Not part of the conversation.
Unless Mike is going to say that his experience shows that monitors have high failure rate in the 3-5 year range. This certainly hasn't been my experience.
I have two 19" displays at home from 2005. I don't use that system often enough to warrant replacing them with larger displays.
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@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@mike-davis said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@EddieJennings To answer your original question, it doesn't much matter when you order monitors. I like to replace them every 3-5 years. Just budget and plan for it. The only thing to consider when ordering new machines is if you'll need new video cables or if the monitor only has a VGA connection. For instance a machine ordered today might only have display port/HDMI/mini display port and your monitor may only have DVI for a digital connection. In that case you'll want to order some cables if you don't have any on hand.
You replace monitors every 3-5 years? why?
My 4 year old 24" inch dells have a issues with colors from the top to bottom of screen. Red could be pink on top, Maroon on the bottom.
So either you have a fluke of a bad monitor (happens) or a whole bad batch where made (recall anyone?). I'm talking talking about just 1 or 2 being replaced 3-5 years.. Mike basically said all of them replaced.
If you have a piece of bad gear, you replace it regardless if it's 1 day old or 20 years old. Not part of the conversation.
Unless Mike is going to say that his experience shows that monitors have high failure rate in the 3-5 year range. This certainly hasn't been my experience.
I have two 19" displays at home from 2005. I don't use that system often enough to warrant replacing them with larger displays
When there’s a significant size increase or form factor change (3:4 to 16:9) I think it makes sense. But it depends on the employee. I work with developers, they get new gear every 2 years at least.
For general office workers I could see systems lasting 10 years that are deployed today.
Point being that I don’t think it’s unreasonable to upgrade monitors every 5 years.
There are businesses with 70’s and 80’s furniture and businesses that redo the waiting areas and offices every 8 years.
As an employee I would certainly prefer newer and bigger stuff. But no an upgrade for spec for spec equipment.
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I think bigger screen sizes and better aspect ratios are worth the upgrade costs. I've seen productivity go up in all departments. A small square monitor vs working on a larger widescreen monitor makes a difference in what you see and can work with at once. It effects different departments more than others, but it's generally better for everyone.
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@tim_g said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
I think bigger screen sizes and better aspect ratios are worth the upgrade costs. I've seen productivity go up in all departments. A small square monitor vs working on a larger widescreen monitor makes a difference in what you see and can work with at once. It effects different departments more than others, but it's generally better for everyone.
And then the illerate waste of flesh in department XX convinces his boss that he needs a 3rd monitor so he can do his job. When he is the slowest person in the company.
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@jaredbusch said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@tim_g said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
I think bigger screen sizes and better aspect ratios are worth the upgrade costs. I've seen productivity go up in all departments. A small square monitor vs working on a larger widescreen monitor makes a difference in what you see and can work with at once. It effects different departments more than others, but it's generally better for everyone.
And then the illerate waste of flesh in department XX convinces his boss that he needs a 3rd monitor so he can do his job. When he is the slowest person in the company.
Then he gets two old square CRTs.
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@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
@matteo-nunziati said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:
here in Italy there is no real difference in price buying from dell of any online shop (any brand). so I usually buy monitors with pcs.
Yeah nuc are nice, but if you assembly one you also had to add the windows tax (considering standard office workflow, linux is not cosidered here) and it doesn't worth anymore.
I'm currently working with a microsoft oem. then they deploy nucs internally and it really worths it!
So you do the Intel NUCS and like them? I dont know if there is a Dell or HP equivalent system.
Dell Mini are very unlikely candidates for this, NUCs are awesome and we use it with Volume License for their OS.
