Are Business-Class PCs Worth The Money?
When it’s time to buy a new computer, the process of deciding which computer is the best investment can be mind-numbing. Regardless of whether you are shopping online or in a store, you will no doubt be faced with an overwhelming number of choices. If you are not the type of person that wants to spend endless hours learning about the brands and their product lines, it can be tempting to simply pick a PC based on its price or its looks. And while some people get lucky with this approach, it’s a recipe for either spending more money than necessary or ending up with a piece of equipment that is not up to the job that you need it to do.
The good news is that by answering a few simple questions, you can greatly increase the odds of ending up with a machine that you will be happy with.
Understanding The Difference Between Personal & Business Class Computers
Let me start off by saying I personally don’t care for this terminology because I find it misleading. There are plenty of individuals who could benefit from the upgrades a business-class computer has to offer, and many businesses that could get away with buying low-cost personal computers to run their business. That being said, there are several important differences you will find between these two classes of computers, and deciding which one is right for you depends more upon how you intend to use it instead of whether it be used personally or professionally.
Let’s take a look at some of the key differences that can make business-class PCs more expensive and the better choice for many businesses:
- Lifespan: Business computers are made with components that are designed to a higher reliability and durability standard than most personal computers. This difference is one of the key cost drivers but can pay off big time if you are planning to keep the equipment in service over a long period of time.
- Security & Compliance: If you are in a highly regulated industry like healthcare, finance, or legal services, you may need the enhanced security measures that are often bundled into business-class hardware to make it compliant to security standards. Be sure to know what you need before pushing the buy button.
- Customization & Support: Business-class computers often come with a different warranty and support level than their consumer products, and you can usually spec the machines out to your exact needs. They are also usually simpler to maintain and upgrade.
Some tech people will also argue that business-class PCs offer better performance, but I struggle with this argument. There are plenty of very fast and capable machines out there that are made with low-cost components that can be a good option under the right circumstance.
One of the key factors to consider is how much time you are going to spend in front of your device, and how much traveling it needs to do. If you are the type of user that is going to put the PC on a desk and only spend a few hours a week in front of it, you may not need to spend the extra money. But, if you are going to be using your PC all the time and hauling it around with you in a backpack, the extra expense of a business-class computer is almost certainly going to be worth the investment in the long game.
Are you thinking about your next PC purchase and not sure what makes the best sense for you? Feel free to schedule a free consultation with me and I’ll be happy to help you with your choice.