Tough Economic Times – making the right choices is more important than ever….
Many businesses are finding the current climate very difficult so are reluctant to spend money on their infrastructure within their office. Although this is the natural assumption to make this can have a negative effect within your business.
Having the correct IT hardware along with it being managed with good quality support is one of the key things required and provides the necessary tools for your management and staff to fulfil their objectives. Time and time again we see offices equipped with the wrong software, computers and given poor advice which makes it difficult for workers to collerberate and be efficient with coworkers and more importantly your customers.
Choosing the right hardware…
The difference between a budget computer and a suitable computer is not that great. You tend to find that choosing better equipped model by a good manufacturer like HP with a decent processor and memory (RAM) will give you better performance and reliability. This equates to machine that is likely to last longer and can also sometimes come with a 3 year warranty.
Choosing the right software…
The other area of confusion that surrounds purchasing is what software comes as standard when you buy your computer. Again this comes down to cost but yet again the difference is small between a budget choice and what is suitable. For example one of main things we discover when we introduce a small business server to a client is that their computers do not have the right prerequisites to connect to the server. This can lead on to a costly upgrade which can be avoided if the correct choices are made when purchasing a new computer.
Everyones knows Microsoft Windows is required to run most business applications but what is unclear is that there are different editions which can appear to be the same. Choosing the right one to future proof your investment is critical. I cannot state how important this is so I am gong to bold it Windows 7 Professional is what you require if you have any intention on using the computer in the future with a server or the cloud. The frustrating thing is that if you choose the Professional version of Windows at the time of purchase it will cost a small amount more which will avoid a necessary upgrade in the future which can cost more than £100.
In summary I recommend the following……
- Buy hardware with a good processor and plenty of memory (RAM)
- Choose Windows 7 Professional as your operating system to avoid expensive upgrade costs in the future if you choose to install a server or use clue services
- Find a computer professional or company that can offer you sound advice to help you manage and make good decisions for your business!
If you need anymore advice or a free consultation please contact me ianchambers@it-ok.co.uk or call 08450092594.