What Desktop?

[Marcellus]

Cards on the table "I'm not very Computer savvy" I can use the internet, Microsoft Office packages and all my files are stored in Drop box so i can access them on my phone (samsung), Ipad, in the Factory, in my office, at home and on my laptop when I'm aout and about that's about it.

But my desktop in the "home office" is a bit slow....... if i know how i'd tell you the spec I would, I can see a sticker on it saying Intel i5 and bought it about 5/10? years ago if that helps.

So I'm thinking of updating it..... it's been suggested that;
a) I get one of these "mini Computers"
b) I avoid Intel on favour of AMD

So I did some looking around and got blinded my techno babble but as I was passing popped into PC World (OK I said I wasn't computer savvy so don't shoot me)

I think the lad was ok and showed me a few desktops giving me the Pros and Cons of each.

Then he said.................... "What about the Apple Mac Mini 24, M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16Gb Ram, 256GB SSD, for only £599 it's beast and more than capable of handling anything you throw at it and better value than anything else....... we've got none but buy direct from Apple.

Well, over to the PH massive who are computer Savvy, is this the sensible solution?

[bitchstewie]

Depends what you need it to do.

There's a bit of a learning curve with macOS and if you've got a ton of legacy software or gadgets you need to use you may need to think about compatibility but if you're able to approach it from scratch and you do what a lot of people do which is web browsing, streaming media, and use office type apps I'd give a Mac Mini or even something like a MacBook Air with a dock serious consideration.

[Road2Ruin]

I wouldn't bother with 'mini' pc, unless you need the space, they are ok, but restrictive should you want to change anything and are expensive for the performance levels.
A good old fashioned tower would be a better and cheaper affair.
Something like this would be more than adequate for what you mention.
https://www.awd-it.co.uk/awd-ryzen-5-5600g-volt-wi...

[Condi]

If you click into the search box next to the start menu and type "About" then the PC will tell you what spec the processor is and how much RAM it has.

I would suggest that if you're used to Windows and understand how everything works then you don't go with an Apple Mac. There is a learning curve, and unless you buy into the whole Apple ecosystem there isn't any advantage over a Windows PC. Others may disagree, it's personal preference.

First thing I would try is improving the one you have. Some more RAM and an SSD, along with a clean install of Windows after you have backed up your files will likely make a big difference to what it can do at fairly low cost. If you don't know how then taking to a local PC shop which does repairs and upgrades might be better than going to a big retailer who just want to sell you something new.

If you do want something new then the honest answer is anything will do what you want it to. There is no point getting anything special for doing Word docs and Excel sheets.

Edited by Condi on Sunday 24th November 23:13

[Prak]

Condi said:

I would suggest that if you're used to Windows and understand how everything works then you don't go with an Apple Mac. There is a learning curve, and unless you buy into the whole Apple ecosystem there isn't any advantage over a Windows PC.

+1

Having been an Acorn nerd originally, then reluctantly gone Windows, then Linux (mostly Ubuntu), a few years ago when the new M1 Apple chips came out I thought, well, maybe it's time I expose myself to macOS (fellow geeks may recognise the closing of the circle here between Acorn and M1) ... and I don't think I've ever regretted a technology purchase more. Nice hardware - fast, runs cool, sips power - but I loathe the desktop environment. Even basics like printing just randomly stop working.

OP, if as you say you are "not very computer savvy" ... if you have previously only driven Windows ... I would urge you not to buy a Mac without trying one for an extended period first if possible.

[mikeiow]

Prak said:

Condi said:

I would suggest that if you're used to Windows and understand how everything works then you don't go with an Apple Mac. There is a learning curve, and unless you buy into the whole Apple ecosystem there isn't any advantage over a Windows PC.

+1

Having been an Acorn nerd originally, then reluctantly gone Windows, then Linux (mostly Ubuntu), a few years ago when the new M1 Apple chips came out I thought, well, maybe it's time I expose myself to macOS (fellow geeks may recognise the closing of the circle here between Acorn and M1) ... and I don't think I've ever regretted a technology purchase more. Nice hardware - fast, runs cool, sips power - but I loathe the desktop environment. Even basics like printing just randomly stop working.

OP, if as you say you are "not very computer savvy" ... if you have previously only driven Windows ... I would urge you not to buy a Mac without trying one for an extended period first if possible.

Curious.
We as a family moved to the MacOS side over 10 years ago. Broadly speaking, where things were an awkward pain in Windows (especially Win10 upgrades - that was a final straw day for the last WinPC in our house), the experience with Mac has been way better.
But for sure, some things are different and require something of a learning curve.

That said, if the OP isn’t too savvy with PCs either….maybe also consider a Chromebook.
I have a relative who is not deeply technical when it comes to PCs…we got her a Chromebook perhaps 7 years ago, & it still does all she needs. The beauty being it doesn’t really run much on itself, so each reboot is a fresh start - no slowing down.

[Griffith4ever]

A modern i5 will run circles around your current i5. AMD can offer some good value for gaming, but, there is no reason to avoid Intel at all. Sounds like you got advice from a gamer.

The Macs do offer great performance for the money but make damn sure you are up for the switch to Mac OS - its a culture shock if you are used to being able to do things your own way, and install free software.

Any i5 with an SSD sounds like it'll do you. If you don't game - just get one with an entry level RTX card, or even lower.

[OutInTheShed]

What version of wIndoze does the OP have?
If the machine at the older end of the range, possibly win10 on an SSD would cheer it up no end?
Maybe increase the RAM?

Plenty of machines of that kind of age still perform fine if you don't do gaming, CAD work or video editing.

[mikeiow]

Griffith4ever said:

A modern i5 will run circles around your current i5. AMD can offer some good value for gaming, but, there is no reason to avoid Intel at all. Sounds like you got advice from a gamer.

The Macs do offer great performance for the money but make damn sure you are up for the switch to Mac OS - its a culture shock if you are used to being able to do things your own way, and install free software.

Any i5 with an SSD sounds like it'll do you. If you don't game - just get one with an entry level RTX card, or even lower.

On that middle point: if the OP is near an Apple Store and has the interest….they run a bunch of free training sessions on all sorts of topics.
Mac is, IMHO, a nicer experience to work with, but as you say, it is different.

[nickofh]

If you need a full set up this all in pc will be more than enough for you needs and should offer many years service.

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 24ARR9 All-in-One Desktop PC, AMD Ryzen 5 Processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 23.8" Full HD, Luna Grey £549 two year warranty.

https://www.johnlewis.com/lenovo-ideacentre-aio-24...

If you already have a monitor etc.

IdeaCentre 3i (i5-Windows 11 Home-16GB-512GB)£450


https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/p/desktops/ideacentre...


If your needs are not likely to change and you continue to use cloud storage you can find a reasonable all in one for £400 with 8gb ram and 256gb storage .

[mmm-five]

Griffith4ever said:

A modern i5 will run circles around your current i5. AMD can offer some good value for gaming, but, there is no reason to avoid Intel at all. Sounds like you got advice from a gamer.

It's only really the 13/14th gen i7/i9 that have been showing the issues (all models have the same flaw, but they're not pushed as hard and will probably last the lifetime of the PC without failing), and whilst it's mostly gamers complaining about random crashing it's also affected large businesses who have had a relatively high failure rate - even when undervolted/downclocked.

https://community.intel.com/t5/Blogs/Tech-Innovati...

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/threads/inte...

[Griffith4ever]

mikeiow said:

On that middle point: if the OP is near an Apple Store and has the interest….they run a bunch of free training sessions on all sorts of topics.
Mac is, IMHO, a nicer experience to work with, but as you say, it is different.

Absolutely. For me the switch (I tried), and a techy, was horrible. I hated having stuff hidden from me, and storage locatios just didn't make logical sense to me. But..... if you don't have Windows xxx ingrained in you then Mac OS (iOS?) is super popular for the very fact it hides all the technobabble.

[theboss]

I've been using an M4 mini (£599 base spec) daily for the last monthand am absolutely blown away by how capable it is. This was a spontaneous purchase when it was first released to put a machine in one of our spare rooms which I then needed to start using whilst having work done in the main office area.

The work finished a couple of weeks ago but I haven't gone back to the old desk/machine because I like the mini setup so much.

I've spent the last 4 years working daily on a Dell Precision 18-core Xeon workstation which cost about £5k in 2020 and that was an outlet bargain at the time, so that's the basis of comparison.

I don't intend to turn the big Windows machine back on unless I really have to.

Looking at the benchmarks the 14-core M4 Pro mini at £1600 also thrashes my 2 year old M2 Max MBP except for some GPU scores in which the Max has the benefit of 38 (slower) cores vs 20.

The M4 Studio when it comes out, will be something to behold.

I would recommend the base M4 mini to anyone needing a general purpose desktop computer who doesn't mind using macOS.

[Sy1441]

Once you go Mac you'll never go back.

[the-norseman]

Sy1441 said:

Once you go Mac you'll never go back.

I went back to Linux after a short period with a MBP.

[TownIdiot]

Sy1441 said:

Once you go Mac you'll never go back.

Someone who is not very tech savvy, uses MS office and has no Mac experience may well do so.

[Condi]

TownIdiot said:

Sy1441 said:

Once you go Mac you'll never go back.

Someone who is not very tech savvy, uses MS office and has no Mac experience may well do so.

Equally someone who is tech savvy and actually wants to be able to do stuff with their machine, beyond what the manufacturer says you can do, may also move back.

Apple is fine, if you want to do what Apple want you to do, or think you should do. Anything else is at best a pain in the backside.

[SteveKTMer]

Condi said:

Equally someone who is tech savvy and actually wants to be able to do stuff with their machine, beyond what the manufacturer says you can do, may also move back.

Apple is fine, if you want to do what Apple want you to do, or think you should do. Anything else is at best a pain in the backside.

What would you want to do that Apple stops you doing ?

[wyson]

Why don’t you just buy a monitor and connect your laptop to it?

Why do you need a 2nd desktop machine?

Could get a dock, use a desktop mouse and keyboard?

I wouldn’t want the bother of managing 2 different systems.

[Marcellus]

Another low ball now…….. since September my wife has bought two laptops (don’t ask), both are Lenovos…. A Thinkbook 16 with 32gb ram, 1tb storage and a AMD Ryzen 7 the other is an idea pad slim pad 3 with intel 5, 8gb ram and 512 storage.

So, suggestion is to just buy a docking station and use the Laptops as the computer in the home office…. Does that make sense.