Before purchasing hardware, it's crucial to consider how it will be used. (Photo: © Scanrail/123RF.com)
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August 22, 2016
Industry 4.0: The first and most important step towards digitizing your business: buying a computer. But what's the better choice: a desktop PC or a laptop?
The best technology for your business depends on your daily workflows and specific requirements . For office workers, an inexpensive desktop PC is perfectly adequate. However, if you need your computer on the construction site every day, you'll need to invest in a laptop.
A desktop PC offers many advantages : all tasks can be handled optimally – for example, writing quotes and invoices, placing regular online orders, or communicating with customers and suppliers via email. Furthermore, desktop PCs are more cost-effective and simultaneously more powerful than notebooks , which, due to their battery operation, are primarily optimized for energy efficiency. The biggest advantage of desktop computers: all components, such as the monitor, hard drives, or processor, can be replaced quickly and inexpensively if needed.
When purchasing a new desktop PC, there are several important points to consider: Only a powerful multi-core processor with a clock speed of at least 2,4 GHz provides sufficient power for typical office tasks. The RAM should be at least four gigabytes – the more, the better . However, anyone who edits digital images or uses CAD programs should opt for a significantly faster processor (four to ten cores) and more RAM (eight gigabytes or more) from the outset. In this case, it's also crucial that the graphics card has its own dedicated memory of at least 500 MB to prevent the computer from being bottlenecked. SSDs also offer a real performance boost, as they have no moving parts and are significantly faster than conventional hard drives when it comes to data transfer and read operations.
A good monitor is an essential addition to any office PC. For fatigue-free work, the screen diagonal should be at least 23 inches (58,4 cm) and the resolution should be 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD). The advantage of even larger displays: icons and text are displayed larger and are easier to read. For ergonomic working, an integrated height adjustment is also recommended.
Operations management
Craft policy
Operations management
Notebooks are a space-saving and, above all, mobile alternative to desktop PCs . With these handy companions, all your data is available on the go, presentations can be started quickly, and the computer is available for measurements. For your own comfort, you should pay particular attention to two things: the lowest possible weight and long battery life. Generally speaking, the larger the display, the more comfortable it is to work – but the heavier and more expensive the notebook becomes. 15-inch notebooks offer a good compromise.
For frequent outdoor use, a matte, non-reflective display is the best choice. If the device also features a processor with at least two cores, a 2 GHz clock speed, and no less than four gigabytes of RAM, your mobile office will be adequately equipped for standard work. Here, too, faster processors, more RAM, and a graphics card with dedicated memory are essential for more performance-hungry applications.
If frequent dust exposure or even rain is expected on construction sites, outdoor notebooks are recommended . These devices are designed for harsh environments and not only withstand dust, splashes of water, and vibrations, but can even survive drops . This added protection is reflected in both the weight and the purchase price – adding several hundred euros to the cost.
Technical terms explained quickly
Random Access Memory (RAM)
RAM (Random Access Memory) is used to temporarily store data that is currently being worked on. The more RAM available, the faster the computer. The size is measured in gigabytes (GB).
Connections (interfaces)
All other devices, such as printers, scanners, or digital cameras, are connected to a computer's interfaces. USB ports ("Universal Serial Bus") are standard and are suitable for almost all devices. The higher the version number, the faster the data transfer. The latest standard: USB 3.1.
Resolution
The maximum number of horizontal and vertical pixels that can be displayed defines the resolution of graphics cards and monitors. Full HD has a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels.
screen size
The screen size is measured in inches. One inch equals exactly 2,54 centimeters.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
The hard disk drive (HDD) is used for permanent data storage. Its size is measured in gigabytes (GB).
Gigabytes (GB)
Storage sizes are measured in gigabytes. One GB is 1.024 megabytes, or approximately one billion bytes.
graphic card
A graphics card converts information into signals that can be displayed on a monitor. The more memory the graphics card has, the faster and smoother the image display. All images can also be displayed on a television via an HDMI output.
OEM
Abbreviation for "Original Equipment Manufacturer." So-called "OEM products" are produced by brand manufacturers for resellers and are often limited in terms of features or functionality.
Processor
The heart of a PC, its speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). Multi-core processors contain several fully functional processor cores in a single package. This makes them significantly more powerful than processors with just one core. The newest and most expensive processors currently have up to 18 cores.
SSD
The abbreviation stands for "Solid State Drive" and refers to electronic storage media without mechanical components. SSDs have significantly shorter access times than conventional hard drives, but are also significantly more expensive.
RAM
Abbreviation for "Random Access Memory." RAM refers to the main memory of a computer system that a processor can access directly.
tariff
The screen diagonal of a monitor or notebook is measured in inches. One inch is equivalent to 2,54 cm.
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