Computer, tablet and phone options

Which device is best?

There’s no single answer to this, and it’s even hard to categorise simply by client demographics.

The best starting place is to answer this question – “What are you going to use it for”. Then aim to build in a little bit of headroom in the answers.

This can be broken down into some specific questions:

• browser based activities (social media, cloud based office work, transactions with banks or utilities)
• video calling for keeping in touch with friends, family and colleagues
• supporting work or hobby based activities that require specific software, hardware or generate significant numbers of digital assets that need to be managed
• additional needs or disabilities that might need (or benefit with) use of specialist input and output devices
• do you need the device to have mobile and/or broadband/wifi access

The more of these questions that are answered ”yes” the more feature rich the device or devices will need to be.

Computers

Desktop computers

These are the main details and features of desktop computers:

• the traditional sort of computer, and usually provides the best functionality for the cost
• usually has a main unit which is then connected to a monitor (screen), a keyboard and a mouse which are plugged into the main unit via cables
• operating system typically Windows or Apple MacIntosh or sometimes Linux
• the most flexible sort of computer but takes up a lot of space
• many options to install specific software (such as Office applications, design software, games)
• the easiest to upgrade and prevent from becoming out of date
• usually a lot of built-in file storage space (hard disk or solid state disk) – typically upwards of 500GB
• usually many options for connecting external devices
• external monitors available that can have touch-screen interfaces
• don’t usually have microphones and webcams built-in but have the option to add them

Prices

High street prices start at £250 plus £70 for a monitor and £10 for mouse and keyboard.

High spec machines for gaming start at about £800.

There’s also a thing called a ‘bare bones’ computer which starts at a lower price but needs to have bits added to it. It’s possible these are cheaper but we haven’t seen them in action.

Laptop computers – full specification

Details and features of laptops:

• all the component parts needed for a computer, in a more compact form
• typically, all the same functionality as a desktop including the ability to plug in mouse, keyboard, additional monitor
• operating system typically Windows or Apple MacIntosh or sometimes Linux
• many options to install specific software (such as Office applications, design software, games)
• may have significant built-in file storage space (500GB+ or more moderate amounts)
• usually several options for connecting external devices
• sometimes have a touch-screen interface
• usually have webcams and microphones built into the device

Prices

High street prices start at £200 for Windows PC (£1000 for Apple Mac). Very low cost laptops likely to go out of date quickly or be less robust.

Laptop computers – cloud based

Details and features of cloud based laptops:

• often called ‘Cloudbooks’, ‘Chromebooks’ or similar descriptions, but no generally agreed definition
• usually have a reduced functionality operating system (Windows S) and little onboard file storage space
• limited range of software that can be installed – similar in the way ‘Apps’ on phones and tablets are installed
• usually several options for connecting external devices
• usually a good lower cost option for people using mainly internet based services and software
• usually have webcams and microphones built into the device

Prices

High street prices start from £150 for base level models from mainstream brands.

Virus protection

We would always recommend installing anti-virus software on devices. Some operating systems come with built in applications (Windows Defender) but a full-featured application is probably better if it can be afforded. TechResort uses ESET Antivirus and this typically costs about £30 each year for each device.

Free versions of applications such as AVAST are available but they’re often intrusive.

Secondhand computers and other devices are an attractive option but be careful of older operating systems that are no longer updated or supported. This leaves devices vulnerable to security breaches.

Always install operating and application updates as soon as possible after they become available. These updates frequently include ‘patches’ of security issues as well as fixing other know bugs. By updating regularly you reduce the risk of falling prey to security breaches.

Peripherals

‘Peripherals’ is the collective name for any device that connects to a main computer. The most common are:

• monitors (screens) – £70
• printers £80 (but beware cost of replacement inks)
• mice (or other pointing devices) – £5
• keyboards – £5
• external storage devices (hard disks, pen drives, solid state disks, CD/DVD drives, card storage devices).
• £5 for 8GB pen drive, £15 for 250GB USB HDD

USBs

Older computers used many different sorts of connectors but as time has gone on, a lot of devices are now connected by a family of connectors called ‘USB’ (or Universal Serial Bus).

There are several different shapes of connector and the protocol has changed over time to increase the communication speed, but broadly speaking all USB devices are compatible although some functionality may be reduced.

It’s also interesting to note that USB connections can carry data and/or power so some peripherals can be powered by the computer when you plug it in.

There’s a specific subset of USB devices known as ‘On The Go’ which are designed for Android tablet/smartphone devices. They allow for connection of a wider range of external peripherals– for example keyboards, mice, external storage.

There may be limited availability for Apple devices, too.

Tablets and smartphones

Usually have Apple Operating system (iOS) or Android Operating system (but occasionally proprietary operating systems). The details and features include:

• typically have a touchscreen interface
• applications are downloaded from a special ‘store’ site (like the Apple App Store or Google Play) – some are free, others are paid for
• device usually has built-in camera, microphone
• usually has little onboard storage for files
• reduced options for connecting external devices
• some tablets/phones have the option to interact with using a stylus which may be beneficial to people who find touch screens difficult to use

Prices

High street prices start from £50 for entry level Android tablet. £70 for Amazon Fire Tablet. £300 iPad (wi-fi only).

Unlocked Android smartphone handset without SIM card, prices start at £50.

Did you know?

Even though laptops have built in keyboards and a pointing device (trackpad) you can usually attach a traditional mouse and a full-sized keyboard via USB which for some people can make the usage more efficient.

If a laptop monitor doesn’t give you enough ‘desktop’ space to allow you to work efficiently you can usually attach a second monitor to a laptop to give you more space. For example if you need to read one digital document and make separate notes in a word processed document.

You can attach pretty much as many USB peripherals as you like to a single computer. Even more than one mouse or keyboard so that you can ‘co-drive’ a computer with a client. If you run out of USB ports on a device you can use a hub which will take up one port, but often provide you with several more to use.

Using OTG (on the go) adapters can often mean you can attach a keyboard and/or a mouse to a device like a tablet.

Some laptops use SSD rather than HDD for operating system and other file storage. These are typically faster and robust than more traditional HDDs.

Older computers may not have built in webcams that clients can use for video calling. External webcams with microphones are inexpensive and are usually USB devices that are easy to use.

Far fewer computing devices have CD/DVD drives in them now so if people want to play music/films or just have files stored on old disks they may benefit from having them. Fortunately low cost CD/DVD players which use USB to connect to computers are available and simple to use (although you may need to dig around to get suitable software).

If you use digital cameras (or some other devices), the pictures are usually stored on SD card storage devices. Some computers and tablets have card readers built in, but USB card readers are readily available and easy to use.

USB storage devices (‘pen drives’ and ‘USB hard drives’) are often a simple and inexpensive way of transporting files and/or backing your precious files up.

As well as mouse input devices, there are graphics tablets which feel like a pen to use and can be preferable for some tasks.