I'm looking for some advice on whether to replace or upgrade the laptops we use at our training company. We currently have 100 HP ProBook 650 G4 and HP ProBook 400 G8 laptops, each with 8 GB of RAM and running Windows 11. Our students primarily use them for cloud access to Microsoft Office and emailing, while staff use them for teaching or general office work.
We're considering getting 100 new HP ProBook 460 G11 laptops with 16 GB of RAM for the students and 40 for the staff, but it's quite pricey. The goal for opting for 16 GB RAM is to future-proof against potential new software updates or increased application demands.
Alternatively, we could upgrade RAM in some of our existing laptops to 16 GB, which would cost about $200 each. My plan is to upgrade around 30 student laptops and 20 staff laptops while purchasing 70 new units. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?
5 Answers
Just go for new laptops if possible. While it’s a larger expense upfront, it would save time and maintenance costs down the line. However, if resources are tight, the RAM upgrades could buy you some decent time. Just make sure to evaluate who gets the new gear versus the upgrades.
Having a structured upgrade policy is crucial! Ideally, you should replace around a third of your systems every couple of years. The G4s are likely too old to support any major updates effectively. Upgrade the G8s and think about what you're comfortable spending now for the future needs, like Windows 12 and heavier applications.
Consider looking into different brands too. I have found Acer to be a great budget-friendly option. Comparing different manufacturers might uncover some schools of thought that will fit better under your budget!
I’d recommend checking your current prices for RAM. You can often find upgrades for less than $100, which is a great deal for extending the life of your current models. Newer models like the G8s should definitely be the focus for upgrades instead of sinking too much money into the G4s. And don’t forget about ensuring they all have SSDs, it can make a huge difference!
It's definitely smart to upgrade what you can. While getting new laptops is ideal, it might not be feasible given your budget. Upgrading the RAM on existing systems, especially the newer G8s, could provide a good performance boost. The older G4s might be reaching the end of their useful life, so consider replacing those while upgrading the G8s to extend their life a bit longer.
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