Laptops versus desktops and roaming users
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This topic is basically a part two of my earlier thread about front desk staff who need the ability to log into any one of a dozen different computers and be able to function.
I've been asked - why I choose to go with laptops for my users instead of installing desktop computers everywhere and people just moving between devices (like they do in many hospitals).
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Originally I did this because when I joined this location - users were breaking things (sometimes on purpose) and not admitting to such damage. Assigning devices to people make them specifically responsible for that device, and the years have shown this to be true.
Additionally, my experience with things like Roaming profiles had been horrible. They can require a ton of storage (never as cheap as someone says it is), they break constantly, depending on setup they can take a while to load down from the network, if you stay logged onto one station change it, then log into a second station at the same time, the changes might not be seen there, etc, etc, etc...
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This brings us to RDS or VDI. These were never an option due to pure expense.
With RDS or VDI you still need an end user device to work from, and are at best around 1/2 the price of a workstation/laptop (thin client - $500+, Laptop $1000-1500), then you need the server infrastructure many thousands, plus the RDS/VDI licenses, likely many thousand more often with yearly licensing costs.
I'll admit I never did a full on cost analysis, but I'm guessing the costs would be dramatically more expensive.
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In the enterprise space, the vast majority of users have laptops, docks, and a spare AC adapter (so they don't need to borrow it from dock).
Exeptions would probably be assembly line or something like a shared nurse's station
Desktops are the exceptions though and not the rule. -
@irj said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
In the enterprise space, the vast majority of users have laptops, docks, and a spare AC adapter (so they don't need to borrow it from dock).
Exeptions would probably be assembly line or something like a shared nurse's station
Desktops are the exceptions though and not the rule.In the enterprise space you rarely see large groups of people sharing the same computers - it's one device one user.
As for Laptops vs Desktop - I have no idea if the reality is desktop are the exception today...
The cost of a laptop plus docking station plus external keyboard plus external monitors plus secondary power supply significantly outweigh the cost of a standard desktop.
If the user needs that level of flexibility of mobility it might make sense, but most desk workers likely don't.
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@irj said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
In the enterprise space, the vast majority of users have laptops, docks, and a spare AC adapter (so they don't need to borrow it from dock).
Exeptions would probably be assembly line or something like a shared nurse's station
Desktops are the exceptions though and not the rule.I'm a little out of touch on desktop support. But I've yet to see this broadly. I see it, but laptops still seem to be most common in the mid-range companies and enterprises still on desktops. Apple being an obvious exception, they are super laptop heavy, but they make them themselves. Laptops are definitely getting used more and more, although I'm unsure why, I guess because more and more office workers don't have computers at home. But are they really the majority now in the biggest firms? We've moved to them, but because of international shipping, and even then, we try to ship desktops when we can.
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@scottalanmiller said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
But I've yet to see this broadly.
In the last few years, it is the majority of what I am doing even for the SMB.
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@jaredbusch said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
@scottalanmiller said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
But I've yet to see this broadly.
In the last few years, it is the majority of what I am doing even for the SMB.
The question would be - why?
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@dashrender said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
The question would be - why?
Because it is not more expensive unless you make it more expensive. It is typically cost neutral and adds flexibility. Pre-COVID I was already nearing 50% laptop vs desktop for new desks.
Post-COVID, I am close to 95% laptop for new desks.
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@jaredbusch said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
@scottalanmiller said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
But I've yet to see this broadly.
In the last few years, it is the majority of what I am doing even for the SMB.
I mean broadly in the enterprise. TOtally see this a ton in the SMB. Not the majority of ours, but that's because of specific markets that we service. Once we look outside of those specific desktop-heavy specialties, we see laptops everywhere in the SMB.
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@jaredbusch said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
@dashrender said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
The question would be - why?
Because it is not more expensive unless you make it more expensive. It is typically cost neutral and adds flexibility. Pre-COVID I was already nearing 50% laptop vs desktop for new desks.
Post-COVID, I am close to 95% laptop for new desks.
These days we are getting great (and I really mean that) laptops under $700. Sometimes way under.
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@dashrender said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
@irj said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
In the enterprise space, the vast majority of users have laptops, docks, and a spare AC adapter (so they don't need to borrow it from dock).
Exeptions would probably be assembly line or something like a shared nurse's station
Desktops are the exceptions though and not the rule.The cost of a laptop plus docking station plus external keyboard plus external monitors plus secondary power supply significantly outweigh the cost of a standard desktop.
If you're very short sighted it might appear more expensive, but it's actually less expensive to company. Workers can be mobile and/or remote. Another short sighted view, would be our people only make X an hour so it doesn't matter. However, the company gets a much bigger return on their salary. Even 10-15 mins of work after business hours can offer company a huge return.
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@scottalanmiller said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
Laptops are definitely getting used more and more, although I'm unsure why, I guess because more and more office workers don't have computers at home.
You don't want unmanaged systems connecting to internal resources in most cases. You can get away with it with something like Intune that creates separate space for data and doesn't allow uploads for non managed device, but it's not ideal.
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@dashrender said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
I've been asked - why I choose to go with laptops for my users instead of installing desktop computers everywhere and people just moving between devices (like they do in many hospitals).
The hospital is likely using VDI. That is why you don't.
Standardized laptops and docks are wonders. It could be harder right now with your older fleet likely not being fully USB-C dock capable.
But everything current will work with a USB-C based dock. This even removes the need for extra power supplies. The dock's power supply will power the laptop. The power supply that came with the dock will simply be used by the user.
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I've been deploying laptops here to my users who move around a lot, which is 80% of them. But it's because of exactly that - they move around alot.
Anyone who doesn't - billing, front desk/checkin/medical records have all been desktops until recently.
Because of Covid we've moved the billing dept to laptops so they could work from home if the need should arise again.
But some jobs just can't be done from home. The front desk can't check-in patients from home, Medical records can't scan in documents that are in the office from home. So these locations have all stayed desktops.
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@jaredbusch said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
@dashrender said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
The question would be - why?
Because it is not more expensive unless you make it more expensive. It is typically cost neutral and adds flexibility. Pre-COVID I was already nearing 50% laptop vs desktop for new desks.
Post-COVID, I am close to 95% laptop for new desks.
yeah, I suppose it can be close to cost neutral, but when you consider all of the extra parts - dual monitors (in a lot, but not all cases) second power supply, possible docking station, external keyboard.. all those things add up.
Don't get me wrong - I'm mostly in the laptop only camp myself these days...
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@scottalanmiller said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
@jaredbusch said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
@dashrender said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
The question would be - why?
Because it is not more expensive unless you make it more expensive. It is typically cost neutral and adds flexibility. Pre-COVID I was already nearing 50% laptop vs desktop for new desks.
Post-COVID, I am close to 95% laptop for new desks.
These days we are getting great (and I really mean that) laptops under $700. Sometimes way under.
I'd like a source on those - Any laptop I've touched under $800 in the past 2 years have been A9 shit machines!
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@irj said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
@dashrender said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
@irj said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
In the enterprise space, the vast majority of users have laptops, docks, and a spare AC adapter (so they don't need to borrow it from dock).
Exeptions would probably be assembly line or something like a shared nurse's station
Desktops are the exceptions though and not the rule.The cost of a laptop plus docking station plus external keyboard plus external monitors plus secondary power supply significantly outweigh the cost of a standard desktop.
If you're very short sighted it might appear more expensive, but it's actually less expensive to company. Workers can be mobile and/or remote. Another short sighted view, would be our people only make X an hour so it doesn't matter. However, the company gets a much bigger return on their salary. Even 10-15 mins of work after business hours can offer company a huge return.
we have 6 out of 90 employees who are salary... so if they are working, we're paying...
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@dashrender said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
yeah, I suppose it can be close to cost neutral, but when you consider all of the extra parts - dual monitors (in a lot, but not all cases) second power supply, possible docking station, external keyboard.. all those things add up.
What extra parts?
You are falsely claiming a cost difference for something that is the same. Desktop or laptop, you have monitors. Keyboards? WTF? Power supply? Not with modern equipment. The dock comes with one and it powers the laptop while connected.
The only "extra" is the dock.
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@dashrender said in Laptops versus desktops and roaming users:
I'd like a source on those
I agree with this. I don't see anything in that price point. Prove it or STFU.
