The Best Business PCs of 2017

This year, we’ve seen several model refreshes from the PC industry’s top players: Lenovo, Dell and HP.  Business favorites like the X1 Carbon in notebooks, and the latest Dell Precision desktop have come on to the market more powerful, and more impressive than ever.

As the year comes to a close, we take a look at some of the best laptops and desktops we saw in 2017:

Laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

The X1 Carbon has been a business favorite ever since its initial release, and this year’s model keeps it in the lead from pretty much every industry analyst as the best laptop for professionals. Packed into an even thinner, smaller design, the machine still features an impressive battery life of 15.5 hours with rapid charging, with all of the power needed to stay productive while on-the-go or in the office.

Specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-7600U vPro
• Ram: 16GB
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
• Screen size/Resolution: 14”/2560×1440 px
• Storage: 1TB SSD

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 260

Another favorite from Lenovo for those seeking a business convertible is the Yoga 260. With an impressive CPU and HD display, the ultaportable laptop can transition from laptop, to tent, to tablet form without sacrificing any power or flare. Reviewers also found the keyboard to be top-notch, and users tend to like the included stylus for the touch display.

Specs:

• CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U
• Ram: 8GB
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 520
• Screen size/Resolution: 12.5”/1920×1080 px
• Storage: 512GB SSD

Dell XPS 13

This laptop was called “the best laptop money can buy in 2018” by TechRadar, and continues to give its competitors a run for their money as it is considered a business laptop for its functionality with a stunning design that personal users will enjoy as well. It also comes at fair pricing. The 2017 refresh of this laptop features a 13.3-inch display in the chassis of an 11.6-inch model, with other higher-class features to suit the business crowd.

Specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i3-i7
• Ram: 4GB-16GB
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 – Iris Plus Graphics 640
• Screen size/Resolution: 13.3”/ FHD 1,920×1,080px – QHD+ 3,200×1,800px
• Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD

HP 255 G5

If you are seeking reliability with an affordable price tag, the HP 255 G5 has proven to be a favorite workhorse among business users. It’s an entry-level notebook without any frills, but it will give basic user functionality with solid performance that will fit any small business’ budget. This is arguably the best value laptop for business, ideal to supply for employees doing administrative work with basic requirements.

Specs:

• CPU: AMD A607310
• RAM: 4GB
• Graphics: AMD Radeon R4
• Screen size/Resolution: 15.6”/1366×768 px
• Storage: 1 TB HDD

Lenovo ThinkPad E470

Featuring functionality with portability, a comfy keyboard and a nice price point, the Lenovo ThinkPad E470 gives another solid option for businesses looking for a steady notebook option for average users. The E470 also features a spill resistant keyboard, TrackPoint and 3+2 buttons click pad with plenty of ports.

Specs:

• CPU: 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7-7500U
• RAM: 16GB
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
• Screen size/Resolution: 14”, 1920×1080 px
• Storage: 256GB SSD

Dell Latitude E5480

Dell delivered the Latitude E5480 saying it is the most secure, reliable and manageable business-class laptop. With high-end configurations like a 7^th generation, 4-core Intel CPU, it features a lot of power and top-of-the-line performance.

Specs:

• CPU: 2.8GHz Intel Core i5-7440H
• RAM: 8GB
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630
• Screen size/Resolution: 14”, 1920×1080 px
• Storage: 256GB SSD

Desktops

Dell Precision 5720 All-in-One

This all-in-one desktop is a favorite among gamers and media professionals alike. While it can power VR gaming, it also serves as an impressive multimedia editing tool. It features an outstanding 4K touch display and incredible audio.

Specs:

• CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1275
• RAM: 32GB
• Graphics: AMD RAdion Pro WX 7100
• Screen size/Resolution: 27”, 3840x2160px
• Storage: 2TB

Dell XPS Tower Special Edition (8930)

Previous versions of this desktop impressed users with its performance in a compact form, and this year’s release is even faster with the latest Coffee Lake processor from Intel. The case is easy-access with plenty of space for expansion should you choose.

Specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-8700

• RAM: 16GB
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070
• Storage: 1.25 TB

Dell Optiplex 5050 Micro

Also ideal for those seeking a desktop option that takes up minimal counter space but also doesn’t sacrifice performance, the Dell Optiplex 5050 Micro features remote management compatibility, multiple locking options, a selection of mounting peripherals as well as easy component access.

Specs:

• CPU: Intel core i5-7600T
• RAM: 8GB
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630
• Storage: 256GB

HP Elite Slice

Noticing a theme here? Users want a desktop for the power but don’t always like the space it can consume. Small and powerful is the key goal. And the HP Elite Slice delivers just that. It has a compact body with an attractive design. It can be featured in conference rooms or office desks alike, and its configurations can be easily switched in seconds.

Specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-6500T
• RAM: 4GB
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530
• Storage: 500GB

There’s plenty of solid 2017 computing options to choose from as we move into 2018. Let’s see what the new year brings us in business PCs.

IT Xchange is a provider of PC and server technology to VARs, system integrators and more throughout North America and EMEA.