Desktop
Desktop Computing Solutions by IT Xchange
IT Xchange provides desktops and workstations from all the top manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard, Lenova and Dell. These end-user computing solutions are backed by the newest processing and innovation technologies designed to meet the unique demands of individual businesses and organizations.
IT Xchange will ensure that systems are built and configured to your exact requirements and are ready to use as soon as you get them.
We can provide you with:
- Desktops
- All-in-Ones
- Point of Sale Systems
- Workstations
- Thin Clients
How to Choose the Best Computers for Your Business
Purchasing computers for your business or organization can be difficult because there are so many types to choose from. Here a few tips for buying business computers:
- Buy the Best You Can Afford – A bargain computer may be a great buy but its lack of speed will cost you in time is money.
- Pick One Operating System to Use – Unless you have specific needs dictating one operating system over the other, use the same operating system for your entire company.
- Decide if You Need Portability – If your work will take you on the road, to a client meeting or if you’ll be working at home, a laptop is a great choice. When you’re at the office, you can plug in a larger monitor, if you wish.
- A Desktop Provides More Value – If you never leave the office, a desktop is best, as they are cheaper, tougher, more easily upgraded and more easily repaired.
Get the Best Processor You Can
If a computer’s processor is slow, your machine will be slow and the processor is the most difficult piece to upgrade. A good one will have multiple cores; two is the minimum and four is about as high as most users will ever need. Talk to us about what the ideal number of cores would be for your needs.
You and your employees will be using the computers every day. Delays caused by the computer will cost you money, so spending a bit more up front can save you time and money in the long run.
Projectors
We stock projectors suitable for any workspace, be it small, medium or large. With a mobile, wireless projector, you can start a meeting anywhere, from any device. Short throw projectors will let you make a presentation in even the smallest meeting spaces.
Also, choose from our selection of auditorium projectors, document cameras, overhead projectors and interactive projectors.
Specifications to Look For
- Screen size is the size of the screen in inches, measured diagonally. Most desktop computers have external monitors that are bought separately.
- Resolution measures the tiny dots of visual information, known as pixels, that fit on the screen, measured in length times width.
- The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of the computer and dictates how fast it works. Generally, a higher Hz means a faster computer.
- RAM (Random Access Memory) improves your computer’s performance when you’re carrying out a variety of tasks simultaneously, like browsing the internet while keeping other tabs open. Using the maximum number of RAM chips your computer will allow, will make everything go faster.
- The hard drive is the storage capacity of the computer. Hard drives are built in and, with the growing availability of cloud storage services, the amount of storage built into a computer is becoming less important.
Laptops
Choose from a Variety of Laptops at IT Xchange
If you’re an on-the-go business professional, a laptop that will fit in your briefcase or backpack is the ideal solution. It should be lightweight, relatively compact and tough enough to cope with the occasional bump. And, of course, you need to be able to get the work done without running out of battery life.
IT Xchange has a growing inventory of laptops that are excellent for training, field sales, on-site survey audits, or wherever your business may take you. We carry the top names in electronics, including Apple, Samsung and Microsoft.
- Desktops
- All-in-Ones
- Point of Sale Systems
- Workstations
- Thin Clients
Get the Right Laptop for your Business
Here are a few tips that will help you find the best business laptops for your employees.
Consider Your Budget
Not every business or organization needs top-of-the line machines, but you don’t want cheap ones that may hinder your employees from being productive, either.
Choose an Operating System
The operating system you choose is primarily up to personal preference and how much you’re comfortable spending. However, if your business happens to use a software product that will only run on a Mac, you probably shouldn’t buy a laptop that runs on Apple OS. Before buying new laptops, ask us about possible operating system/software compatibility issues.
The three main operating systems are:
- Apple OS X offers high screen quality, function keys and the ability to run programs like Avid, Maya and Dreamweaver, favoured by creative professionals
- Windows OS is considered the standard for work laptop operating systems and gives you more laptops to choose from than other operating systems
- Chrome OS is a great choice if you’re comfortable living in the cloud, as you can’t download programs on a Chromebook. It’s also a good choice if you don’t want to worry about updates. Chromebooks are built to automatically download and deploy updates for you.
Choose a Design
Choosing the right laptop design means considering how you and your employees work. Some things to think about:
- Hybrid or traditional – Hybrid, or convertible laptops are laptops that double as stand-alone tablets. Some feature screens that completely detach from the keyboard, others have hinges with a 180-degree range of motion. A Hybrid laptop may be a good fit for employees who switch back and forth between laptops and tablets regularly
- Keyboard comfort – Smaller laptops have smaller keyboards and typing on a small keyboard can become tiring after a time. Take note of the size of the keyboard on any laptop you consider
- Touch screens – This is a nice feature to have, if you use it a lot, but laptops with touch screens and/or stylus support are usually more expensive than laptops without touch screens and they use a lot more battery power
- CPU – The central processing unit or processor, has a huge impact on a laptop’s usability. Having a high-end processor won’t improve your laptop experience unless you’re doing video editing or 3D modeling. Our experts can help you decide how much power you need
Memory and Storage
A laptop has two basic types of memory and storage. They are random access memory (RAM) and hard disk drive (HDD). Aim for laptops that have 4GB or 8GB of RAM.
Most businesses are fine with a storage capacity of around 256GB on the HDD, unless you’re planning on doing a lot of video editing and storing a lot of footage on your laptop.
Battery Life
It’s a good idea to check on the battery life of any laptop you’re buying, remembering that laptop manufacturers use different metrics to measure battery life. If you opt for an add-on battery, which can greatly improve the battery life of a laptop, be sure to consider the added weight it will add.
Storage Solutions
Equip Your Business for Growth with These Data Storage Solutions
t’s so important to be able to store data easily and be able to retrieve it just as easily, right when it’s needed. Without access to their data, companies may not be providing their customers with the preferred level of service. When information isn’t available, poor customer service results, and that could lead to a loss of sales. A lack of information can also bring about team collaboration problems.
IT Xchange delivers flexible and secure storage solutions. Let us help you assess your storage needs and optimize it to balance cost with capacity, performance and convenience.
When it comes to data storage, small businesses may have storage-related needs such as:
- Lower cost options
- Ease of operation when there is no IT staff
- Ease of data backup
- Data always available when needed
- The capacity for growth
Storage Area Network (SAN)
A storage area network, as the name suggests, makes a network of storage devices available to numerous servers. SAN devices appear as attached drives to servers, which eliminates traditional network bottlenecks.
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
A NAS system is a storage device connected to a network that allows storage and retrieval of data from a central location. This is an effective, easily upgraded, low-cost storage solution for business. NAS is like having a private cloud that’s faster, less expensive and has all of the benefits of a public cloud.
Disk Arrays
Storage & Backup Accessories
IT Xchange can also provide you with storage and backup accessories such as:
- Hard drives
- Portable hard drives
- External hard drives
- Solid state drives
- USB flash drives
- Removable drives such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray disks
- Memory cards
Our highly-skilled staff can assess your needs and suggest flexible, upgradable and secure storage solutions for your particular business situation.
Networking
Networking at IT Xchange
A network connects computers, cell phones, peripherals and even Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Through switches, routers and wireless access points, the networking basics, devices connected to your network can communicate with one another and other networks, like the internet.
Switches, routers and wireless access points each function differently in a network.
Switches
Switches save money and increase productivity through the sharing of information. The two basic types of switches to choose from are:
- An unmanaged switch that works out of the box but can’t be configured
- A managed switch that can be formatted. You can monitor and adjust a managed switch either locally or remotely. This give you better control over network access and traffic.
Routers
Routers connect many networks together, as well as connecting computers on those networks to the internet. Routers enable companies to save money by enabling all networked computers to share a single internet connection
A router acts as a dispatcher by analyzing data being sent across a network and choosing the best route for the data to travel. Routers connect your business to the world, protect information from security threats and even decide which computers should receive precedence over others.
Routers also come with additional features, beyond basic networking functions, to make networking easier and more secure. For example, depending on your needs, you can choose a router with a firewall, a virtual private network (VPN) or an Internet Protocol (IP) communications system.
Access Points
An access point allows devices to connect to a wireless network without cables. This makes it easy to bring new devices online and provides flexible support to employees working on mobile devices.
An access point works like an amplifier for your network. A router provides the bandwidth and an access point extends that bandwidth so that the network can support many devices. Supported devices can then access the network from farther away.
Further, an access point can do more than just extend Wi-Fi. It can also provide useful data about the devices on the network and provide proactive security, as well as performing many other practical functions.
Wireless Networking
There are different types of deployment you can use to create a wireless network, each one with its own attributes that work better depending on the situation.
- Centralized deployment is the most common type of wireless network system. It is traditionally used where buildings and networks are close together.
- Converged deployment is for branch offices or small campuses. It converges wired and wireless on one network device and offers consistency in wireless and wired connections.
- Cloud-based deployment uses the cloud to manage network devices deployed on-premises at different locations.
Monitor
All Your Monitor Needs are at IT Xchange
Whatever the setting, IT Xchange has a monitor appropriate to your business needs. Choose from a large selection of monitors from top manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Lenova.
Eye-catching digital signage will help to create new business opportunities. IT Xchange can help you to inform, impress and effectively communicate with your target audience.
You can also learn about our range of commercial-grade televisions designed to entertain and educate with easy customization and manageability.
Computer Monitors
Choose from these sizes of computer monitors:
- 22” – 23.9” displays
- 24” – 26.9” displays
- 27” – 28.9” displays
- 29” and larger displays
We also have large-format displays from 40-50” displays to 70” and larger displays.
Here are some things you need to consider before buying monitors for your business:
- Size
- Panel technology
- Features to enhance productivity
- Image Sharpness
- Extras
Size
It’s always nice to work with a big screen, but it’s not always practical or cost-effective. A 22-inch screen is fine for basic office tasks and will easily fit on most desktops. A 24-inch screen is good if your employees need to have more than one window open at any one time. A 27-inch screen is great for multitasking.
Panel Technology
Monitors using Twisted Nematic (TN) panels are the most cost-effective because they cost less to make than other types. In-Plane Switching (IPS)), Patterned Vertical Alignment (PVA), or Multi-Domain Vertical Alignment (MVA) panels will give you wider viewing angles and more accurate colour and grayscale performance.
However, if you don’t need a high level of precision and lots of picture settings, most TN panels will get the job done just fine.
Features
You may want monitors with highly adjustable ergonomic stands, so that your employees can adjust the height, tilt, swivel and pivot, but they will cost more than a display that only has a tilt adjustment.
The same holds true for other features, such as I/O ports, DisplayPorts, HDMI, DVI and VGA connectivity. If your office desktop PCs don’t have DisplayPort outlets, there’s no reason the monitors should have one. However, having at least one HDMI port will allow your employees to connect to a lot of different external devices.
Image Sharpness
Almost every monitor these days is capable of displaying content in high-definition. Models under 22-inches usually have a maximum resolution of 1,366 by 768. The most common resolution is 1,920 by 1,080, giving you full high-definition.
If your employees work with highly detailed images or are involved with graphics design, a WQHD monitor offers a 2,560 by 1,440 resolution. This resolution is usually found on a 27-inch model.
Extras
Generally speaking, you should look for monitors without built-in speakers, as they are usually underpowered. Webcams can be useful for video conferencing. If you plan on using wall mounting kits to save desk space, the monitors you buy should be equipped with VESA-compliant mounting holes.
Commercial Grade TVs
Commercial grade TVs include those made for business settings, hotels and hospitals and other healthcare environments.
Televisions for Business
Hospitality TVs
Using commercial TVs, hotels and hospitals can deliver information effortlessly across multiple TVs to provide personalized viewing experiences. And commercial TVs are compatible with content management solutions to let you control content across all of the sets from one central location. Commercial TVs are also scalable.
In a healthcare environment, commercial TVs enhance hospital stays for both the patients and their families by providing entertainment and access to social media. They also give patients a way to view condition-related educational materials. That means that doctors can educate their patients faster using videos and interactive content.
Top Brands at IT Xchange
Whether you need computer monitors or Commercial grade televisions for your business, hotel or hospital, IT Xchange lets you choose from a range of top-name brands to suit the needs and budget of nearly any business.
Choosing monitors or commercial TVs can be a daunting task, but the experts at IT Xchange will help you narrow down the options so you can select the right model for your unique situation.
Printers and Scanners
Printers and Scanners at IT Xchange
IT Xchange can supply your business with a variety of different printer and scanner solutions to meet your office’s needs. Today’s imaging solutions can help you establish procedures that simplify the production of documents.
We offer the following printer/scanner options:
- Laser
- Colour Laser
- Colour Laser
- Ink Jet
- LED
- Multifunctional Printer
- Plotter or Large Format
- Thermal/Receipt
- Scanner
- Printer Parts
Laser Printers
Laser printers deliver high print resolution, allowing for detailed graphics and logos as well as crisp, clear text. Some can reproduce images on photo paper and advanced units are often Wi-Fi compatible for easy printing from tablets, laptops or the Internet. Some laser printers also double as fax machines.
Colour Laser Printers
Colour laser printers deliver rich and vivid colours on both standard and photo paper, allowing for the creation of marketing pages and important resource materials. You can also choose to print only in black and white, which gives you the option to create eye-catching presentation materials.
Dot Matrix Printers
Dot matrix printers are also referred to as impact printers. The technology they use differs from laser and ink jet printers in that they can print information through multiple pages such as carbon copy forms.
Dot matrix printers use specialty computer paper featuring holed margins to guide paper through the machine. This reduces the chance of paper jams. These printers can reach close to 600 characters per second, allowing you to print a month’s worth of billing or an entire day’s worth of shipping invoices quickly.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers are usually not known for being fast but they are exceptionally versatile. Besides text documents, they can also print photos, labels and many other types of materials.
Multifunctional or all-in-one inkjet printers can scan, copy and fax, making them ideal for small businesses or home offices.
LED Printers
LED printers are similar to laser printers, but use a light-emitting diode instead of a laser in the print head. They function by focusing light across the entire length of the drum, creating areas that are less charged, which attracts toner. Then, the printer transfers the toner from the drum to the paper and applies concentrated heat to fuse the toner to the paper.
LED printers are highly efficient and reliable. They have no moving parts in the print head, making them naturally more durable over time.
Multi-Functional Printers
Some laser printers have combined systems that easily handle printing, copying, faxes, scans and telephone calls. These all-in-one printers often have a compact design that fits neatly on an office table or a desk.
A multi-functional printer simplifies many office functions by combining everything you need in a single unit.
Plotter or Large Format Printers
Large format printing requires the use of specialty production equipment that can accommodate larger-than-normal print sizes. Any computer-controlled printer that supports a maximum print roll width of between 18-inches and 100-inches is considered a large format printer. If the printer can accommodate a print roll over 100-inches, it’s considered super wide or grand format.
Going big is the most cost-effective way to produce top-quality marketing material.
Thermal/Receipt Printers
Thermal printing is a printing process that produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermal paper as the paper passes over the thermal print head. Thermal and dot-matrix receipt printers are perfect for physical stores, while portable models are great for use in any location.
Scanners
A scanner is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting or an object and converts it into a digital image. Flatbed scanners are the most commonly used types of scanners, used for both home and office purposes.
A scanner uses a flat, glass surface for scanning documents or other objects and turning them into PDF or image files. Most flatbed scanners have an adjustable lid that you can lift to allow thick objects, such as books, to be scanned.
Printer Parts
IT Xchange can supply you with printer parts, including:
- Preventative maintenance kit
- Cartridge ribbons
- Printer trays
- Printer paper
- And more
Notebooks and Tablets
Choose Between Notebooks and Tablets at IT Xchange
Whether you’re updating all the notebooks in your organization or customizing mobile workstations for user groups, IT Xchange can help. We offer an excellent selection of devices in an assortment of styles and sizes with features to fit any budget and performance expectations.
Do You Need Tablets or Notebooks?
Equipping your employees with the latest notebooks or tablets will allow them to work from anywhere. But you may be wondering which option would be best for your particular needs.
Notebooks
A notebook is a personal computer that’s a little smaller than a regular laptop. Like a laptop, it has an attached keyboard and is usually smaller than a briefcase. It typically weighs in at 6 pounds or less, making it easily transported and easily used wherever you are.
Also, notebooks come equipped with USB ports, HDMI outputs and other features that will work with other devices, such as mice and storage devices.
Notebooks rate high on performance, allowing users to work on graphic design, video and photo editing, etc. They also excel at multi-tasking. If your staff needs powerful processing or multitasking capabilities, or need compatibility with certain accessories or storage devices, equipping them with notebooks is the way to go.
Tablets
In contrast, the highly portable tablet combines the best aspects of smartphones and laptop PCs. It has a touch screen interface, rather than a keyboard, although some come equipped with attachable or attached keyboards.
The main advantage of tablets is their flexibility. While a notebook needs to be placed on a stable surface for it to be used comfortably, a tablet can be held in one hand and operated with the other hand. They’re perfect for notetaking on the go, such as at a conference or trade show.
The design of a touch screen tablet is highly intuitive and very easy to use. Gestures, such as swiping from one screen to the next, are far easier to understand than tapping keys or navigating files.
Many tablets support some level of multi-tasking, which allows you to run one or more apps in the background while working in another. However, the full-screen focus of most tablets is also seen as a distraction-free alternative to Windows multi-tasking.
IT Xchange is here to Help
Choose from top names in the industry, including Apple, Acer and Lenova.
Apple Products
IT Xchange Apple Products and Software
The Apple Mac and iPad are built for the way modern business works. They’re secure, easy to deploy, compatible with business systems and apps and easy to support. All of Apple’s products provide a seamless experience across all Apple devices and services that include the App Store®, Apple Music®, Apple Pay® and iCloud®.
The beauty of Apple products is that they’re compatible with the applications you already use, such as Google G Suite and Microsoft Office. This means your employees can seamlessly transition and continue to work with what they’re used to.
A Cost-effective Investment
Mac and iPad are built to last and, by and large, have the highest residual value of similar electronics on the market. This makes them a cost-effective solution for your business.
The Most Apps of Any Mobile Platform
Apple can serve all of your business needs, as it has the most apps of any mobile platform. The App Store® has everything you could ever want in business apps, including:
- Productivity
- Business intelligence
- Invoicing and expenses
- Content creation and collaboration
You can modify existing apps to suit your needs or build custom-made apps unique to your business and integrate them using back-end systems.
Software from IT Xchange
At IT Xchange, we can also offer you software programs in mobile device management and software management.
JAMF Casper Suite – Mobile Device Management
The Casper Suite provides a comprehensive platform to inventory, provision, update and maintain Mac OS X machines to increase the efficiency of your IT team. This will reduce the cost of ownership and minimizes liability by allowing your organization to build and maintain a stable, cost-effective and highly-accessible computing environment for users.
JAMF Software – Software Management
JAMF Software simplifies the life of system administrators by providing a broad platform to inventory, provision, update and maintain your Mac OS X machines.
Business-Grade Security
You can feel confident making Apple products part of your business. They’re designed to be secure right out of the box. Apple products have advanced features that protect the entire system, from device and app security to data protection.
Some of the security features they have include:
- Industry-standard networking protocols
- Frequent software updates
- Remote device management
Easy to Implement, Support and Manage
The Apple Business Manager Program makes Apple products easy to implement and manage, with zero-touch deployment and mobile device management integration. As well, Apple experts are always available to your IT staff to offer ongoing support.
When your employees are working with products like iPad and Mac, that feel familiar and operate intuitively, they can get things done faster and more easily, which allows them to do their best work.
Parts and Accessories
Parts and Accessories
IT Xchange has a variety of parts and accessories that can add convenience, increase performance and provide security. We can help you enhance your computing, both desktop and mobile, with quality accessories from the leading manufacturers in the business.
Security and data loss prevention is of the utmost importance, whether information is on an external drive or on a laptop. You can protect and store your data with internal and external hard drives that feature different connectivity and encryption options.
And IT Xchange can provide you with everything from screen privacy filters that protect sensitive information from prying eyes, to locks for notebooks that prevent your device from being stolen. We also have durable cases to help prevent damage and batteries and chargers that will make sure you always have the power you need to keep on working.
We can provide parts and accessories such as:
Accessories
A busy office environment requires the right equipment to stay productive. Some of the accessories we can provide for that equipment includes:
- Replacement keys
- Cables
- Docking stations
- Speakers
Server Parts
The right accessories will help you to get the maximum benefit from your server rack. IT Xchange has a good selection of rackmount accessories to help you get the most from your servers.
- Rail kits
- Power modules (batteries)
- Storage arrays
- Fan kits
- Rack conversion kits
Desktop Parts
Desktop computers sometimes require replacement parts to keep operating at peak efficiency. IT Xchange offers the following parts for desktop computers:
Notebook Parts
The experts at IT Xchange will help you find the perfect part or accessory you need for your computer, notebook or server.
