Enterprise Refurbs vs Retail PCs

Lenovo, HP and Dell are brands that account for nearly 80% PCs sold in America. These companies do not design or manufacture PCs. Both the “enterprise” and “retail” computers sold by these companies are designed and manufactured offshore,  mostly in Asia. Large scale users like corporations, schools and government agencies purchase “enterprise” AKA “commercial” grade PCs from distributors who service the three year “manufacturer’s warranty.” Home and small businesses users typically buy “retail” PCs either “on-line” or at “Big Box” mass merchandisers like Best Buy, Costco and Wal-Mart. There are huge differences between “enterprise” and “retail” PCs  in terms of  quality and reliability as well as price.

The specifications for “enterprise” PCs are developed by the ITs (information technology engineers and technicians) responsible for the maintenance and performance of the PCs and business networks. Component quality is the key to performance and reliability. That’s why new “enterprise PC’s often cost twice as much as “retail” models that seem to be similarly configured. With higher quality components like fans, memory, storage drives, power supplies, motherboards, enclosures, connectors and i/o devices, “enterprise” PCs are designed to provide years of trouble free service while running non-stop 7/24. Multi-year warranties are standard

Retail PCs are manufactured to a completely different standard. They are built for “price competition” rather than “performance and reliability”. The average retail computer shopper has no way to judge quality or reliability so they are basically “price shoppers” It makes little sense for companies “waste” money on high quality components when the shoppers don’t know the difference. Retail PCs are assembled from six to eight low-end standard components designed to survive a single year warranty period.

Refurbished “enterprise” PCs are better in quality, performance and reliability than new brand new “retail” PCs and would be a smarter buy even at the same price as new retail PCs, but enterprise refurbs typically sell for half to two thirds the price of new retail PCs.