Two workstations, six scenarios and one decision.
A service business was moving premises and needed a full set of equipment for two people. Instead of a single quote for the most expensive kit, we prepared a comparison, and once they had decided, we installed and configured everything.
Case study · anonymous client
- Industry
- service business, administrative services for companies
- Scale
- 2 workstations: a laptop and a desktop
- Region
- Lubuskie
- Model
- selection, installation and configuration
- Requirements
- Option comparison
- Risk assessment
- Recommendation
- Installation
- Configuration
What the office needed
With two workstations it's easy to buy "something on offer". The problem shows up a year later, when a short warranty runs out or the computer can't cope with the spreadsheet someone works on all day.
- Windows, because the systems the office uses for its clients require it.
- Large Excel spreadsheets, an ERP system, documents, email and scanning for many hours a day.
- Quiet, reliable operation and business-grade hardware from Dell or HP.
- A sensible budget: no overpaying, but no cutting corners on the parts that fail most often.
What we did, step by step.
Requirements before specifications
First we established exactly what each person does and for how long. That determines the amount of memory, the screen size and whether the laptop should be light or powerful.
Six scenarios
Three ex-lease sets and three new ones, each with a laptop, a desktop and a printer. For each: cost, warranty length, level of risk and who it makes sense for.
An honest look at ex-lease equipment
Ex-lease equipment lowers the upfront cost, but means a shorter warranty and an older platform. We explained when it's a good choice and when the savings come back as repair costs after the warranty ends.
Pre-order checklist
Battery health and grade of the ex-lease laptop, the seller's warranty terms, ports for two monitors, the exact memory configuration and the price on the day of ordering.
A one-page recommendation
The main recommendation was new business-grade hardware with a longer warranty and a multifunction laser printer with duplex printing and Wi-Fi. The ex-lease option remained as an informed alternative, not a hidden trap.
Installation and configuration
Once the decision was made, we installed and configured the computers and printer so both workstations were ready to use, with scanning and printing working from each.
Before and after, no made-up numbers.
| Area | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | The question "which laptop should we buy?" | Requirements written down for each workstation |
| Choice | One quote to accept | Six scenarios with cost and risk |
| Risk | Hidden behind the price | Spelled out: warranty, equipment age, availability |
| Purchase | Based on a product photo in a shop | A checklist to go through before ordering |
| Go-live | Boxes to unpack after the move | Workstations and printer configured and ready to use |
What we didn't do
We wanted the choice to be informed, not convenient for us. So:
- We didn't hide the cheaper options, even the ones we didn't recommend.
- We didn't decide for the owner. The decision and the budget belong to the business.
- We didn't promise a specific lifespan for the equipment. That depends on how it's used and maintained.
Even a small purchase deserves a comparison
For two workstations, the difference between the options is a few thousand zloty, but also a few years of peace of mind or the lack of it. The comparison takes an hour and saves you from deciding under the pressure of an office move. Installation and configuration mean that after the move the office starts with work, not with unpacking.
Free · 60 minutes online · no obligation
Before you buy equipment, it's worth asking a few questions.
- You talk to an engineerOnline, by video call. Not with a salesperson. We don't install or change anything.
- We check 8 areasBackups, access, network, email, server, licences, protection and KSeF readiness.
- You get a scorecardThree priorities on one page, emailed after the meeting. Yours to use however you like.
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