Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Recommended Computers: Desktops & Laptops, Used & New


Whether you're setting up a home office, upgrading your workspace, or simply looking for a dependable computer for daily use, finding the right system that balances performance, reliability, and price can be tricky. That’s why I’ve put together this quick list of recommended computers across different categories—from small towers to slim desktops, from affordable mini-PCs to reliable laptops—so you can choose what best fits your needs and budget. These are systems I’ve personally worked with, recommended to clients, or even used myself in the field. Let’s dive in!

Small Tower Desktop: Dell Inspiron 3030 = $720 (+/-)

The Inspiron Small Desktop is now ready for business with an easy-to-use, built-in Trusted Platform Module to protect your data and a wide variety of ports and slots to connect all your personal and business devices. The Inspiron Small Desktop packs great performance features and capabilities into a small chassis designed to seamlessly fit in any space.

Slim Form Factor: Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q = $740 (+/-)

Great little desktop for the money! The M70q can support multiple monitors and run multiple applications and most business programs without issue! It should be noted that these are not gaming PCs, and do not have the video power to support a graphic-intensive game. But they are great solid state computers, with a good amount of storage, are lightning fast, and come with extras such as Bluetooth and WiFi6.

Mini-PC: GMTek M3 = $350 (+/-)

Then, there is also the "Mini-PC" option as well. Mini-PCs are usually only about 6.5" square and about 4"-5" thick. For general office work, school work, etc they are GREAT affordable options to needing to buy a full-sized desktop PC. But they are not good for strenuous tasks such as Photo or Video editing, music/video production work, running a LOT of programs at once (Outlook and Word open while streaming a 4k video, and also having 10 tabs open in Chrome), etc. But for just general use, they are usually GREAT!

New Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 6 = $750 (+/-)

The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 is a 14-inch business laptop designed for on-the-go professionals, offering a blend of performance, security, and reliability:

Used Laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad 1 = $450 (+/-)

This is a laptop (if that's preferred) I have been recommending for over a year now and have not had anyone come back angry/upset with their purchase! Great performance value for what your spending!

Refurbished Laptop: Dell Latitude 5490 = $250 (+/-)

A cheaper laptop option (older and refurbished) is the Dell Latitude 5490. For general use with light storage needs, these things are amazing for the price!! I purchased one for my field tech to use, and it's been a GREAT little system for them!!

No matter what kind of work you're doing—whether it’s basic office tasks, schoolwork, or just casual browsing—there’s a computer here that can handle the job without breaking the bank. I’ve chosen each of these based on real-world use, reliability, and value. If you’re still unsure about which one is best for your situation, or if you need help setting one up, feel free to reach out to Pacific Northwest Computers in Vancouver, WA. We’re always happy to help you get set up with the right system for your needs!


You can visit our website at www.pacificnwcomputers.com, or check out all our resources and contact options at www.linktr.ee/pnwcomputers


Happy Computing!


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