Desktop Form Factor

[sapphirescales]

Thats like me. I have clients anywhere from an hour to 2 hours away. I build all my business machines with the same motherboard and CPU.

Last Gen
i3-6100
MSI B250M PRO-VDH

This Gen
i3-7100
B360M DS3H

I have 3 of each of the 6100 and B250's and 3 each of the 7100 and B360 in my vehicle and 2 of each of them all in the shop just in case someone brings one in. And I have 10 240GB SSD's and 5 480GB SSD's in the shop with 3 of each in the vehicle along with 3 500W EVGA PSU's and a 12 in the shop. Replacement out in the field is dead simple. As far as the NUC's are concerned, they are in essence, a laptop in a box. But they are great little units and pretty darn fast when you plop an SSD in them. I have 11 of these NUC's deployed, never an issue so far and I have 2 on hand just in case.

It's cool that you keep some spare boards, but that's really not necessary with Windows 10 these days. Windows 10 will boot with any board if you replace it. The main thing is that you have some 6th and 7th gen boards in stock and that they're mATX so they fit in the cases. Then all you have to deal with is the Windows license, which shouldn't be an issue if you're buying an OEM copy of Windows 10.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I have 11 of these NUC's deployed, never an issue so far and I have 2 on hand just in case.

Oooo they have little fsp power bricks! \o/

It's cool that you keep some spare boards, but that's really not necessary with Windows 10 these days. Windows 10 will boot with any board if you replace it.

You know what they say about assumption =P

If I was selling a bunch of computers i'd try to stick to the same motherboard if possible as long as its been proven reliable in the past. Every motherboard usually has some little quirk you usually don't find but when you run into it at least you know for future reference.

 

[NJW]

... and can STILL install Windows 10 Home for free.

Okay, I'll bite – how? Under what licence scheme?

 

[Your PCMD]

Okay, I'll bite – how? Under what licence scheme?

 

[NJW]

@Your PCMD : Yeah, but where does the original Windows [7|8] licence come from? Your $125 NUC doesn't have it ...

 

[Your PCMD]

@Your PCMD : Yeah, but where does the original Windows [7|8] licence come from? Your $125 NUC doesn't have it ...

OK, let me explain this. Everyone knows, or should know, that you can install Windows 10 for free without activation and use it indefinably but cannot use some personnel settings and get the nag of it not being activated every so often.

When I sell it, I sell it as a base model at $275. The next step is an activated machine for $350. This gives the illusion to the client that they pay only $75 for a $120 operating system. Either way, I am making just a tad over $50 on the thing.

Stepping up from that, my best selling NUC is this one for just under $270 (this is the one I have deployed the most in offices). But this one comes with a slew of options - SSD size options, 4Gb to 32Gb memory, NVMe &/or SATA, Windows 10 Home or Pro - Office or not. You get the jest of it.

I'm really into the mini PC style - sans a gaming machine its really all most people need. My next idea is to bring in the AsRock Deskmini for even more customizing with an even bigger list of configurations. I ordered 3 of these on Saturday and can't wait to see what I can do with them.

The only difference really is no NVMe - which is no big deal, but does have room for an M.2 SATA and 2 SSDs or Laptop drives. I know it says it takes 6th gen Intel, but can take 7th gen as well.

 

[mikeroq]

When I sell it, I sell it as a base model at $275. The next step is an activated machine for $350.

If you are selling machines preinstalled with Windows 10 and no OEM COA you are violating license terms....

You either sell it bare with no OS or with an OEM os.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[NJW]

OK, let me explain this sidestep that question.

Aside from MS licence violations, selling a new PC with unvalidated Windows 10 is real pizza-tech territory. In fact, exactly the same thing that members here have complained about with the cheap minis from China.

 

[Your PCMD]

You all really need to re-read my post. In no way did I say I sell them with an unactivated Windows, that would be stupid. I sell it as a base model, in other words, no OS. Its not "bare-bones" as it has the memory and drive/s installed, so its base with NO OS. $75 more and they get an activated machine. I do have clients that use *nix so selling it without the OS is a given because why pay for the OS when they will use a free one?

So again:

When I sell it, I sell it as a base model at $275. The next step is an activated machine for $350.

 

[mikeroq]

Then you should have worded your post like:

Base model with no OS $275
Add Windows 10 Home for $75.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Your PCMD]

Then you should have worded your post like:

Base model with no OS $275
Add Windows 10 Home for $75.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Well sorry. Shuffling 132 endpoints for MSP and having a dozen machines on the bench in queue and having to deal with customers I have very little time to proof read. But you are correct and again, I apologize.