Tom’s Tuesday Tech Tip: Desktop Computer Recommendations for Legal Nurse Consultants

In a previous Tech Tip I mentioned that I would soon be purchasing a new laptop for myself. Rather than talk about me, let’s talk about you. Do you want to hear about my new laptop? I didn’t think so. I’ll save the story of my trials and trevails for another Tech Tip. Instead, let’s talk about some desktop hardware specifications for my CLNC^® amigos who don’t need a laptop computer.

Certified Legal Nurse Consultants don’t really require the fastest box in the world – just one that will get the job done. At the same time, who knows where the world will go, so it’s not bad to have a little spare power.

Whether you’re buying a Mac^® or a Windows^® box isn’t important anymore. There are versions of Microsoft^® Office for Mac that really work! Just make sure you have a learning source to help train you to use your new computer.

If you want to stay in a Windows world, here are some specs for a sturdy, Windows-based Dell^®, Gateway^®or HP^®desktop:

• Intel^® 2nd or 3rd Generation Core™ i-series processor, 3.2 GHz or faster.
• 8 GB or more of DDR3 RAM up to as much as you can afford.
• A 64 bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium is required to use more than 4 GB of RAM. You may have to buy Windows 8 with downgrade rights to get Win7 (go for it).
• Hard drive of at least 500 GB or larger running @ 7,200-10,000 rpm.
• Fast rewritable DVD±RW drive.
• Integrated sound card (Beats^® audio is way cool for groovin’ while you work).
• Integrated 3D-capable graphics or ATI or nVidia^® card – 256 MB or more with dual-DVI ports.
• External speakers.
• At least four USB ports and/or an expansion hub.
• Integrated 10/100-Mbps Ethernet adapter (for networking capability or a broadband connection).
• 802.11b/g/n wireless card (in case you decide to network wirelessly).
• Dual 22″ or larger DVI flat screen color monitors (LCD or CRT) or a wide-screen monitor depending upon available desk space.
• Keyboard and track-ball mouse.
• Uninterruptible power supply and surge protector. APC or Tripplite is preferred.
• 2-3-year on-site service warranty.

Some of you may want to buy an Apple computer and go over to the dark side for ease of use, safety and security. Prepare to pay the piper for a Mac desktop, but it will be worth it. At time of this blog, these were current specs:

• Desktop – iMac^®, screen size 27”.
• 3.2GHz Quad-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz (or higher).
• 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM − 2X8GB.
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX 1GB GDDR5.
• 1TB Serial ATA Drive running @ 7,200 rpm.
• SuperDrive^® 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW).
• Mac OS^® X Mountain Lion.
• iWork^® preinstalled.
• Microsoft^® Office for Mac.
• Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet.
• 802.11b/g/n wireless solution or card.
• Uninterruptible power supply and surge protector. APC or Tripplite is preferred.
• AppleCare Protection Plan.

For the most part, you can’t go wrong with just about any desktop on the market today unless you buy an off-brand, homemade, cobbled-together computer from some college drop-out named Michael who makes them in a garage. Just try them out and read the reviews before you buy.

Keep on techin’,

Tom

P.S. Comment and share your favorite desktop brand.

P.P.S. Disclaimer: These recommendations are guidelines only. LegalNurse.com does not specifically endorse or recommend any particular equipment or manufacturer. We do not guarantee any product or service offered by any vendor mentioned.