Why don't pre-made desktops have SSDs?

[Jumpem]

At least those in the "affordable" realm. It is getting frustrating trying to find a basic computer for my Gramma.

 

[master_shake_]

because pc makers sell on sizes of things not speeds of things.

a 3tb drive is slower than a 240gb drive but there are more geebee's

that's what people look at.

 

[Jumpem]

because pc makers sell on sizes of things not speeds of things.

a 3tb drive is slower than a 240gb drive but there are more geebee's

that's what people look at.

That seems to be the reason. But I would think that most users don't even use anywhere close to 100GB after the OS.

 

[frowertr]

I'm assuming this is an email and web surfing only computer, correct? Buy a NUC and add one yourself. You can do a mouse, keyboard, monitor, SSD, and NUC all for $500 or less.

 

[Jumpem]

I'm assuming this is an email and web surfing only computer, correct? Buy a NUC and add one yourself. You can do a mouse, keyboard, monitor, SSD, and NUC all for $500 or less.

Pretty much. I think she might use Word or other light applications.

I wanted to avoid having to clone a drive, or install an OS and find all of the drivers for a new system.

It is frustrating not being able to find what I want in a store. I could build her something decent for $600 or so, but I don't want to be tech support living seventy-five miles away.

 

[frowertr]

Pretty much. I think she might use Word or other light applications.

I wanted to avoid having to clone a drive, or install an OS and find all of the drivers for a new system.

It is frustrating not being able to find what I want in a store. I could build her something decent for $600 or so, but I don't want to be tech support living seventy-five miles away.

Well the NUCs are dead simple to install drivers. You download one program off the Intel drivers website for NUCs and it downloads and installs them all for you in about 5 minutes. Super easy...

I get not wanting to be tech support for family. I refer all my family to Dell just for this reason.

 

[Jumpem]

I'm assuming this is an email and web surfing only computer, correct? Buy a NUC and add one yourself. You can do a mouse, keyboard, monitor, SSD, and NUC all for $500 or less.

Do you have a link for one of these? Are they from Intel directly, or do manufacturers all have their own versions? Is the CPU going to be a slow mobile model?

Edit: It looks like it would be about $400 for the latest (NUC6i5SYK) plus $85 for an SSD, $45 for RAM, and $90 for Windows. Then the monitor as well.

 

[frowertr]

Here is the one I use in my living room as my HTPC. Connects to a PLEX server on my LAN. It's got more than enough juice for HD playback, web surfing, etc...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S1IQHKK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

They make them in Atom and Celeron models as well, but I'd rather at least have the i3 like the one I own. I'd rather have a bit more horsepower and it keeps the CPU fan from spinning faster and thus making a it more quieter as the i3s aren't working as hard as the Atom/Celerons.

 

[Termie]

Do you have a link for one of these? Are they from Intel directly, or do manufacturers all have their own versions? Is the CPU going to be a slow mobile model?

Edit: It looks like it would be about $400 for the latest (NUC6i5SYK) plus $85 for an SSD, $45 for RAM, and $90 for Windows. Then the monitor as well.

Here's a guide i've published on building a NUC: http://techbuyersguru.com/intel-nuc-ultra-compact-pc-build

The 6th gen core i3 NUC is what you'd want for your grandma. Not NUC i5. Save $100.

Also, this is not the low-cost solution, it's the elegant, simple solution. You can build more powerful and cheaper PCs using ITX cases, and of course even cheaper PCs using standard ATX cases, but your grandma will be much more impressed with a small PC.

 

[Ken g6]

I just did a search on Newegg, and some computers do have SSDs. Even fairly affordable ones, both new and used. Here's a nice new Lenovo, for basic usage. (You might have to remove Superfish.)

 

[Ketchup]

I also like the NUC for your needs. As for your original question, the size of a hard drive not only makes the computer look more attractive, but it is a big reason a consumer would want to upgrade more often.

 

[Termie]

Realistically, this SSD-equipped machine from HP is probably what you're looking for:

http://www.amazon.com/HP-Pavilion-300-240-Desktop-Celeron/dp/B016K0AAFI/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

 

[Jumpem]

I also like the NUC for your needs. As for your original question, the size of a hard drive not only makes the computer look more attractive, but it is a big reason a consumer would want to upgrade more often.

How many hundreds of gigabytes of photos, home videos, and Office documents does the average consumer have? I think a 250GB SSD would be enough for them.

 

[frowertr]

If she is only web surfing and sending emails, then install Linux Mint and save yourself another $100. No reason for Windows here. Mint is perfect for this and damn good looking.

 

[nerp]

In the next 12 months SSDs are quickly overtake HDs in the market, even for budget machines.

 

[JackMDS]

Adding a 60GB SSD thorough eBay is less than $30.

Cloning the Original HD to the SSD would provide a valid Windows installation.

Then the HD can be formatted and use for General storage.

 

[escrow4]

Scrap the NUC and get this:

http://www.amazon.com/E402MA-Intel-...F8&qid=1456633588&sr=8-1&keywords=Asus+E402MA

Decent battery life, Win 10, does the basics.

 

[MongGrel]

At least those in the "affordable" realm. It is getting frustrating trying to find a basic computer for my Gramma.

Many do to begin with.

Title is misleading.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Many do to begin with.

Title is misleading.

Not really. I hadn't seen any pre-built OEM entry-level PCs with SSDs, until I saw the links in this thread.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah I hate how SSDs are still not standard. They do it so they can charge a premium to make it an add on. In reality a SSD costs about the same as the smallest HDD. It really makes no sense to not put a SSD for the OS drive these days. To me that should be standard.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Scrap the NUC and get this:

http://www.amazon.com/E402MA-Intel-...F8&qid=1456633588&sr=8-1&keywords=Asus+E402MA

Decent battery life, Win 10, does the basics.

I'd rule out any Atom class processors in both notebook and desktop form factors for basic users. Even though browsing and email don't demand anything more on their own, should something go wrong and you get a process that decides to hog a thread or two, the processor won't have the brute to maintain a responsive, fluid experience.

Being not very savvy in tech, these type of users won't know to open the task manager, let alone actually tracking down a rogue process and kill it. I strongly recommend at least a Pentium (Haswell or Skylake) if not an i3. Even if a process maxes out a thread, the remaining core is strong enough to provide a good experience.

 

[boomerang]

I could build her something decent for $600 or so, but I don't want to be tech support living seventy-five miles away.

Which you're going to be regardless. When she has a question regarding a computer you provided for her are you going to tell her to call HP? It doesn't matter if you bought it for her or built it for her, you're the one she'll be calling.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Which you're going to be regardless. When she has a question regarding a computer you provided for her are you going to tell her to call HP? It doesn't matter if you bought it for her or built it for her, you're the one she'll be calling.

^Yup. You're not gonna leave grandma high and dry and have to deal with HP tech support are you? That Lenovo PC someone linked seems pretty nice for the money. Maybe just double the RAM to 8GB and she should be set.

 

[Jumpem]

Scrap the NUC and get this:

http://www.amazon.com/E402MA-Intel-...F8&qid=1456633588&sr=8-1&keywords=Asus+E402MA

Decent battery life, Win 10, does the basics.

She wants something larger than her current 17" laptop. That necessitates a desktop.

 

[Jumpem]

Many do to begin with.

Title is misleading.

Please post links then.