I know there are a whole lot of people who rarely upgrade their computer. I know so many people running machines that are a decade old or even older. For them, a new version of Windows is their big opportunity to upgrade to enjoy a whole new computing experience on a whole new computer. While Windows 10 runs great,—even on many older machines—there are people with computers so old that they may struggle to take full advantage of Windows 10. Others would rather not trouble themselves with upgrading their operating system, instead opting for a new machine with their new OS pre-installed.
While Windows 7 and 8 PCs can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free with a very simple and streamlined upgrade process, it’s always fun to get a new computer to be able to take advantage of the latest and greatest technologies that you might otherwise miss out on.
Features like touchscreen and stylus support for example, might be physically impossible on older machines where new machines can excel with these. Even making use of Cortana with a high fidelity microphone array, Windows Hello for biometric facial recognition and other features can be a lot easier when you’re running on the latest hardware. While your older computer may be able to run Windows 10, if you want to take full advantage of all it has to offer, it doesn’t hurt to have comparably modern hardware to run it on for the full effect.
HP Spectre
Take for example the HP Spectre x360. This convertible laptop is a great example of hardware that helps you get more out of Windows 10. It has a 2.2GHz 5th generation Intel Core i5-5200U CPU, 8GB SDRAM and a 256GB SSD so everything will load and run with nice, snappy performance. The 13.3-inch, 1920×1080 display works as a touchscreen so you can make use of Windows 10’s touchscreen capabilities, and you can even rotate the screen all the way around to use it in tablet mode—perfect for those times when you want to enjoy multimedia or just use it as a tablet.
Asus Zenbook
If you look at the Asus Zenbook UX305, you’ll be supported with an Intel Core M-5Y10 CPU, 8GB RAM and a 256 SSD. You also get a 13.3-inch 1920×1080 screen. While this model has no touchscreen support, it’s only .5” thick when closed and weighs a mere 1.2kg for a more portable experience, all powered by eight hours of battery life which is ideal for the working professional who is constantly on the go.
HP Envy
Looking at the HP Envy 27” All-In-One desktop PC, this machine sports an Intel Core i7-4790T CPU, 12GB of Ram, and a generous 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive.
Unlike the notebooks I’ve mentioned, this machine has more memory, storage, power, and a larger screen to help you be more productive and get more done faster. It even has Nvidia GeForce 830A Graphics for those times when you want to load up a PC game and enjoy some time off. The 27” touchscreen is nice and big, and a treat to watch movies on. While you might not think you need a touchscreen, once you get used to having one you’ll find yourself using it more and more for casual tasks like scrolling, flipping pages, or general quick navigation.
HP Pavilion
If you’re already satisfied with your existing monitor and peripherals, and just want to upgrade your computer itself, then the HP Pavilion might be up your alley. This model has an AMD Quad-Core A8-6410 CPU, 6GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. While it’s one of the more budget friendly options in this list, you’ll still be able to enjoy the performance of Windows 10 without slowdown for daily computing tasks.
Surface 3
Lastly, consider the Surface 3, which is one of my favourite computers from the past year. It is an inexpensive option to the beefier Surface Pro 3.
This machine Is like a tablet that just happens to also be a fully functional PC. It houses an Intel Atom Quad core 1.6GHz x7-Z8700 CPU, 2GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage space, expandable via microSD card. This device isn’t a laptop, desktop or all-in-one. In fact you could be forgiven for not realizing it’s a fully functional PC when you look at it. At a glance it could easily be confused for a simple tablet, but it is so much more. It runs Windows 10 and does a fantastic job of it, yet is thin and light weight enough that you can take it anywhere with confidence. While it’s as portable as a tablet, you can run Office, Photoshop and other standard desktop software on it. Add the optional Surface pen and you can enjoy a top-notch writing experience that I personally love for taking handwritten notes and even creating artwork with. The kickstand lets you stand the surface up in three different positions, depending on which suits your current task, and the USB port means you can use all those standard PC peripherals you’re used to, like USB storage devices for example. It even comes with a 1-year Office 365 Personal subscription to help you get to work even faster.
Whatever type of computing experience you’re looking for, there are several great options out there for you to choose from. Whether you need something that functions as a tablet, with the power of a desktop PC experience, or anything in between, there are many great machines to help you take advantage of Windows 10′
