In October my main PC system started to play up. This was a 6 year old system that had done me proud, but it had become problematic and inefficient. It's a laborious task to rebuild a PC support system which has been honed over the years, but it is best to address these things as soon as possible.

Having installed hundreds of Lenovo PC's, I opted for a small form factor M70s Gen 3 Desktop (ThinkCentre) - Type 11T8. It is Windows 11 Pro, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, i5 12500, DVD. Out of the box and as standard with Lenovo and most manufacturers, you get a keyboard, mouse, power cable and documentation.

The Setup

Microsoft increasingly try to guide users to set up new systems using a Microsoft email to login to Windows. We need to protect customers, which is why I always advise the Pro version of Windows. This allows setup using a local account of your choosing, which may also be used in a Domain / Server environment. The Pro version also comes with Bitlocker encryption which caters for fixed, as well as removable disks.

Windows initial setup is straightforward from this point. There is a batch of updates plus a cleanup required post install. You will then need to install or restore all of your programs and data, configure email account(s), PC and Internet security. User names and passwords are required to be able to access customer support facilities and this is a good time to review and strengthen weak passwords.

It is much easier to rebuild a new system if the old one is still functional, so always try to replace a system in good time whenever possible. Having a working system from which to export data and site login details will be hugely beneficial.

The Negatives

1. The M70s does not come with Bluetooth. I had a spare USB Bluetooth dongle and they can be bought for less than £5, but this could be annoying if you need a Bluetooth connection quickly.
2. There is no integrated WiFi. I was aware of this before purchase, but I carry TP Link USB WiFi adaptors which are excellent. At around £30 they are a mainstay for IT support personnel.

After 10 weeks of use, I'm more than happy with the M70s. Browsers are notoriously memory hungry, but I can have multiple programs and browser tabs open and rarely is the RAM usage at more than 50%. Disk usage is generally at 1%, while CPU hovers between 1-4%. The system is responsive, bordering on immediate.

The PC was £659 plus VAT and my model comes with 3 years next day business on site warranty.

Since October I've installed 2 other Lenovo M70s' and both are performing well.

You can find variants here: https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/p/desktops/thinkcentre/m-series-sff/thinkcentre-m70s-gen-3-(intel)/len102c0010?orgRef=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F

If you would like advice or help in purchasing and supporting new systems, please contact me.