A desktop computer is an excellent choice for any online teaching professional with a dedicated home office for online class. While in general we do suggest you get a laptop for online teaching, there are plenty of teachers who simply prefer the power, screen real estate and functionality that a desktop computer provides.
So what should you look for in a desktop computer as an online teacher?
A large display that is beautiful and colorful
If you’re going to be using a desktop setup, get a display that is simply stunning to look at. No need to sacrifice on size as you’re not going to be on the go.
Displays for desktops can be a plain matte finish or you can get something with an OLED display. We suggest going all out on the display as it’s one of the most important parts to your computer.
If possible, get a desktop computer with a touch screen as it makes class more fun an interactive for you as a teacher.
Get an all in one desktop
For online teachers we strongly suggest getting an “all in one” desktop computer. This design is where all the components are built into the monitor. It’s ideal because it does not take up too much space and it runs cool and quite. Essential for online teaching.
Everything including the webcam, ports, speakers and display are built into one device. Most iMac users are quite familiar with this design, but many PC users we think will be quite surprised as to the Windows options available.
While you can still get a powerful desktop with a tower and monitor, for an education professional conducing online class it’s not particularly useful.
Upgradeable
A good desktop should allow you to easily upgrade components like the RAM or the SSD with ease as a way to future proof your desktop computer for years to come.
While not essential, it’s nice to know that in a few years you can upgrade your desktop internals to provide added longevity to your desktop computer.
The best desktop computers for teaching online
So what are the best desktop computers for an education professional looking to properly setup their home office or classroom with great technology? Here is what we like here at Teach and GO:
- Apple iMac
- Dell Inspiron 770
- Acer Aspire AIO
- Lenovo Idea Centre
- HP all in one
- HP Envy Curved
Apple iMac – The IOS Choice
The desktop computer that changed the design of this entire category. The Apple iMac is still a premium and powerful computer of choice for the creative professional.
Apple iMac
The 2021 version is powerful desktop computer for teachers.
While a bit excessive for most online teachers, if you’re looking for an IOS desktop option this is it. While there is an iMac Pro, for an online teacher it’s too expensive and excessive in it’s design and technology offerings.
We suggest getting a standard 24 inch iMac that ships with 8 GB of ram from Amazon and then buying sticks of ram and upgrading the device yourself which you can do with ease with this device.
We also like the 24 inch over the 21.5 inch because the web cam is 1080P instead of 720P.
Pros:
- Beautiful 24 inch retina display.
- Sleek, elegant design.
- 1080P web cam on the 24 inch model.
Cons:
- Ships with 8 GB of ram. However this has Apple’s proprietary M1 chip which makes up for this.
Dell Inspiron 7720 – Powerful computer with touch screen
Dell has a good track record of producing good, easy to use desktop computers at a reasonable price. This all in one 7700 model from Dell is no different.
Dell Inspiron 7720
A solid, mid-range desktop computer. Powered by Windows 11.
A very powerful and very beautiful machine, it has everything an online teacher would need as well as a little extra for various other work related tasks like video editing and multi-media.
It comes with both a wireless mouse and keyboard, 32 GB of ram, a dedicated graphics card, 1 TB SDD and has a touch screen. With this desktop computer you as a teacher can handle pretty much any task you throw at it. From video editing, gaming, remote learning, video conferencing and more.
Pros:
- Has an integrated webcam that is perfect for online teaching.
- Beautiful display 27 inch display.
- 32 GB of ram with a 1 TB solid state hard drive.
Cons:
- The peripherals like your keyboard and mouse are average. You may want to replace with something better.
Acer Aspire AIO – Best value overall
The best value for the money on the list, the Acer Aspire AIO comes with an big 27 inch display, 16 GB of ram, a dedicated graphics card, built in webcam and all the accessories you need to get started like a wireless keyboard and mouse.
Acer Aspire AIO
The Sun Joe SPX3000® pressure washer delivers it all to tackle a variety of cleaning tasks: homes, buildings, RV’s, cars, trucks, boats, decks, driveways, patios, lawn equipment, and more.
This computer is ideal for an online teacher looking to complete basic tasks as well as teach class online. It’s not ideal for performance heavy tasks like editing 4k video or playing video games, but it’s powerful enough to complete those tasks if that is required.
Pros:
- Best price and performance.
- Accessories included.
- Dedicated graphics card with upgradable internals.
- 16 GB of ram built in.
Cons:
- The screen vibrancy is good, but not as stunning as an iMac
Lenovo Idea Centre – A Workhorse Desktop
Lenovo is known for creating some reliable, no frills laptops and desktops designed to get work done. The Lenovo Idea Centre is no different. This desktop computer has 16 GB ram and 512 GB of storage.
Lenovo Idea Centre
The Sun Joe SPX3000® pressure washer delivers it all to tackle a variety of cleaning tasks: homes, buildings, RV’s, cars, trucks, boats, decks, driveways, patios, lawn equipment, and more.
With internals designed for work like video editing and graphics rendering, this PC is a solid choice for an online teacher. The only downside of this machine is that it comes with a 720P webcam. It’s good, but serious online teachers are going to want 1080P at a minimum.
What we liked most about this desktop computer is the modern, interesting design which is uncommon for Lenovo which tend to be more conservative. We also appreciate the quality internals like 16 GB of ram and a fast SSD.
Pros:
- Good computer for work like video editing and online teaching.
- Attractive 24 inch display.
- Edge to edge screen design looks amazing.
- 16 GB of memory out of the box.
Cons:
- The included keyboard and mouse are wired, not wireless.
- No dedicated graphics card.
- Bloatware comes pre-installed.
- 720P webcam
HP All in One – The Budget Choice
HP has created an outstanding, affordable, all in one desktop computers. This is a budget choice, but the quality you get for your money is excellent. The only issue we have is the low ram at 4 GB, but you can upgrade it yourself easily.
HP All-in-One
The Sun Joe SPX3000® pressure washer delivers it all to tackle a variety of cleaning tasks: homes, buildings, RV’s, cars, trucks, boats, decks, driveways, patios, lawn equipment, and more.
With an excellent 22 inch display with decent internals given the price, this all in one desktop computer is great work work related activities. It comes with a 256 SSD, 4 GB of ram, a beautiful screen, 1080P camera and AMD graphic.
Overall, this is a solid budget choice for an online teacher who just needs something simple for work.
Pros:
- Beautiful 22 inch display with tiny bezels.
- Affordable price.
- Great webcam included.
Cons:
- Comes with 4 GB of ram. Good enough for most teaching activities but way too much of a bottle neck if you want to do any graphical work.
HP Envy – The Over Sized Option
If you’re looking for the biggest, all in one desktop this is it. At 34 inches with a curved screen, this is a dream computer for both work and play.
HP Envy
34 inch curved screen. Incredible desktop, make sure you have the space for it.
With solid integration of Amazon Alexa, powerful internals like a dedicated graphics card and a 1 TB hard drive with an additional SSD, this computer complete a modern home office or classroom.
It comes with a privacy oriented popup webcam, touchscreen, super premium audio and wireless networking. It’s not cheap, but if you’re looking for a big, powerful, feature rich computer that has a modern all in one design, this is it.
Pros:
- HD pop up webcam.
- Stunningly beautiful, large touch screen.
- Excellent audio.
- Amazon Alexa integration.
Cons:
- 16 GB of ram is standard and a bit low considering the size and power of this computer.
Best Desktop Computers for Teachers and Online Learning
We hope you found this guide on the best all in one desktop computers for online teachers. We strongly suggest you get an all in one desktop because they provide the right mix of ease of use and performance without taking up too much space.
Computer towers with their various cooling fans can get a bit loud which could be a bit distracting for any type of online learning.
