Dell OptiPlex GX280. Whether your operation has 10 seats or 10, 000, the staid$1, 731 Dell OptiPlex GX280 delivers plenty of what your office needs: simple, straightforward functionality backed by rock-solid service and support. We’ve seen this hinged case in a number of Dell Dimension PCs, and we maintain our criticism of its cumbersome design. But if you can put up with a cranky IT staff(or if you don’t mind getting down and dirty yourself), the OptiPlex GX280 and its high-end configuration will serve your office ably for many years.
Design-wise, the OptiPlex GX280 is a bit of an eyesore and a pain to get inside. The gray case accents don’t exactly match the silver accents of the peripherals, and while the venerable clamshell chassis is tool-less, you need to press buttons on both the top and the underside of the case to open it-remarkably inconvenient if you store the case on the floor. We will concede that the design allows for easier access to the drive bays and the expansion card slots than many removable side-panel cases, however.