HST News Blog

Buying any kind of computer equipment can seem daunting if you don’t feel like an expert in IT. It’s a considerable financial outlay and the item (or items) will often be used a great deal, for important tasks, so you want to ensure you get it just right.

The first decision most people have to make is ‘what type of machine do I want?’. This is usually a choice between desktop and laptop so a simple look at when and where you might want to use it will largely make that choice for you. If it’s a desktop you opt for, there are so many different types available, from ones perfect for basic home use, to high-powered office workstations to gaming PCs that will transport you to other worlds.

So the choice of laptop might seem easy by comparison. But there are several options in this area too and we understand that you might need some help making the right choice for you. Take a look at these key points to consider and if you need some more help, don’t hesitate to contact our expert team who will be happy to help:

The standard laptop

Even in today’s tech-obsessed world, there are still a lot of people who will only ever require a ‘basic’ computer. The problem is, so many get convinced they need more power, more memory, better graphics and so on; it’s very easy to get upsold. At HST, we believe in selling the right product to the customer and as such, you’ll only ever pay for what you need. We have a broad range of standard laptops to choose from starting at just £230 for this HP EliteBook 8470P laptop.

The multi-function laptop

Most of us seem to have an array of IT equipment from desktops, to laptops, to tablets, to smart phones and frankly, it would be hard to use all of it to the best of its capability all the time. Fortunately, you can now get hybrid machines which will offer two functions such as this HP EliteBook X360 2-in-1 convertible laptop. It basically doubles as a tablet thanks to its touchscreen abilities and the fact it will fold back on itself too.

The tailored-to-you laptop

At HST, we are really mindful of the fact that everyone has different needs and certainly different budgets. That’s why we really try to ensure that we can offer exactly what it is you need so you only pay for something that suits you. This is mainly fulfilled by the fact that we have the ability to add in any extras you might want as we build our laptops to order. That way, we can ensure you have everything you need and won’t pay a penny more for things you don’t need. The prices you see all include everything you require to have a fully functioning laptop, you can just upgrade certain elements as preferred. Take a look at this Dell Latitude E7470 laptop for example which starts at £350. As standard, it includes an Intel i5 6^th Generation processor, 4GB DDR and has a HDD capacity of 256GB. But if you’d like more memory, for example an upgrade to an 8GB DDR, this is available for just £34.99 extra.

The benefit of getting a laptop from HST is that we offer refurbished machines so that they are all built according to each individual’s order. This allows us to pass significant cost savings onto the customer in comparison to them buying brand new, but without compromising on quality. Our technicians are fully qualified and every machine is tested and verified prior to being sent out – they also come with 12 months’ warranty to give you complete peace of mind. If you have any more questions, drop us a message on our LiveChat function and we’ll be happy to help.

The world has been a somewhat strange place lately with many changes for all of us. But it seems as though yet more change is on the horizon in the sense that some things are slowly starting to revert back to normal. Schools have re-opened, more staff are back at the office, a modicum of socialising is permitted, leisure facilities are to welcome people back and before we know it, everything will be ‘back to normal’.

But it doesn’t have to be. If you have discovered certain hobbies or interests throughout lockdown that you can do from home, there is no obligation to give those up in favour of a return to past routines. Some might have got into crafting. Some might have realised they prefer Netflix to nights out. Others might have discovered a passion for tech or developed an already existing love of it. Whatever your situation, if you don’t want to go immediately back to everything you were doing before, you don’t have to despite any pressure you might feel!

Regardless of Bank Holidays, sunny weather or whatever other reason you might feel obligated to ‘do things’, stay true to yourself and spend your time, your way. If, like us at HST, that means hours spent on screens, messing with tech, gaming or whatever else then just go for it! So if you are going to continue your love of all things computer-based in the new normal, you might want to take a look at some of our fantastic kit. We have something for everyone, no matter what you want to do.

Ready Player One

One of the most fun and exciting ways to pass your time on a computer is to get into the gaming world. If you have yet to try this, it’s advisable to go for one of the more entry-level machines in case you don’t get into it completely (which is unlikely), and you can even use a high-powered desktop if you so desire. However, we would always recommend a machine dedicated solely to gaming and given some start from as little as £269, you can give it a go without too much outlay. Consider this HST F3 G Series. It comes in a few colours, all of which start with 8GB RAM, a 500GB HDD and a GT710 NVIDIA graphics card but you can upgrade many of the elements too.

Portability and versatility

If you’ve got into TV series and films a little more, you might want to watch these on a tablet device or even on the move (for the times when you HAVE to go out!). You can always buy a separate tablet but if you need a laptop too, this can start to get very costly. Instead, you could consider something like the HP EliteBook X360 1030 G2 2-IN-1 convertible laptop. It has an Intel i5 7^th Generation processor meaning it will be very quick to complete any demands you place on it. Starting from £499, it’s great value given the spec and functionality it offers. And did we mention it looks great too?!

Work work work

We all know the saying that ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’. So don’t depress yourself by choosing your tech based purely on what it can do for your professional life – we have bundles that can be great for your personal life too! This Dell OptiPlex 7020 bundle comes with two monitors, a mouse and keyboard and has all the tech spec you need for work and play. It’s reduced to £314.99 so you’re snapping up a bargain with all this kit so you might even have some budget to upgrade any of the elements you want to get a little more out of. Just speak to us and we will be happy to advise you on what will suit your needs the best.

Of course, there is much more to our range than just what we’ve talked about here. So drop us a line and we’ll be able to guide you to the best solution for you. We are the experts in all things tech, offer high quality products at an affordable cost thanks to many of them being refurbished and most machines can be built to your spec. There really is no need to go anywhere other than HST for your kit so you can pass your time doing exactly what you love.

As the nation is on the verge of opening up once again, it is without doubt a huge amount of people will be returning to the workplace. Whether that be full-time or on a more flexible set up to suit them or the office requirements will be down to individual circumstances. But it can have a bearing on the technology you need in order to complete the job to the best of your ability. However, there is more to working well in the office than just the tech requirements (although these play one of the largest roles!).

In fact, the modern working environment dictates that many changes must be made and all manner of considerations must be factored in to ensure safe and productive working for all. Let’s take a look at what some of these are:

Getting the tech right

It goes without saying that at HST, we are most concerned with people having the right equipment for their needs! So looking at this first, the questions you need to be asking are centred around your personal situation. If you are going to be purely based from the office, the right desktop might be the best solution. We have a large range available here, but in terms of specifics, we’ve picked out a couple:

Incredible value from just £110: Dell OptiPlex 790 PC Intel Core i5 (2nd Gen)

Great power and performance from £240: Dell OptiPlex 7010 PC Intel Core i7 (3rd Gen)

Reliable and compact from £249.99: Lenovo ThinkCentre M700 Tiny PC i5 (6^th Gen)

Advanced graphics, Ryzen CPU from £280: HST QC-203 Ryzen 3 2200G 8GB Home/Office Micro Tower

Then we have a whole host of bundles too to offer even better value for money with the right extras such as monitors, mice and keyboards.

If you will be adopting a more flexible approach to working wherein you will be blending your time between home and the office, a portable solution is likely to be your best bet. Having two desktops in two locations could work, but for the most part, a laptop would be more suitable – swapping between two machines isn’t ideal! So check out these great offers and all you’ll need to sort is a monitor at home and a monitor at work if you prefer to work from two screens:

Good performance at great value from just £250: HP EliteBook 840 G1 Ultrabook Laptop i5 (4th Gen)

Fast, robust and with a larger HDD capacity as standard from £260: Dell Latitude E5450 Laptop i5 (5th Gen)

The crème de la crème (convertible tablet laptop) from £499: HP EliteBook X360 1030 G2 2-IN-1 Convertible Laptop i5 (7th Gen)

Health and safety

Of course, beyond the technical side of returning to office spaces, no matter how infrequently, there needs to be a much greater focus on the health and safety needs of staff. Firstly, workplaces must ensure you can realistically keep out of harm’s way. This could be achieved with either extra spacing between desks, a one-way system to walk through premises, screens erected between individual desks, partitioning to close of areas and improved ventilation. All of this will help to reduce the spread of potentially infected droplets and aerosols from the breath.

Increased cleaning routines, regular deep cleans, sanitisers and wipes can be made available for individual use. Special coatings to kill bacteria and viruses can also be added to frequently touched areas such as doors and railings to minimise any spread. With regards the technology in the office, this will be some of the most ‘touched’ items so it is imperative to sanitise regularly with the right products. It might be advisable to ensure cutlery and crockery is not shared and guidance should be placed in prominent areas to remind of the basics such as proper handwashing and wearing of masks when moving about. Some organisations could benefit from having a point person to coordinate all of the necessary protocols and enforce them to ensure that no one’s health is unnecessarily compromised.

One of the key factors we are increasingly aware of is the mental health of employees and this will need to remain a focus going forwards. The world might be starting to return to normal but the adjustments won’t be easy for all. Health anxiety, difficulty in re-integrating into busy environments, a significant change in lifestyle plus the challenges this may bring amongst other things will all continue to affect some individuals.

Be mindful of your own mental health and speaking up is crucial, as is the duty of care from employers. Use this strange time as an opportunity to benefit yourself or employees with a focus on physical well-being and the benefits that brings to mental health. This could include guidance or recommendations on taking regular exercise, walks at lunch time, proper breaks to eat, encouraging a positive work-life balance and so on. It could even be offering external resources for support, introducing a daily yoga class or allowing people more flexible working hours then they previously were able to enjoy. There are so many ways to benefit staff which will result in a happier, healthier, more engaged and productive workforce.

Getting back to a more normal life will surely benefit us all but it needs to be managed in the right way. By following these tips, you can ensure you, or your workforce, are well-equipped to get back to reality in a safe and easy way.

When it comes to buying pretty much anything, most of us aim to get the best value for money. We trawl for ages online and end up spending our precious time trying to find the best bargain or price around. This can yield benefits but can also be incredibly frustrating, agonising over the features of this item for that price, and the features of that item for this price. At HST, we understand that technology can be a significant outlay of costs and we focus our service around providing the absolute best value for money, always.

We achieve this in a number of ways and ensure we are always consistent so that you know whatever you purchase from us, will not only be a great price, but will also be a quality you can trust. Let’s take a closer look at how HST provide incredible value for money, every time:

Refurbished products

In some cases, second-hand isn’t the best solution. However, when it comes to technology it can be a game changer, certainly for your pocket! Refurbished doesn’t necessarily always have to mean second-hand either, it can also mean ex-display too. But regardless of how we source the kit in the first place, you can rest assured we will take it apart and re-build it to am exceptionally high standard. Everything will be verified and tested by qualified technicians to ensure it is working as it should before being sent out to you. But one of the most important benefits is that when we re-build these machines, it can be done to the required spec of the customer. That way, you’ll get all the kit you need and none that you don’t, so you only pay for what you actually want. All across our site you’ll see a list of features that you can include to upgrade your machine and we’ll build it according to those requests.

Take a look at our top pick of refurbished products here:

HP Compaq Elite 8300 Intel Core i5 – from £299

Dell Latitude E7470 Laptop Intel Core i5 – from £350

Broad range of specs

Whilst you can personalise a huge number of the machines we sell here at HST, the core basis of them differs so you can choose what it is you want or need. We know better than most that your technological requirements are personal to you. Some people will need a high-powered machine in order to use complex systems and interrogate huge data files for work purposes. Others will need theirs purely for straightforward word-processing and internet browsing. And with us, you can choose one which will suit whatever tasks you need it to do. Take a look at our lowest, and highest, end desktops so you can see the difference:

Dell OptiPlex 790 PC Intel Core i3 – from just £95!

HST Optimus Intel Core i5 – from £470

The perfect bundle

Another way to get exceptional value for money is to bulk buy your products in one go. Sometimes, you might only need one element of technical kit but if you are starting out, or want a full upgrade, the chances are you’ll need all sorts. That’s where our bundles can help. You’ll get the computer you desire (upgraded to whatever spec you need), but you’ll also get monitors, keyboards and mice all thrown in too. If you take a look at this bundle, you’ll see how they can be fantastic value for money considering everything you get too:

Dell OptiPlex 7020 Intel Core i5 – still just £314.99!

We want our customers to know that there is no need to shop around any more when it comes to buying IT equipment. We are staffed with highly trained and qualified technicians, sell only excellent quality tech, can tailor it to suit your needs, provide bundles for greater savings and even offer a 1-year warranty on our items for your peace of mind. So why buy anywhere other than HST?

We’ve all seen a radical change in our lives over the past year, one which no one would have ever predicted. There has, of course, been a lot of difficulty but in many cases, there have been some huge positives realised too. One of which is how beneficial working from home can be. Many employers had been reticent in the past, fearing that communication would break down, workers might be less productive or even use it as an excuse to skive. However, health needs have mandated working from home and this negative mindset towards it has changed for the better, hopefully forever.

With companies seeing benefits such as better engagement from employees due to improved work-life balance, increased productivity due to a lack of distractions, better mental health from no commuting and the flexibility of being at home, not to mention the reduced cost of overheads. The list continues. So it’s likely that the majority of employers will support at least a blend of office and home-working indefinitely and that means you need the right kit. Take a look at what you need to work from home to the best of your ability:

Machine power

If you complete a lot of tasks using intricate systems, use a large amount of data or just generally place a lot of demands on your computer, the last thing you want is it freezing, crashing or being on a general go-slow. So make sure you have one with a processor that has a big enough capability to get everything done in a timely manner such as this HP EliteOne 800 G1 with Intel i5 processor and a 500 GB hard disk drive. The 23-inch screen is also a touch operated, all in one to make life easier.

Portable and versatile machine

If you will be working in various places such as home and the office, or even attending meetings again whilst out and about, you’ll need a computer which is portable such as a laptop. These days, laptops don’t need to be of an inferior quality to their desktop counterparts as you can get similar power and functionality with ease. You will just need to remember your charger! If you’re after another touchscreen too, that doubles as tablet when required, consider something such as the HP EliteBook X360 1030 G2. It has an Intel i5 7^th gen processor so will be able to cope with more than you might realise, as well as an 8GB DDR.

Strong enough WiFi / broadband

It is rare that anyone could complete a full day’s work fully without access to the internet so you need to make sure yours at home is robust enough. Especially if there is more than one of you working there. If you’re using WiFi, you can have boosters installed in your home if the signal isn’t strong enough in the area you work. Or you could even use a hardwire to ensure there isn’t any drop outs. Make sure you get enough bandwidth to support your normal business function or you’ll struggle all day, every day you are working from home.

Extended displays

You may have got used to working from just a signal screen but by adding another, you can make your working life far easier. It can able you to have your emails or internet browser on one screen whilst you work on other items on the other. If you need to reference other materials too it saves you having to flick back and forth between windows which can get frustrating very quickly. If you are used to working from a laptop, having a higher screen will be better for your neck and spine health too as it is easier to have it at eye level. The majority of people who have two screens find it so beneficial they struggle to go back! If you think it will help you, check out bundles such as this Dell OptiPlex 7020 bundle with Intel i5 processor and two 19-inch screens. It also comes WiFi enabled with a keyboard and mouse too. And right now, it’s reduced so make the most of the saving and buy it now!

Working from home can be incredible for mindsets, productivity, engagement and so much more when you have the right set up. Make sure you have everything you need and you'll hopefully have a great deal of success working from home for the foreseeable future!

Here at HST, we are lovers of all things tech. Bright, shiny and new or second hand – each have their own merits. However, we do have a certain bias towards refurbished tech because we know just how fantastic it is. And we don’t say that lightly! Any kind of pre-owned equipment can occasionally be frowned upon but that’s usually because people don’t know the ins and outs. So take a look at our 5 reasons why you should choose refurbished tech next time you want to treat yourself:

1. New or nearly new

Many people wrongfully assume that refurbished always means well-used to the point of worn out and requiring repair. However, in some cases, refurbished could mean ex-display where the item has never even been purchased or properly used. It will still be fully checked and verified before re-sale however, and despite it being almost brand new, the price will not reflect that.

2. Great value for money

The fact that you aren’t buying a piece that is classified as ‘brand new’ by default means that retailers often can’t charge the same price for the item which is the first reason you might end up getting more for your money. Secondly, if something has been used in the past, despite the fact it will have been fully checked and verified, you’ll find you are paying a lower price for it. That way, your budget goes a little further.

3. Tested, approved, guaranteed

When you buy refurbished from an approved retailer such as HST, you can rest assured that anything sold as refurbished has been fully checked and verified by qualified technicians. As an extra comfort to give you peace of mind, we also offer a 1-year warranty on our items so in the unlikely event of any issues, you can get back in touch with us and we will sort it.

4. Get exactly what you want need

At HST, we build many of our refurbished machines ready to order so you will find that a huge range of our tech is fully customisable. This means you pay for exactly what you want or need and won’t be encumbered with a ton of kit that you’ll never make use of. Equally, you can upgrade the parts you need more from, giving extra storage or power as required.

5. Try something new

If you are considering starting a new hobby. Perhaps gaming, video editing or graphic design, the equipment you would need to do it properly can be extremely expensive. If you don’t know how much you will love this new vocation, it can make better sense to spend the minimum on the tech you need, so it won’t result a huge, wasted outlay if you decide not to pursue it any further.

Our top refurbished tech

Laptop

The Dell Latitude E5450 laptop includes an Intel i5 5^th gen processor, 4GB DDR and 320GB HDD but can have a variety of upgrades added in order to make it more suitable to your individual needs. It starts at just £260.

Desktop

The HP Compaq Pro 6300 PC comes with an i5 3^rd gen Intel processor, 4GB DDR memory and 250GB HDD included. However, you can upgrade many of the elements to your own personal requirements too. Before upgrades, the price is incredible at just £120.

Gaming PC

This HST Seven G Series gaming PC is perfect for those starting out in the gaming world. It includes 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD and a 2GB NVIDIA GT710 graphics card but is also open to upgrades, so if you want a little more, you can easily get it. It starts at just £269.

Well, 2021 seems to have started in an even more strange way than 2020 ended and we find ourselves confined to home once again. So if you have exhausted your at-home hobbies and are looking for something different to try, have you considered gaming? At HST, we think gaming is seriously underrated so we’ve put together this blog to help you see why you should make gaming your New Year’s resolution. After all, it’s never too late to make a resolution that will give you a great deal of enjoyment as well as other benefits too!

Entertainment for hours

We’ve all been concerned with our personal safety of late so self-protection has been key. But there is only so much you can watch on TV, books you can read and scrolling on your phone before you want something more stimulating. Gaming is the perfect activity because it will occupy you and allow you to flex your brain muscles in a fun and exciting way. Today’s games are so well-designed that they will engage you in ways other forms of entertainment simply will not. There are different universes, worlds, challenges, quests, levels, opponents, battles and so much more to contend with that you can choose ones which will suit you. The incredible graphics used will place more demands on your machine so a basic PC can’t handle it. If you’re starting out on your gaming lifestyle, something such as the HST Seven G Series gaming PC is perfect. It has 8GB of RAM and a 500GB SATA HDD as standard but is customisable too. In terms of graphics, it has a Nvidia GT710 2GB graphics card too.

Stay social even when alone

For those who live alone, it can be incredibly hard to remain connected to any kind of social life when you can only see others outside and the weather is atrocious. Gaming online is one of the easiest ways to interact with others, make new friends and generally feel a part of something. And it’s perfectly safe too! Of course, you’ll need certain kit to make this happen such as a headset and so on. But when you buy the right bundle from HST, it’s included! Take a look at the HST F3 gaming dual screen bundle. Being able to develop a network of like-minded individuals who you can pass the time with is not only beneficial for those who live alone, but for anyone who wants to have their own hobbies and interests. This full set up gives you everything you need to be fully connected to get the most out of your online gaming experience.

Cerebral development

Gaming might seem a huge waste of time for those who are not in the know. But the reality is it can be excellent for cognitive processes and so much more besides. The simple act of using your brain in these ways will develop your strategic thinking capabilities, hand eye coordination, concentration skills and it can even help to improve your memory!

The reality of gaming is that it can enhance your life in many different ways both during a period of lockdown and after it too. From finding new interests, to making new friends, joining a community and even developing cognitive skills, you’ll benefit in so many ways. And whilst gaming kit can seem expensive, with the different gaming PCs on offer from HST, it can be more affordable than you think. Our machines are refurbished making them not only great quality (tested and verified by qualified technicians), they come with a 1-year warranty and are great value for money too. If you need any advice at all, give the experts at HST a call and we’ll be happy to help.

With 2020 well and truly behind us, it is time to look forward to the year ahead. So far, it is starting out in a similar way to 2020 but there is a bright future, certainly in the tech world. In fact, throughout last year, our reliance on technology was at its peak and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of this changing throughout 2021. Teaching for children is online, working from home is a necessity not a luxury, and we are even having to ‘see’ family via digital means. So let’s take a look at the top tech trends to expect in 2021…

More working from home

Offices have been forced to close on and off for months and throughout that time, not only employees but employers have seen huge benefit (beyond the protection against deadly viruses of course!). Work life balances have been greatly improved for many, there has been a benefit to the environment thanks to a reduction in pollutants from commuting, it has enabled staff to save money and productivity has improved. From an employer point of view, they have seen an increase in engagement due to this better balance for staff and improved productivity is always beneficial to a business. Sick rates (non-Covid related) have improved and attrition is likely to be better in the long run if staff are happier. Furthermore, companies can reduce the amount of office space they require which will save money. But all of this means there will be yet more working from home in 2021 and therefore employees need the right kit to ensure they can do their jobs properly. They will need power and speed which is offered in machines such as this Dell OptiPlex 7020 Intel i5 with Monitor Bundle. The extra monitor will be extremely useful when working from home.

Digitisation of communications

Laptops, tablets and of course smart phones mean that everyone is better connected than ever and with all this extra time on our hands, we are spending more than ever with our tech toys. This means that we expect to be able to communicate digitally at pretty much all times. Whether it’s a Zoom call with family to celebrate special occasions, or getting in touch with a company without having to get stuck in a long wait in a call centre or even just being able to order whatever we need from clothes to takeaway food, we all want to communicate online. This will continue for many years to come without a doubt and if you need something for your own personal comms, look no further than this HP EliteBook X360 G2 2-IN-1 Convertible Laptop with Intel i5 processor. With a touchscreen and tablet functionality it will be great for all purposes.

Tech for entertainment

With more free time than ever before, more and more of us have got used to entertaining ourselves with our tech toys and this will continue throughout 2021 and beyond. So you need to ensure you get the right stuff for your personal preferences. If gaming is your thing, then why not treat yourself to a high performance machine (with extras) such as this HST Seven G Series GT710 NVIDIA Gaming PC Bundle? It has all the elements you need to ensure your gaming experience is second to none including an Intel G Series processor, an Intel 2^nd Gen Motherboard and 2GB NVIDIA GT710 graphics card.

So why not make 2021 your year to embrace technology into your life even more? It’s one key way to pass the time in challenging periods and have a great time whilst you do!

Christmas is right around the corner and we would like to wish everyone a safe and happy time in these odd circumstances we find ourselves in. We are sure you have all your tech-based presents sorted and under the tree and we hope everyone will enjoy messing about with their new kit over the break.

Whilst 2020 has certainly been one of the strangest years, we’re still going to take a little look back at our top picks of tech for the year. Check them out here:

The best gaming PC

We didn’t have gaming PCs for sale for a while but we missed them so much we HAD to bring them back. And what a range we have. We’ve sold many different types over the year but the HST Seven i5 Quad Core has to be one of the best we offer in terms of performance and value for money. It starts at just £349 and has all the kit to enable you to play the games you love, plus comes with a widescreen monitor. There are multiple upgrade options too, if you want a little more from it.

The convertible laptop

Everyone loves a laptop and how portable it is. They can be extremely user-friendly and with the better performance and battery power of today, they can be great for work and play. The technology is advancing so well that ones such as this HP EliteBook X360 1030 G2 2-IN-1 Convertible Laptop. It has a fast dual-core processor and the screen flips so you can use it as a screen or a tablet too and starts at £499.

Best entry-level PC

We offer some great value PCs that are refurbished so you get more bang for your buck, without worrying about quality – they are all tested and verified by our exert technicians and come with a 1-year warranty. If you, or someone you know, needs a basic machine for web browsing, emails, word processing and so on, you won’t go far wrong with the Dell OptiPlex 790 PC Intel Core i3. It’ll meet all your basic needs and starts at just £95 before any upgrades are added.

Best top-end PC

For those of you who need a little more capability out of their PC, then we can offer some impressive power, again at great value. These PCs are also refurbished, offering all the benefits that brings from excellent value to the assurances of trusted engineers rebuilding them to a high spec. Take a look at this HST Optimus+ Intel i5 9400 which is fully customisable to give you even more tech to process what you need it to. It starts from £449 and has a range of benefits included already.

So that’s our round-up of the best kit of 2020!

We look forward to hearing from you all in 2021 and we hope that it pans out a little better than this year has! Despite what goes on in the world, keep checking our site and our social media and we will not only bring you amazing PCs, gaming PCs and laptops, we’ll also have some great offers for you to take advantage of too!

Have a great Christmas and happy New Year from all at HST.

With Christmas rapidly approaching, you may well be looking forward to some time to relax. It will no doubt be a little different than usual this year, with less time spent socialising with friends and family. And whilst this might not pose a problem for some, it will do for others. It also needs to be acknowledged that this year in general has been very different to what we have been used to. This might make us feel differently about the period in general and we need to be extremely mindful of looking after ourselves, as well as each other.

So what do we mean by that? Well, the challenges this year have been based around not seeing loved ones, a break in routine, anxiety about the dangers and the changes in lifestyle and for many they have been financial too. Even those who have seemingly had an ‘easier’ time of it may well have experienced some difficulties so it is important that we respect the fact we don’t know what others have been going through. Here are a few tips on how to ensure you practice self-care over the festive period:

Take time for yourself

This is really important as we can often feel like we are pulled in many different directions throughout the course of the year. When it comes to a period of rest, you need to ensure you spend some time doing the things that will allow you to recharge your batteries. For some, this might be sporting pursuits. But for others it might be becoming immersed in your online fantasy gaming world for some true escapism. If you are in the latter group, make sure you have the right kit, now and in the future with a machine such as this HST Seven G Series Customisable Gaming PC. It has all the features you will need to have an excellent gaming experience including 500GB 3.5” SATA HDD and Nvidia GT710 2GB graphics card.

Connect with the ones you care about

You might not be able to see them much physically, but you CAN see them virtually so make sure you, and they, have the right facilities set up to make this happen as frequently as you need to. All you need it a laptop or laptop-tablet hybrid and you’ll be able to have video calls, send emails and interact over social media to your heart’s content! Have a look at something like this HP EliteBook X360 G2 2-in-1 convertible laptop. It has an Intel i5 7^th gen processor, 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD so it’ll be able to hold a steady connection for your virtual chats!

Spend some time outdoors

Whilst the weather might not be the greatest at this time of year, if you wrap up, you won’t even notice! Getting some fresh air, having some exercise and taking time out of busy lives can recharge your batteries like nothing else and will give you a mental boost. You can also take the opportunity to go for a socially-distanced walk with friends and you might even see some sunshine too. But even if it’s a little grey, the health benefits of seeing daylight hours are well-documented. It’ll help you sleep and help your body make vitamin D.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

This year has been a difficult one so if you find yourself wanting to just do nothing for a while, or aren’t as productive as usual, try not to allow feelings of guilt to wash over you. This also extends to others too – try not to be too critical of them either, as you don’t know what battles they are facing. By being more tolerant, you’ll find this helps your overall mood too and we could all do with being a little kinder, couldn’t we?

Take time out for yourself this festive period and allow yourself to reset after what has been a hard year for all. You won’t regret it and you’ll be ready to start 2021 with a fresh new outlook and a positive mindset.