Desktop Computing Recommendations for Penn:
2003-2004 Annual Update Guide

Information Systems & Computing (ISC), in consultation with the Penn community, annually publishes recommendations for desktop computers. These recommendations reflect institutional and industry trends but do not necessarily take into account the computing requirements of specific Schools, departments, or centers.

Before making purchasing decisions, administrators, faculty, and staff should always consult their Local Support Providers (LSPs) to ensure that local requirements are fulfilled. LSPs consider local costs and operational requirements, and are responsible for ensuring that connectivity to University-wide systems is maintained as necessary.

When choosing a new desktop system that will be used to access Penn's central administrative systems such as Business Enterprise Network (BEN) systems, it is important to also consider the Desktop Recommendations for Administrative Systems Users.

Students should consult their Schools with respect to recommendations for individually-owned computers.

Desktop Recommendations for General-Purpose Computing

ISC's recommended configurations for new systems are shown in Figure 1. Estimated prices are effective June 1, 2003, and are based on Dell OptiPlex (Windows) systems with three-year next-day warranty service or Apple Power Macintosh (Mac OS) systems with one-year next-day warranty service. ISC will support these recommendations for four years, from July 1, 2003 until June 30, 2007.

Note: It is recommended that all new hardware purchased for Windows XP systems be on Microsoft's Windows Catalog.

Footnotes:

1. A more detailed University-centric perspective on AMD, IBM, Intel, and Motorola processors is available from ISC's Processor Guide.


2. 17-inch CRT monitors continue to be standard, but there are increasingly many good choices in the display market, especially as LCD prices continue to drop. See ISC's Monitor & VRAM Guide for more information.


3. ISC has recommended a Zip drive as a standard option for five years. This year, changes in usage patterns (including an increasing move to CD-RWs and flash media) have led us to make them optional. Note that they have not been removed from the specification entirely - schools or centers may choose to continue to specify Zip drives (in labs, for example) for backward compatibility or ease of use reasons.


4. Systems that will remain on the Ethernet-connected portions of the University campus for their entire life cycle do not require modems.


5. Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000 Professional are significantly more reliable, supportable, and secure than many other versions of Windows (e.g., Windows ME/XP Home). Windows XP Professional is generally the best choice for the Windows platform because of its superior driver support, reliability, and connectivity. ISC also sees Windows 2000 Professional as an acceptable choice, though it is no longer state-of-the-art and Microsoft support for it relative to Windows XP Professional may decrease significantly beginning in FY 2004. Schools or centers that choose to use other Windows operating systems (such as Windows NT Workstation 4.0) should be aware that Microsoft is rapidly retiring these operating systems, and so support will almost certainly not persist for the full four-year life cycle.
   
   ISC does not recommend Windows XP Home. Windows XP Home is missing important networking and security features, such as domain-based authentication, that are critical to many Schools and centers in the University. In addition, Microsoft will not support Windows XP Home for the same extended period that it will support Windows XP Professional.


6. Mac OS X version 10.2.x is generally the best choice for the Macintosh platform because of its superior driver support, reliability, and connectivity. Schools or centers that choose to use other versions of the Mac OS (such as Mac OS 9.2.x) should be aware that Apple is aggressively retiring support for Mac OS 9.x in new workstations and so support will almost certainly not persist for the full four-year life cycle.


7. Pricing is generated using the online configurators available from Dell and Apple and is for general reference only. Support providers often will be able to generate significantly more competitive pricing.

ISC’s Performance PC Buyer's Guide offers quarterly purchase recommendations for new systems that meet or exceed these specifications.

Scope of This Document

This remainder of this document is divided into several sections:

• An Alternate Strategy - Purchasing guidelines for those needing to economize.


• Desktop Recommendations for Administrative Systems Users for 2003-2004 - Caveats applying to users of administrative systems


• Laptop Recommendations - Discussion of the differences between desktop and laptop standards, with links to the Laptop Recommendations document.


• Minimum Configurations for 2003-2004 - "Heads-up" summary of existing configurations that should be replaced before July 1, 2004, when they will no longer be supported.


• Strategies Related to Total Cost of Ownership - Review of considerations affecting purchasing, including alternatives to purchasing.


• Additional Information - Links to related information.

An Alternate Strategy: A Three-year Life Cycle Based on Last Year's Recommendations

Given the continuous rapid change in computing technology and the significant price difference between high-end and mid-range system configurations, many Schools or centers find that purchasing a new system based on last year's recommendations and replacing it in three years (by June 30, 2006) will reduce purchase and support costs. See the section below on Strategies Related to Total Cost of Ownership.

Desktop Recommendations for Administrative Systems Users

Penn's administrative systems desktop requirements are consistent with the desktop requirements outlined in this document, with the exception of BEN Financials with respect to native Macintosh. Currently, only Mac users running OS 10.x will be able to access/view/markup invoice images in native Macintosh mode, without using Virtual PC. Mac users running other versions of the Mac OS (i.e., OS 9.x) will still need to use Virtual PC to access/view/markup invoice images. In addition, please note that all Mac users, including those running 10.x, will still need to use Virtual PC to access the Oracle applications (i.e., BEN Balances and BEN Buys). Although a Macintosh with Virtual PC can run the current Windows Java client, Virtual PC is not certified by Oracle; therefore support is not guaranteed.

Laptop Recommendations

Several distinct categories of laptop computers are available, each designed to suit the needs of a particular class of users. Generally, laptop computers cost more than equivalent desktop computers and often lag a generation behind them in technology. Also, given the physical conditions they are often subjected to, laptop computers generally have a shorter useful life than desktop systems (typically three years or less). Therefore, ISC is providing support for three years for major brands of laptop computers that meet the 2002-2003 recommendations published last year. The Laptop Computer Purchasing Guide was developed to help you determine which combination of features will best serve your needs.

Minimum Standards For 2003-2004: 2000 Desktops to be Phased Out By June, 2004

The following minimum configurations represent the general-purpose recommendations from three years ago. They will be supported by ISC for one more year only.

Users with systems that do not meet the 2001-2002 Desktop Recommendations (1.0 GHz Pentium III, 256 MB RAM, 533 MHz PowerPC G4, 256 MB RAM) should plan to replace those systems before July, 2004.

A comparative history and a four-year overview are provided for reference.

Strategies Related to Total Cost of Ownership

Four-year versus three-year life cycle

ISC continues to support a four-year replacement cycle, but given the continuous rapid change in computing technology, and the significant price difference between high-end and mid-range system configurations, many Schools and centers find that a three-year cycle reduces purchase and support costs. Schools and centers interested in purchasing systems at lower cost are encouraged to use the 2002-2003 recommendations as a guide, with the understanding that those systems will only be supported for three years. The Value PC Buyers Guide offers recommendations for current systems that meet 2002-2003 specifications.

Choosing between a three- and four-year strategy requires an understanding of local School or center computing needs. The following case studies illustrate how two different strategies may be appropriate in specific settings.

Case Study 1 - Administrative center that supports twenty-four staff desktops

A three-year replacement cycle will require purchase of eight systems per year, which at current pricing (~$1,200/system) will result in an annual system cost of $9,600. A four-year cycle will require purchase of six systems, which at current pricing (~$1,550/system) will result in a total of $9,300. A benefit of the three-year cycle is a reduced chance that the operating system and application software purchased will require an upgrade during the life of the system.

Case Study 2 - School that supports faculty with high-end desktop computing needs

In cases where some users need the most powerful desktop systems available, a managed two-tier distribution strategy may allow units to get the most from their investment at both ends of the life cycle. In one strategy employed on campus, power users get new high-end systems every two years, with the replaced systems passed down to users with less intensive computing requirements for the second half of their four-year life cycle. This strategy requires the added support costs associated with the mid-life trickle down, but maximizes the value of the equipment over its useful life.

Finally, many manufacturers now offer four-year warranties, up from the fairly standard three years. If a workstation is going to be in use for the full four year life-cycle, these warranties (which typically add less than $100 to the overall cost) may be appropriate.

Leasing

Leasing may make sense as a way to manage purchase and reduce total cost of ownership in cases where desktop equipment needs to be refreshed on a two-year life cycle. This is particularly true if systems cannot be redeployed as they are replaced. This strategy may be appropriate for some campus computing labs.

Other Considerations

Upgrade

Buyers with limited budgets may choose to purchase less expensive configurations (in particular, less RAM initially). In such cases, an upgrade may be necessary during the life cycle of the desktop system to ensure four years of useful life. Buyers with limited budgets may also choose to trade off various components of a desktop system depending on specific needs: for example, memory versus additional hard disk space versus a larger monitor. Remember, it is easy to add additional memory or peripherals later, but some components (like a smaller monitor) cannot be upgraded effectively.

Extended Warranties

ISC recommends purchase of extended warranties where departments are not prepared to make repairs themselves, especially beyond the first year or two of a computer's useful life.

Platform Migration

If you are considering migrating from one type of desktop operating system to another (e.g., from Windows ME to Windows 2000 Professional/XP Professional or from Mac OS 9.x to Mac OS X.x) you should carefully plan for this action. At a minimum, consider changes that will need to be made to the LAN server in the department, software license costs, and file conversion costs. The level of expertise you have with the new operating system is also an important factor, and you should plan for training costs if appropriate.

Additional Information

Operating System Support

While ISC expects support for recommended operating systems to persist through the four-year life cycle of the desktop recommendations, that may not always be possible. Be prepared for the possibility of an operating system migration during the next four years.

Please refer to the Windows System Specifications and Mac OS System Specifications for ISC recommendations regarding system configurations which support specific operating systems and versions. Long-term guidance is also available for Windows Operating System Life-Cycles and Mac OS Operating System Life-Cycles

Low-Cost PCs – Not Recommended

Price reductions resulting from market competition and continued technical innovation make definition of "Low-Cost PCs" a moving target. It is generally true, however, that computers priced in the bottom 30% of the current range compromise some combination of performance, reliability, compatibility, or expandability to achieve the lowest possible costs. Compatibility with recommended network products is a particularly important consideration at Penn.

Bearing in mind that in most cases you get what you pay for, and that the costs associated with supporting these systems typically far outweigh the actual purchase price, ISC does not recommend that "Low-Cost PCs" be purchased for general use.

The Value PC Buyers Guide offers recommendations for competitively priced systems that are compatible with Penn's network environment and are widely supported on campus.

Further Information

The Computer Connection offers Apple and Dell configurations that match the recommendations discussed above.

ISC provides information on supported products.

Purchasing Services provides information on purchasing desktop computers.

All desktop systems should have important data backed up and be virus-free. Additional information on information system security can be found at http://www.upenn.edu/computing/security/.

For more information on off-campus network connections see http://www.upenn.edu/computing/remote/.

If your School or center is considering major changes or investments, ISC strongly recommends a consultation to weigh pros and cons in today's rapidly changing environment (contact John Mulhern III in ISC, mulhernj@isc.upenn.edu; x3-3567).