Desktop Computing Recommendations for Penn:
1998-99 Annual Update Guide for Local Support Providers (LSP)

Important Note: this document remains on the computing web for archival purposes only - much of the standards and contact information in this document is obsolete.

Information Systems & Computing, in consultation with the Penn community, annually publishes recommendations for new desktop computers. These recommendations reflect institutional and industry trends but do not necessarily take into account the computing needs of specific schools or departments. Local support providers are responsible for delivering a variety of computing services within their departments, and must also consider local costs and operational requirements. Consequently, these recommendations should be viewed as one of several important considerations local administrators use to inform their purchasing decisions, rather than as the sole basis for strategic computing decisions.

These recommendations apply to institutionally-owned computers. It is important that users consult with their local support providers (LSPs) before making desktop purchases so that local requirements can be fulfilled. Detailed recommendations are provided below to LSPs to assist them in making recommendations for their units. Students should consult their schools with respect to recommendations for individually-owned desktops.

Highlight of Changes in ISC Recommendations for 1998-99:

• A single set of desktop recommendations, with more specific requirements for Cornerstone administrative desktops provided in separate section.
• For Cornerstone administrative desktops, an update on the anticipated desktop requirements for next generation administrative systems.
• Recommended configurations for NT 4.0 Workstation.
• Continued caution in the purchase of Macintosh desktops, though ISC is not phasing out support for the Macintosh platform.
• Introduction of a new strategy for cost-conscious departments: buy last year's recommendation and plan to deploy it for just three years.
• A new section on strategies related to cost of ownership.
• Recommendation that departments purchase extended warranty support for laptop computers.
• Elimination of support for Windows 3.1 effective June 30, 1999, one full year before the date previously published.
• Support for recommended operating systems may not always persist through the four-year lifecycle of the desktop recommendations.

Desktop systems purchased under the previous recommendations will continue to be supported by ISC until their previously documented expiration. ISC will continue to review desktop recommendations each year in light of University needs and industry changes.

Desktop Recommendations for General-purpose Computing

If you are buying a new machine, here are ISC's recommended configurations (Figure 1). ISC will support the Windows 95 (or its successor) recommendation until July 2002. Macintosh desktops will be supported until July 2001 only and this may be extended upon further review at a later date. We continue to urge local support providers to consider Macintosh purchases with due caution, paying careful attention to the continued availability of software critical to your particular computing needs. In particular, support for Cornerstone applications on the Macintosh beyond June 1999 is not assured at this time. Please see the section on Cornerstone recommendations if you are buying a machine that will access Penn's central administrative systems (FinMis, Data Warehouse, etc.).

Note that Windows NT requires additional RAM and the use of a SCSI hard drive and CD-ROM for the best performance. Also, it is recommended that all hardware purchased for Windows NT 4.0 workstations should be on Microsoft's Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Hardware Compatibility List. Windows 95 and NT platform pricing includes Trinitron monitor and 3 year next-day warranty service.

Laptop Recommendations

Generally, laptop computers cost more than similarly functioning desktop computers and lag at least a generation behind in technology. If you are planning to purchase a laptop to use as a primary desktop workstation it should comply with the appropriate general-purpose or Cornerstone minimum configurations. Due to the physical conditions endured by many laptops, and the rapid changes in technology that affect repair costs, expect laptop computers to have a shorter useful life than desktop computers (typically three years or less). Therefore, ISC is providing support for major brands of laptop computers for three years.

Other than some slight differences in peripherals, support for laptop computers is generally no different than for desktop computers. The following (Figure 2) represents ISC's recommendations for laptop computer configurations:

Desktop Recommendations for Cornerstone Users

Cornerstone is the University's initiative in deploying new administrative systems to support the restructuring of administrative functions at Penn. These new systems may also require access by faculty as well as administrators, so keep that in mind when purchasing desktops for their use. In the past, releases of Cornerstone systems ran on desktops that fell below the recommended standard. Future releases will likely require desktops at standard to operate.

If you are buying a new machine, the Windows 95 or Windows NT configurations described above (Figure 1) should be sufficient to support administrative applications over the course of the support period. Once again Macintoshes are not recommended for Cornerstone purchases. This is due in large part to continuing uncertainly over the availability o client software for the Macintosh. It is anticipated that commitments made in previous years to the Macintosh will be honored until July 1999. ISC will continue to monitor the situation and will extend support on Macintoshes if client software availability improves. Macintosh G3-based computers with Pentium co-processors or Windows software emulators (e.g. Virtual PC) may be used, if properly configured, to satisfy MS-Windows requirements. Keep in mind that these products are appropriate only to the extent that their performance matches currently-supported native PC configurations.

End of Cycle: 1995 Desktops to be Phased Out During 1998-99

The following minimum configurations for general-purpose office computing represent the general departmental purchase recommendations from three years ago (Figure 3). They will be supported by ISC for one more year only. Users should transition from these configurations to the new purchase recommendations as soon as possible:

Strategies Related to Total Cost of Ownership

ISC continues to recommend a four year replacement cycle, and departments should consider buying towards the high end of the recommendations to ensure as useful a desktop environment as possible towards the latter part of the computer's lifecycle. The goal behind this strategy is to purchase systems that will not have to be upgraded during their useful life – "closed boxes" that will not require the expense (parts and labor) of upgrades. Buying the best computer you can afford usually pays off in extra years of service from the machine, so you may prefer to buy a more powerful configuration.

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

Given the continuous rapid fall in the price of standard configurations, some departments may want to consider buying lower cost systems with a shorter planned replacement cycle. This may be particularly true in cases where units use value added services offered by vendors to reduce the costs associated with installation and configuration of new systems.

Departments interested in purchasing systems at lower cost are welcome to use the recommendations published last year as a guide, with the understanding that those systems will only be supported for a three-year cycle. This strategy applies to Windows 95/NT systems only. Macintosh users are encouraged to migrate to G3-based desktops as soon as possible.

Low Cost PC's – Not Recommended

"Low cost PC's" should not be purchased for general use as they were not designed to be compatible with recommended networking products. Windows terminals will be evaluated over the coming year as products emerge for possible recommendation as a lower total cost of ownership platform.

Other Considerations

Departments may choose to purchase less expensive configurations (in particular, less RAM initially). If this is the case, an upgrade may be necessary during the lifecycle of the desktop computer to ensure four years of useful life. In addition, buyers with limited budgets may 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 easier to add additional memory or peripherals later, but some components (like a smaller monitor) cannot be effectively upgraded.

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.

Departments considering migrating from one desktop system to another (e.g., from Macintosh to Windows) should carefully plan for this action. At minimum, consider changes that will need to be made to the LAN server in the department, technical training costs, end-user training costs, file conversion costs, and potential inconvenience to users. Your own expertise plays a major role in assessing migration as well.

Other Issues

Elimination of Support for Windows 3.1

Windows 3.1 (and the MS-DOS operating system that resides below it) is becoming increasingly difficult to support given the size, complexity, and network-dependence of most software in use today. In addition, both Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS have significant exposures and incompatibility with the Year 2000. For these reasons, ISC is withdrawing support for Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS (all versions) effective June 30, 1999, and recommends that departments stop support for these operating systems at that time. Systems purchased under the 1995-96 General Purpose Computing Standards will continue to be supported until that date, but should be replaced at that time. Systems purchased under the Windows 3.1 recommendation of the 1996-97 General Purpose Computing Standards should be upgraded to Windows 95 (16 MB RAM minimum/32 MB RAM recommended) and will be supported to the end of their life span.

Operating System Support

While ISC expects recommended operating systems to persist through the four-year lifecycle of the desktop recommendations, that may not always be possible. Support for Windows 95 will remain strong for at least another two years, however the path for its replacement (Windows 98, Windows NT, something else) is less clear. Departments should be prepared for the possibility of an operating system migration during the next four years.

Additional Information

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

ISC provides information on supported products.

If your school or department is considering major changes or investments, ISC strongly recommends a consultation to weigh pros and cons in today's rapidly changing environment (contact Noam Arzt in ISC, arzt at isc.upenn.edu; 898-3029). Up-to-date recommendations and additional information are available at http://www.upenn.edu/computing/arch/standards/desktop.html.

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

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

A more complete discussion of the printing strategy, including supported printers, for Cornerstone financial applications is available from the Cornerstone home page.