Notebook Purchasing Guide:
Recommendations for Second Quarter 2009-2010

Recognizing that there are a variety of notebooks which meet different needs, this Information Systems & Computing (ISC) purchasing guide presents three alternative configurations.

Mid-Weight Notebook

These notebooks are generally used as a primary system or desktop replacement, with a need to have most drives on board. They tend to weigh five to seven pounds and have medium-sized (14.1-inch to 15.4-inch) screens. In performance and capability, they tend to be relatively close to last year's desktop recommendations. Examples of such notebooks are the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch, the Dell Latitude E6400, the Dell Latitude E6500, the Lenovo ThinkPad T400, and the Lenovo ThinkPad T500.

These notebooks represent the center of the portable market and are designed to be a good match for most user's needs. They have good connectivity, speed, and mobility, but are not the best in any of these areas.

Notes: this specification does not apply to extremely large portable systems sometimes called desknotes. Desknotes are generally not useable as notebooks - they are too large and have too little battery life. ISC has developed a separate set of desknote recommendations.

Lightweight Notebook

These notebooks, sometimes called sub-notebooks, tend to weigh two to five pounds and have small (12.1-inch to 13.3-inch) screens, though a few new designs have screen sizes up to 16 inches. In performance, they tend to be relatively close to last year's desktop recommendations, but contain fewer features. Examples of such notebooks are the Apple MacBook Air, the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, the Dell Latitude E4200, the Dell Latitude E4300, the Lenovo ThinkPad X200, the Lenovo ThinkPad X200s, the Lenovo ThinkPad X301, the Toshiba Portégé R400, and the Toshiba Portégé R500.

Notes: some lightweight notebooks are Tablet PCs - in other words, they support Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, which is a pen-based superset of Windows XP Professional and/or they support Windows Vista. ISC sees Tablet PCs as a technology suited for niche markets; providers that have previously considered or deployed pen-based computing devices should consider evaluating these devices. Please see ISC's Tablet PC Purchasing Guide for more information.

Peripheral notes: media slices, port replicators, and docking stations are not included in this pricing - they can be expected to add to the estimated price in these amounts:

• Media slices: $100 - $200
• Port replicators: $150 - $200
• Docking stations: $450 - $550

Value Notebooks

This specification is intended as a complement to the recommendations for desktop systems in ISC's Value Desktop Purchasing Guide. These notebooks tend to weigh five to seven pounds and have small to medium sized (13.3-inch to 15.4-inch) screens. In performance, they tend to lag behind last year's desktop recommendations and contain fewer features. Examples of such notebooks are the Apple MacBook, the Dell Latitude E5400, the Dell Latitude E6400 (in its lower priced versions), the Lenovo ThinkPad T400 (in its lower priced versions), and the Lenovo ThinkPad R400.

Low Cost Notebooks – Not Recommended for Most Users

Price reductions resulting from market competition and continued technical innovation make the definition of "Low Cost Notebooks" a moving target. It is generally true, however, that notebooks priced in the bottom 30% of the current range (currently ranging from $500 to $900) 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, as is a three year warranty.

Bearing in mind that you get what you pay for, and that the costs associated with supporting these systems significantly outweigh the actual purchase price, ISC recommends that low cost notebooks not be purchased for general use. Users with modest needs may choose to investigate netbooks, but should be mindful of their significant limitations.

General Notebook Observations

Estimated prices for these notebooks include three year service plans from the manufacturers, which ISC strongly recommends. Note that the three year warranty is an extra cost for some notebooks (including those from Apple) and that this cost is reflected in the estimated price.

Pricing is generated using the online configurators available from Dell, Apple, and Lenovo and is for general reference only. Support providers will often be able to generate more competitive pricing using various means, such as purchasing components (RAM, etc.) separately and taking advantage of vendor bundles and rebates.

These specifications are sometimes revised in mid-quarter when major changes in configurations from Apple, Dell, and Lenovo generally become available. When this happens, the relevant notebook category has the revision date highlighted in red and both operating system categories are repriced.

Other than some differences in peripherals, support for notebook systems is generally little different than for desktop systems.

Notebook manufacturers that ISC has had good experience with include Apple, Dell, Lenovo, and Toshiba.

Operating Systems

Windows Vista Service Packs 1 and 2 (32-bit and 64-bit Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions) are supported and recommended for general use.

ISC does not recommend, but does support the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista Home Premium Service Packs 1 and 2. Home Premium is missing important networking and security features, such as domain-based authentication, that are essential to many Schools and Centers in the University.

ISC does not and will not support any version of Windows Vista Home Basic. Home Basic is missing many important networking, maintenance, and security features that are critical to many Schools and Centers at the University.

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (32-bit) is supported for new systems, though it will become extremely difficult to purchase in FY2010. Windows XP Home Service Pack 3 (32-bit) is also supported, although it is missing important networking and security features, such as domain-based authentication, that are essential to many Schools and Centers in the University. Note that Windows XP Service Pack 3 will face retirement within this current four year life cycle.

Mac OS 10.6.x is the only supported and recommended choice for new Macintosh systems, as Apple's newly released systems always require the latest version of Mac OS.

Apple's Boot Camp technology offers added flexibility for users who need to occasionally use Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Windows Vista Service Pack 2, or Windows XP Service Pack 3. It should not be used to turn a Macintosh into a full time Windows system. Boot Camp also requires that both the Windows and the Mac OS operating systems be patched and maintained.

Other Resources

If your school or center is considering a notebook purchase, 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; 573-3567).

Notebook computer change history

Desktop Recommendations