Value PC Buyer's Guide: Recommendations for 2000-2001

Value PC Buyer's Guide:
Recommendations for 2000-2001

Specifications effective April 1, 2001

Value PC’s are defined by Information Systems & Computing (ISC) as PC’s that meet the necessary requirements for a three year life cycle. Value PC’s tend to cost between $1,000 and $1,500. Low cost PC’s, which usually cost $500-$1000 and often compromise some combination of performance, reliability, compatibility, or expandability to achieve the lowest possible costs, are not recommended.

Recommended Configurations For Value PC Desktop Workstations Specifications effective April 1, 2001 Specifications will be reviewed and updated quarterly as appropriate (10/1, 1/1, 4/1, 7/1)
		Windows	Mac OS
Hardware	Processor	Celeron (700 MHz)	PowerPC G3 (500 MHz)
	Memory (RAM)	128 MB	128 MB
	Hard Disk	20 GB	20 GB
	Monitor	17-inch SVGA recommended, 75 Hz refresh rate, 4 MB VRAM	15-inch, 75 Hz refresh rate, 8 MB VRAM
	Sound	Sound Blaster compatible	Built-in
	Miscellaneous	24X CD-ROM or 4X DVD-ROM or CD-RW, Zip Drive	24X CD-ROM or 4X DVD-ROM or CD-RW, Zip Drive
	Support Period	Until July, 2003	Until July, 2003
	Today's Estimated Price	$1,350 w/17-inch monitor $1,200 w/15-inch monitor	$1,400 w/15-inch integrated monitor
Operating System		Windows 98/ME/2000 Professional	Mac OS 9.1
Network Connection	On-campus	10/100BaseT Ethernet	10/100BaseT Ethernet
Network Connection	Off-campus	PPP (V.90 modem)	PPP (V.90 modem)

Value PC manufacturers that ISC has had good experience with include Apple and Dell.

Notes: pricing for these systems includes three-year service plans from the manufacturer. This specification includes CD-RW drives for the first time.

If your school or department is considering a large quantity of Value PC purchases, ISC strongly recommends a consultation to weigh the pros and cons in today's rapidly changing environment (contact John Mulhern III in ISC, mulhernj@isc.upenn.edu; 573-3567).

Low Cost PC's – 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 20% 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 you get what you pay for in most cases, and that the costs associated with supporting these systems typically outweigh the actual purchase price, ISC recommends that "Low cost PCs" not be purchased for general use.

2000-2001 desktop recommendations



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