Laptop Computer Purchasing Guide:
Recommendations for Fourth Quarter 2003-2004

Recognizing that there are a variety of laptops which meet different needs, this purchase guide for 2003-2004 presents four alternative configurations:

Desktop Equivalent (Mid-Weight)

A laptop being used as a primary desktop workstation or ‘desktop-equivalent’, with a need to have most drives on board. These laptops tend to weigh between five and seven pounds and have medium-sized (14.1-inch to 15.2-inch) screens. In performance and capability, they tend to be relatively close to last year's desktop recommendations. Examples of such laptops are the Apple PowerBook G4 15-inch, the Dell Latitude D600, and the IBM ThinkPad T40/T41.

Desktop Equivalent (Full Size)

A laptop being used as a primary desktop workstation or ‘desktop-equivalent’. These laptops tend to weigh between six and nine pounds and have larger (15.0-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 laptops are the Apple PowerBook G4 15-inch, the Dell Latitude D800, and the IBM ThinkPad R50p.

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

Screen notes: 15-inch and larger screens are not recommended for frequent use in trains, planes, or other tight spaces; experience suggests that they are too large. Specific exceptions to this criteria are widescreen 15-inch laptops from Dell and Apple.

Lightweight Notebook

These laptops, sometimes called sub-notebooks, tend to weigh between two and five pounds and have small (11.1-inch to 12.1-inch) screens. In performance, they tend to be relatively close to last year's desktop recommendations, but contain fewer features. Examples of such laptops are the Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch, the Dell Latitude D400, the Dell Latitude X200, the IBM ThinkPad X31, the IBM ThinkPad X40, and the Toshiba Portege R100.

Notes: some Intel-based lightweight laptops 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. ISC sees Tablet PCs as an emerging but immature technology; however, providers that have previously considered pen-based computing devices should strongly consider evaluating these devices.

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 Laptop

A value-priced laptop. This specification is intended as a complement to the recommendations for desktop computers in ISC's Value PC Buyers Guide. These laptops tend to weigh between five and eight pounds and have small to medium sized (12-inch to 14.1-inch) screens. In performance, they tend to lag behind last year's desktop recommendations and contain fewer features. Examples of such laptops are the Apple iBook G4, the Dell Latitude D600 (in its lower priced versions), the Dell Latitude D505, and the IBM ThinkPad R40 (in its lower priced 14-inch versions).

General Laptop Notes

Estimated pricing for these laptops includes three-year service plans from the manufacturers, which ISC strongly recommends. Note that the three year warranty is an extra cost for some laptops (including Macintoshes) and that this cost is reflected in the estimated price.

Pricing is generated using the online configurators available from Dell, Apple, and IBM 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.) seperately 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 IBM become generally available. When this happens, the relevant laptop category has the revision date highlighted in red and both operating system categories are repriced.

Other than some differences in peripherals, support for laptop computers is generally little different than for desktop computers.

Operating Systems:

Windows XP Professional is generally the best choice for new Windows laptops 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's support for it relative to Windows XP Professional is expected to decrease significantly in FY 2004. Schools or centers that choose to use other Windows operating systems should be aware that Microsoft is rapidly retiring these operating systems.

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.

Mac OS X version 10.3.x is currently the only available choice for new Mac OS laptops.

Laptop manufacturers that ISC has had good experience with include Apple, Dell, IBM, and Sony.

If your school or center is considering a laptop 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).

Laptop computer change history

Desktop Recommendations