Baseline Workstation Specifications

This document provides descriptions of recommended student, faculty, and staff personal computer systems to be used at the California State University Los Angeles (CSLA). Our primary goal is to recommend the best possible systems that meet the end-user requirements for students, faculty, and staff and, at the same time, keep the total cost of ownership of these systems low. Together with these recommended systems, we build a standard set of productivity and communication client software tools called the Desktop Service Software (DSS). By implementing Baseline hardware and software standards, CSLA will enable its students, faculty, and staff to communicate and collaborate easily and will also reduce its support and training costs. 

The following pages provide Cal State L.A. computing users with specifications and vendor information for microcomputers recommended for use with the campus computing network. Faculty or staff ordering workstations for the University are advised to familiarize themselves with the Administrative Procedure for Information Technology Procurement Approval (No. 609) and the spending deadlines set by the Procurement Office. Below you will find specifications for two levels of machines - Baseline and High End for both Intel/Microsoft and Apple Macintosh desktop and notebook computer configurations. The Baseline Committee has established a minimum specification for CSLA computer acquisitions. Additionally, ITS has contacted Dell and Apple. You will find "Baseline recommended" configurations below. Included in this configuration information are names, email addresses and phone numbers of the vendors, and purchase price.

Computer prices are VERY dynamic, this price information is provided for planning purposes, but you should contact the vendors for current prices since the price can change DAILY. The Baseline committee's recommendation is that you select either a Dell or an Apple baseline configuration, contact the sales representative who will get the most current purchase price. Users should then prepare a requisition for finance/lease the machine (click here for sample requisition for Dell and Macintosh) and attach the faxed purchased quote from the vendor. After submitting the requisition, to the purchasing office, they will arrange for the lease. Purchasing will contact users to let them know the exact lease price. For Macintosh, there is an option to purchase equipment for an amount not to exceed the Fair Market Value (FMV) of the equipment upon the expiration of lease. For Dell, departments have the option of selecting a $1.00 Buy-out if the order is larger than $5,000.00, otherwise it will be a Fair Market Value (FMV) lease.

In order to assist you with various forms, here are sample and actual forms:

• Sample Dell Purchase Requisition
• Sample Dell Quote
• Sample Macintosh Purchase Requisition
• Purchase and Campus Stores Requisition Form (actual form)
• Information Resources Procurement Approval (actual form)

In order to meet end-user requirements, CSLA messaging infrastructure will support multimedia mail, directories, and other related applications using several international standard messaging protocols. We list them in the table below.

ITS will install the DSS to Faculty and Student campus baseline desktop computers. IRM can guarantee network connectivity if you have a baseline recommended computer and baseline recommended software (DSS).

Clearly, end-users reserve the right to install any free or licensed software they like on their personal computers. However, we highly recommend that end-users utilize the software in the table above to enhance their productivity and collaboration with others in the CSU.
 
In selecting vendors, ITS conducted research into which vendors rated the highest in customer satisfaction, reliability, strong technical support, the breadth of third party support, the ability to influence and often set standards, the size of secondary markets, and corporate financial stability and performance. ITS has selected Dell. Dell is well regarded throughout the industry, has been classified as tier 1 (highest) vendors by the Gartner Group  (Desktop Vendor Tiering: The Next Generation; Oct. 1st , 1998), offer up to 5 years of on site parts and labor warranties, have CMAS  contracts with the State of California, and are ranked as a top PC vendor by J.D. Power  and Associates in their most recent yearly rankings. Dell has also won numerous awards from users and trade journals. Purchase of the extended warranty for maintenance on faculty and staff workstations is included.

• Click Here for Administrative Computer Purchasing/Leasing Information

A Compaq PC is the only "choice" available. Staff members are not eligible for Macs at this time, nor can they make that decision.

Minimum Specifications for Baseline Level Machine

This machine is the recommended general purpose configuration for Faculty and Students. This machine will offer excellent performance with multiple simultaneous applications (such as the Microsoft Office family). This machine is equipped for multimedia playback and has upgrade or growth potential. This configuration was developed by the baseline committee and is the minimum configuration for university purchases.

Desktop-Faculty | Desktop-Student | Notebook | Macintosh

Minimum Specifications for High End Level Machine

This machine is recommended for heavy or "Power Users" who need state of the art technology. This machine will offer excellent performance with multiple simultaneous applications (such as Microsoft Office). This configuration includes a faster more powerful CPU, more memory and enhanced multimedia capabilities.

Notebook | Macintosh

1. All product information on this site, including prices, features and availability, is based solely on information made available by the vendors and CSULA disclaims any responsibility for this information or the products listed. Product information may be inaccurate and is subject to change without notice. You should contact the vendor with any questions about the products or the information presented