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In the following success stories, two real-world scenarios illustrate how different organizations might evaluate their particular user roles and related computing needs to set the right standards for their desktop computers.
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Our earlier example laid out the requirements for MidSize Corp. Let's take those requirements to design two desktop standards: one for software developers and one for everybody else. The "everybody else" machine starts from the following baseline, using the most demanding set of requirements (for purchasing and finance staff, as well as managers and executives): - CPU requirements are easily exceeded by available technology, which starts at 1.5 GHz and upwards. For maximum longevity and power, choose 1.8 GHz as the base level.
- Because the more demanding job roles benefit from increased RAM, choose 512 MB as the standard RAM configuration.
- Because 40 GB drives are base level for most available PCs nowadays, and maximum current requirements do not exceed 12 GB, 40 GB will be quite adequate for current needs and future growth.
- Since larger displays provide general productivity benefits and high-end users typically work with large data or spreadsheet displays, pick 19-inch monitors and mid-range graphics controllers for the best compromise between price and capability, with room for higher-end graphics requirements in the future.
The developer machine sets the bar much higher; the "more is better" approach gives developers extra memory, processing power, and storage space to boost productivity: - CPU requirements go for the best available technology that's still affordable. For maximum productivity and power, choose 2.5 GHz as the base level.
- Because developers will use all the RAM they can get, choose 1024 MB (1 GB) as the standard RAM configuration.
- Because lots of drive space is desirable for developers, choose a 120 GB Ultra ATA drive as the standard developer configuration.
- Since larger displays provide general productivity benefits and developers typically work with multiple windows open, pick two 19-inch monitors and a "two-head" graphics controller for the maximum amount of screen real estate and functionality for developers.
MidSize Corp puts all this information together and consults with a local reseller to choose the right desktops. Working with a reseller representative, MidSize picks the HP Compaq D310v Microtower for ordinary users, and the HP Compaq D510 Convertible Minitower for developers. Both models come with Windows XP Professional preinstalled and are available with good options for monitors, graphics cards, and hard disks. |
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Although HealthCom has only 22 employees, it has unbelievably large amounts of data to manage. The company handles MRIs, CAT, and PET scans for four large hospitals in its metropolitan area, and also provides medical records storage, management, retrieval, and delivery for the same four large hospitals, as well as for half a dozen additional smaller hospitals and professional medical practices. The HealthCom staff uses an impressive laundry list of applications and services, with a common baseline and specialized applications for several job roles. HealthCom expects 10% growth over the next two years, and requires desktop access for up to six each consultants and temporary workers. This makes a total of 39 desktops at the start of year two. Because in-house users can access corporate servers, local storage needs are fairly modest except for the company's three in-house software developers. A job role analysis for HealthCom leads to the following staff roles that must be accommodated in one or more standard desktop configurations. (Note: because developer needs are nearly identical to those at MidSize Corp, we do not repeat that analysis or the resulting recommendation here.) - All staff require access to base-level applications: Outlook Express e-mail, Internet access using Opera 6.0, and e-mail access to standard reporting and request forms using Internet Explorer on the company intranet. The standard desktop OS is Windows 2000 Professional, but HealthCorp plans to upgrade all desktops to Windows XP Professional before August. Thus, Windows XP Professional requirements set the baseline: a minimum 233 MHz processor (300-plus MHz recommended), 128 MB of RAM (higher recommended), 1.5 GB available disk space, super VGA (800x600) resolution or better, a CD-ROM or DVD drive, and a keyboard and Microsoft Mouse compatible pointing device. Combined with base MS Office and basic local storage requirements for documents and e-mail, overall disk space requirements are 6 GB.
- Clerical and administrative staff must work with Microsoft Word and Excel for data entry via standardized data entry forms. Total clerical/admin staff: 8.
- Help desk staff must be able to operate remote control and monitoring software; Windows Terminal Services are adequate for such needs. They must also operate a help desk database client and use Crystal Reports for incident reports, tracking, and trend analysis (the Help desk works with customers, as well as in-house users). Because help desk staff must occasionally check medical records, including various scan files, they require 20 GB of local disk space for storage. Total help desk staff: 4.
- Finance and purchasing professionals require access to PeopleSoft ERP and accounting. They must also run large Excel spreadsheets and access Oracle for financial and customer record data. Oracle recommends 1 GHz or better systems for best results, and at least 256 MB RAM. A minimum of 28 GB of local storage (total) is needed. Total finance/purchasing staff: 4.
- Managers and executives require access to all MS Office components, and to Oracle Financials and Web-based reporting and analysis tools. Requirements are similar enough to those for finance and purchasing professionals to overlap with them completely. Total managers/executives: 2.
- The medical records staff works with customers to perform various image analyses and create special image formats for various medical scans. Beyond baseline requirements, they need large displays with high-end graphics adapters, local storage of 60 GB of data, and large amounts of RAM and processing power for image analysis software. Total medical records staff: 4
- The software developers fall under the same scenario as the MidSize Corp developers, and will be hired later this year. Total headcount to be allocated: 3.
Given HealthCom's specialized needs for medical records staff and developers, the solution is to create three standard platforms. The standard employee desktop below applies to all staff except for medical records specialists and developers. Baseline and job role requirements dictate slightly more local storage than MidSize Corp employees required, but other specifications stay the same based on the most demanding needs: - CPU requirements are easily exceeded by available technology, which starts at 1.5 GHz and upwards. For maximum longevity and power, choose 1.8 GHz as the base level.
- Because the more demanding job roles benefit from increased RAM, choose 512 MB as the standard RAM configuration.
- Because 40 GB drives are base level for most available PCs today, but maximum current requirements currently approach 40 GB, 80 GB is a good choice for current needs and future growth.
- Since larger displays provide general productivity benefits and high-end users typically view large data or spreadsheet displays, pick 19-inch monitors and mid-range graphics controllers for the best compromise between price and capability, with room for higher-end graphics requirements in the future.
The medical records specialist machine sets the bar much higher based on high-end image processing needs, which put high demands on processing power, memory, and disk space requirements: - CPU requirements call for the best available technology that's still affordable. For maximum productivity and power, choose 2.5 GHz as the base level.
- Because image analysis will go faster with more RAM, choose 2048 MB (2 GB) as the standard RAM configuration.
- Because current requirements approach 80 GB for medical records specialists, choose two 120 GB Ultra ATA drives as the standard configuration.
- Since larger displays are essential for image analysis, pick two 21-inch monitors and one 17-inch monitor and a top-of-the-line "quad head" graphics controller for maximum screen handling capabilities.
HealthCom puts all this information together and consults with a local reseller to choose the right desktops. Working with a reseller representative, HealthCom picks the HP Compaq D310v Microtower for ordinary users, the HP Compaq D510 Convertible Minitower for developers, and the same base model with different graphics card, monitors, and hard disks for medical record specialists. All models come with Windows XP Professional preinstalled. Because all desktop machines chosen come in tower cases, expansion options are more available should standards change unexpectedly before the 24- to 36-month lifecycle of these machines expires. The idea is to leave sufficient room for further growth should it be needed, even for demanding job roles like the HealthCorp medical records specialist position. |
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As you've read in other sections of this guide, creating a desktop standard to meet everyday and special needs takes some effort for analysis, planning, and design. But it's not an impossible task, nor do you need a big professional IT staff to make it work. HP offers the tools and resources you need to match your requirements to the right collection of servers, even if you don't know the difference between Ultra ATA and RAID, or between single and multi-head graphics adapters. If you can define your needs in terms of features, software, data, user roles, and special requirements, HP can do the rest.
If you aren't comfortable choosing your own standard desktop(s), or you would feel more comfortable working with an experienced professional, certified HP resellers and sales associates are available to help you make choices that meet your needs and won't break your budget. To get in touch with either a reseller or the HP sales associated in your area, or visit one of HP's online reseller partners or your local reseller. Follow the links to the right for quick access to both.
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