Stable Platform Models and Image Management

Some universities prepare and install a standard image on their laptops, and in order to make this easier and more cost-effective they prefer to buy laptop models which remain consistent for twelve months or more.

The Toshiba R800 range simplifies things further by offering three sizes of laptop (13”, 14” and 15”) that are stable, share a driver set, and use the same Port Replicator (the High Speed Port Replicator II) and AC adaptor. This means that you can develop and maintain a single image for all three and offer users a choice of sizes and models with a minimum of image management. The 13.3” Portege R830 is ideal for those who need a lightweight but powerful and full-featured laptop, and the Tecra R840 and R850 offer large screen sizes at a slightly greater weight. All of them offer outstanding battery life so that you can get a full day’s work done on a single charge.

These models will continue until the Summer of 2012, having been introduced last Spring. If you wish to have vPro/AMT management capability across your laptop fleet, you should choose models with i5 and i7 Intel processors, and if you are implementing encryption requiring a TPM chip onboard, the i5 and i7 models all include it. Some i3 models also have TPM.

The new Ultrabook, the all solid-state Portege Z830, does not share the same driver set as the R800s, but offers an even lighter option for the travelling staff member, with good battery life and stability.

Please contact Richard Williams if you need advice on this topic.