Bismarck, North Dakota News

" Dumb North Dakotan: $1200 for a gaming notebook? Must be nice. How long do you really expect to be able to play top end games on that? Does that price include any software? If it doesn't consider adding Windows Vista Business (+$100 from a base laptop) Office 2007 Pro (+$230), 3yr onsite and 3 yr accident repair warranty (+$350) and see where that puts the price for your $1200 gaming laptop then. Yes I know there are free Office suites they could use but I don't think the state or many businesses use freeware type programs. (Mainly because of a lack of tech support.) Now I don't pretend to be part of the state IT dept but I do work in IT and that is how we design ours. We expect our computers here to have at least a 3 year service life. I think the state should have gone with Daktech computers. We both know how well those work. lol. As far as blackberries, why is everyone in ND so anti-technology? I have no problem with a blackberry if the senators would pick up part of the monthly calling plan. They would be more secure if they were tied into the state's internal wireless network rather than Verizon of someone else's network. They could do this for the senators that blackberries/PDA devices now but its a bit of a PITA since I'm sure not every senator has the same brand/model PDA phone. "

" Remimder that ND Taxpayers pay for broadband internet access to each legislators home as long as they stay an elected official. Now that is a rip to the taxpayers. The legislators and their family get to surf the web from home on the taxpayers dollar. Sweet deal for them. "

" To FlyOnTheWall:

Well it seems you know the most about this (from the comments anyway). I'm just too lazy to go ask a lawmaker so I'll ask what is the most cpu intensive program they use? I've been looking at buying a laptop for a while and a $1200 laptop for me would let me do 3D gaming. COD4 anyone? If all they do is email and word documents then a $700 laptop would be just fine.

As for the blackberry's, why? If they have a laptop with them why do they need to access their email on a blackberry? It would be quicker to email on a laptop. Plus, have you tried to have a big discussion through email? It's a lot easier to call someone then read through a thread.

It says:

A major advantage of having such BlackBerry devices is that lawmakers could be in constant touch with their state e-mail accounts in a secure fashion. They can do this in a roundabout manner today -accessing the server from an online application on a personal BlackBerry - but this method is less secure.

How will having a "business" BlackBerry be more secure? Will the connection be more secure? How so? Can't they do that now? Are they saying the lawmakers won't use it for "personal reasons"? I see that as highly unlikely. I guess I'm just too dumb to get this idea. "

" why not macs? Come on! Macs cost more and their software is hard to find. Not to mention have you ever looked for a mac expert around here? Lets be real people. Also as someone mentioned, the legislative council has their own IT dept. ITD, the state Information Technology Department, helps them with a few services but overall they make their own decisions just like the courts. It's called separation of powers people. "

" Ok, the state has a contract with HP for all other government so it makes sense that they picked HP. Not only that but Fireside and connecting point are both resellers of HP computers so it does help local businesses. The person who suggested C-Ram or computer one, neither one has the resources to build and warranty that many computers and most likely they can't beat the price either. "

" Newsflash: ND government switches to computers! 4 page story in local newspaper details new devices known as "laptops". Lawmakers marvel at newfangled devices, decide that they will use them for new service known as "Internet Tubes". $1200+ contraption deemed "good value" by one lawmaker quoted as saying "it'll be great to be able to e-mail my secretary when I need something typed up" and "eBay is awesome when I'm bored with speeches, this will let me buy more beanie babies for my collection at a much faster pace". "

" What is all the fuss about here? Its the computer age people! Most jobs require this piece of hardware to do their jobs. What do you want them to do use a typewriter and phone booth to do their jobs?!? Cmon North Dakota is a leader in high tech and thats the way it should be. "

" Tom: Dactech WASN'T chosen for the computers...they just got their name in the paper under the picture. They were the higgest bid, and were rejected.

The committee chose HP laptops purchased from Fireside Office Products in BISMARCK. "

" I have been hearing that for years and years that linux is poised to take over... never happen.. period "

" I am so sick and tired of all the money in the state being spent in Fargo.. The Capital is in Bismarck Buy the computers from a Bismarck Company.. Support is right here.. C-Ram, Computer One, ect... are both large enough and have been around for years.. I used to use Daktec computers at an old job. nothing but headaches. and they were extremely expensive. Sounds like a typical government deal to me.. you scratch my back deal..... "

" I doubt these people use specialized apps. Probably just some spreadsheets and your occasional PDF or presentation. Why not keep the laptops for a few years long and run a reliable Linux distro? Linux and open source apps have come a long way and are set to take over soon. No one really NEEDS MS Office or some other app. Compromises can be made all while saving a lot of money. "

" 'Bout time they moved into the late 1900's. I can see maybe 10% tops of ND's legislators actually using Blackberrys, no matter how many have them. If you want to see slo-mo and stuck in the past, just spend some time in a legislative committee hearing. Take your RedBull if you want to stay awake! "

" SRahn: the last time the legislature received new laptops was 2001...seven years ago (BTW, other state employees get upgraded every 36-48 months.) So your Dell laptop is two years NEWER than the machines they use now. It doesn't really sound like new computers are a luxury to me when they're that old. Like it or not, legislators are public employees just like everyone else. They deserve to have decent, not extravagant, but decent technology available to them. I agree that government spends too much, but these people serve us pretty well and I don't believe they are in the business of padding their own nests. If they are, I'll be the first to complain about it. "

" Why do these individuals need new putors? I've had my Dell laptop for over 5 years and it's filled with many documents, wmv's, web-sites and has proven itself very reliable to this day. Seems to me they just recently purchased new putors, pay raises and expense increases. Enough already... get a hair-cut and getta real job, taxpayers are getting sick of your we need this and that mentality. Where do you people get off thinking your job or equipment needs attention or upgrades every session. when the citizens of North Dakota are working themselves to death supporting your luxuries?? My laptop could do everything described and more at half the cost, BUY THEM YOURSELVES... "

" govwatch: 1) All House members, and all but 1 or 2 Senators, now use computers. Your comment that 90% don't know how to use computers damages your credibility. 2) Legislators don't have cell phones paid for by the state. 3) They have to pay a monthy fee TO the state government to use their laptops outside of the capitol (when not in session, etc.) 4) The article states that legislators would pay for phone usage and the state would cover the email portion if they get Blackberrys. So again, they would pay. This isn't a "luxury" item in 2008, folks. "

" Blackberry? Let's face it, most of them only want this because they will get to use it for 2 years for free. If they do need this, which they don't, because 90% of them can't even use a PC let alone a Blackberry, maybe our state should only pay for them during the session, and let them pay for it for the rest of the time. I think that is only fair, don't YOU LEGISTLATORS? I agree with the laptop purchases--they are needed for them to do their work. Blackberrys are not, and communication can be accomplished with the cell phones that ND TAXPAYERS ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR> "

" To Why Not?: Macs would have eligible too, but no one who sells them offered to bid. There were presentations/offers from Dell, HP, Daktech and Lenovo. HP was the best deal by far. "

" why not macs? Because NOBODY else in government or business uses mac, at least percentage wise. There is software that the legislators run that will not run on mac, so you either need a VM and windows running on top of mac, or just run Windows natively on a PC.

Also, the state IT department had very little to do with this purchase. The legislative council has its own IT department that handles IT services for legislators. "

" Why not Macs? Imagine how much would be saved on software and IT support costs. "

" Haze... That is really the only difference is the hardware, like Tom said most of the cost is probably in the software. I would assume these laptops will have Vista and Office 2007 installed. (roughly at 450 per license for these)T he last laptop I ordered for my company from IBM was about 2600 including Windows, MS Office, and a bag. (I'm not counting all the extra 'free' software IBM installs on it. Or the other software we install.) The big difference is that 'consumer' machines at the store are mass produced with the same specs and software. I'm sure these were we custom designed by the IT Dept at the state. Also 'consumer' computers from the store are designed in the hopes they will be under powered in a year or two by the company making them so people have to go buy a new one. I would hope that the IT Dept at the state has the foresight to design these laptop with a usable life span of 4-5 years like we do at my company. As far as the Blackberry. I think that would be a good idea think of all the money saved with less pages/clerks. The idea of splitting the cost of a plan is an even better idea my company currently does that. I haven't used a blackberry myself but my co-workers say once you use one you can't live with out it.
"

" Tom R - can you tell me what the difference between "business class" and a regular laptop is? I understand memory/speed/software........this just still seems high to me. "

" Actually, haze, $1260 is a pretty good buy, if these are business-class laptops. Those can run up to $1500-2000 or more, depending on what the specifications were. It's probably more of a cost for the software loaded onto the machines and the service contract than it is the price of the computers themselves. "

" You mean with the pay they get and the raise they voted and gave themselves this last session they can't afford to buy their own! Shame On Them. "

" I agree they should have new computers - but for ordering that many - you'd think they could find a better deal than over $1260 each. That is pretty high for a laptop these days. Get some more bids! "

" Blackberries and Smart Boards? Sen. Freborg doesn't even have e-mail yet. "

" MamaMia, that person is Sen Layton Freborg from District 8! In a scary twist, he's the Chair of the Education Committee, and apparently can't embrace technology himself. Speaks volumes! "

" Have you seen the occasional picture of an elderly legislator with the 2 foot thick bill book in front of him because he won't learn to use "them newfangled typewriters"? Too funny! "

" I don't know how Blackberry's are considered a "vanity device" (or "expensive") anymore. A few years ago you could have said the same thing about cell phones, but now just about everybody has them. IF they are used to keep in touch with consistuients, then I think the idea's a good one. The legislature used to have many more clerks and pages years ago, when everybody had a bill book. I guess one could argue that we could go back to those days, too. I think North Dakota's legislature shoud get with the times and embrace technology. It's no longer a luxury, it;s the way business is done. "

" Get with the times ND. AK has been using the internet and tv for years to "give us access to our remotely located legislators down in Juneau".
http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/ "

" It is about time our lawmakers receive new laptops. They were about three years past their lifecycle. A laptop is essential to anyone who travels and works. I am waiting to see how many actually take advantage of the wireless network throughout the State Capitol. I have a strong feeling that they will be left in the legislative chambers and not taken to their committee meetings.

The Blackberry is a vanity device that should not be paid for with state funds. There are pages and committee clerks that have been assisting the legislators for years. The Blackberry is also expensive and it is well known that personal calls and emails will flow to these devices. This is a perk/toy for the legislators, nothing more, nothing less. "

" No kidding the public feels left out sometimes! I hope that the legislators make it easier on people who want to see what they're up to in hearings and during their sessions.

If it means that they have to add some technology, fine. Just don't break the bank doing it. "