Lawmakers pick new laptops

Thursday, Nov. 18, 2004 | 9:05 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- In the competition to be the laptop of legislators, Gateway pulled ahead Wednesday.

The Information Technology Subcommittee voted 3-1 Wednesday to purchase 100 Gateway laptops for legislators and staff in the 2005 session. The quoted price for each unit was $1,325. And the committee approved buying 200 adapters to place throughout the Legislature at $35-40 to hook the units into. So the total cost for that equipment would be about $140,000.

The award of the bid is contingent upon Gateway providing an upgraded wireless network, however. The subcommittee gave the company one week to say whether it could meet the condition.

If it can't, the contract goes to IBM at the quoted price of $1,540 per laptop. No adapters would be needed since IBM adapters are already in place.

Lawmakers have been using IBM laptops for four years. Allan Smith, manager of information systems for the Legislature, said they were originally purchased for $2,700 apiece.

Victor Rudd of Gateway said after the meeting that he would talk with company officials to see if they can provide the required upgraded network. He must respond by 5 p.m. Wednesday or the business goes to IBM.

Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, preferred the IBM, saying the present laptops have "excellent warranty and service" and are durable.