Assignment5

  Scenario: The CEO of 504 Technologies again turns to you for help with a  technology problem. The satellite office’s computers are getting old and  need to be replaced. This is an opportunity to focus on the individual  computer purchase, which will include the hardware, operating system,  main productivity suite, and antivirus software. You have discussed the possibility of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device),  but the security risks are deemed too great in this particular office.  While you are then tempted to custom build the computers (with various  parts from different vendors), the CEO is insistent on “all-in-one”  packages. This means your choices are either laptops or desktop  computers that have the tower, monitor, keyboard, and mouse in one  package. Your task is to create a business-like proposal that compares  products, features, and prices, and then provides a final  recommendation. The focus is on the single computer, as the number of  machines ultimately to be purchased has not yet been determined. Research: Since the focus is products, features, and prices, search in vendors’  websites for sources. Do not use comparison websites; you must go  straight to the vendor or primary source. If you are unsure that your  source choices are appropriate, contact your professor early in the unit  for assistance. Assignment components: Cover Page Write a suitable, descriptive title. Identify the client’s name and your name. Include the date. Starting on page 2, provide the following in the order given below. Executive Summary In paragraph form, explain the purpose of the proposal and give a  brief summary of your final recommendation. Required length: 50–80  words. Hardware Recommendations Compare two different laptop or all-in-one desktop computers by  identifying at least four (4) important features of each and placing  them in a Word table. Under the table, provide the URLs to the vendors’ pages where you found this information. Write a paragraph of 50–80 words to explain why one is a better  choice for the client than the other. Do not do additional research for  this paragraph; use your critical thinking skills. Then write a statement that provides the prices for the two computers. Operating System Recommendation Write a paragraph of 50–80 words in which you choose an operating system for the client’s computers. Justify your reasoning. Provide the URL to the vendor’s page. Then write a statement that explains the cost of the operating system. Productivity Software Recommendations Compare Microsoft Office to one of these open source  suites: Google Docs/Sheets/Slides, OpenOffice®, or LibreOffice®. Use a  Word table for this comparison and include pertinent information about  word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Make sure you go to  primary sources, not a comparison site, so this comparison is created by you. Under the table, provide the URLs to your sources. Write a paragraph of 50–80 words that explains which suite you have  chosen for the client and why. Do not do additional research; use your  critical thinking skills. Then write a statement that provides the prices for the two software packages. Antivirus Software Recommendation Compare two antivirus products. Use a Word table to show at least  three (3) feature comparisons. Do not choose a free option. Make sure  you go to primary sources, not a comparison site, so this comparison is created by you. Under the table, provide the URLs to your sources. Write a paragraph of 50–80 words that explains which of these you  have chosen for the client and why. Do not do additional research; use  your critical thinking skills. Then write a statement that provides the prices for the two antivirus options. Final Recommendation Develop an Excel worksheet in which you show one-year costs of your  computer choice, operating system, productivity suite, and antivirus  software. An example is shown in this unit’s Reading PDF.  For items that incur monthly costs, show a 12-month price, with “12” being the “quantity.” Label all input appropriately. All line totals must be calculated by formula. Add the costs together via formula. Apply conditional formatting to  this total cost cell, providing color if the total is more than a value  you choose. (See the Reading PDF for conditional formatting  information.) For a clean look, turn off gridlines. Develop another such Excel table in which you show the costs of the  other computer you used for comparison earlier in the document, the same  operating system, the other productivity suite, and the other antivirus  software.  Use the same formatting for this worksheet; the changes should be only in labeling and numeric input. Time-saving hint: Once you have created the first table, copy and  paste it, and then change the input to correctly identify the items and  costs. Embed these tables in your Word document. Embedding instructions are  in the Reading PDF. Screenshots, Word tables, or linked files will not  be accepted for this part of the assignment. Provide a summary of your final choices and why they are appropriate for the client, writing one paragraph of 50–80 words. Additional parameters: Format: Use a business-style Word template. Your professor may provide links  to suitable templates in the announcements, seminar, and/or email.  Ensure that your template choice is in portrait orientation and pages  are letter size (8.5″ x 11″). An image may be included on the cover page, but in no other part of the document. Use subheadings. Copy them from the instructions above. Single-space paragraphs without first-line indentation and leave a blank line between paragraphs and sections for readability. Do not add sections. Complete the document exactly as assigned. Writing: Use formal language. First-person writing is not appropriate. Write in your own words; do not quote or copy from sources. As this is a workplace document and not an APA paper, provide the  URLs as instructed. Do not use in-text citation or write reference  entries.