Even with the higher costs of owning and managing notebook computers, it might make more sense for businesses to buy laptops instead of a desktop computer the next time they go shopping, according to Gartner group.

The research firm noted that as part of a cost cutting strategy many companies are reducing their purchases of notebooks, which cost an average of US$2,200, and boosting the number of desktops, which cost an average of US$800. Some companies have even imposed a ban on all future purchases of notebooks.

"Although companies should carefully control costs, we also believe that making a notebook deployment decision based on pure costs alone is short-sighted," Gartner said.

"Companies must balance procurement and ongoing costs with potential productivity gains associated with being truly mobile."

Gartner noted that some companies are evaluating the cost of purchasing two desktops for their users, one for home and one for the office, but the overall cost and complexity of managing such a strategy make it very unattractive.

"We strongly recommend against this strategy," Gartner stated, while noting that studies have shown that employees who take notebooks home, or have access to a machine at home, work an additional two to four hours per week.

Companies should not stop deploying notebook computers solely because desktop machines are lower-priced, the firm stated.

Companies should combine deployment of both desktop and notebook computers to increase employee productivity.

The firm noted that the estimated total cost of ownership (TCO) in North America is US$4500 per user a year for a notebook versus $2500 per user a year for desktops.

"Indeed, if we are to assume that an average knowledge worker is paid $100-$120/hour, then as little as 20 extra productive hours of work per year due to notebook availability will more than offset the TCO, which includes both the acquisition and ongoing support costs."

Gartner forecasts the purchase of notebook computers by enterprises to increase from about 25 to 30 percent currently in North America to 35 to 40 percent over the next three to four years.

The trend is forecast to continue despite the significantly greater TCO for notebooks compared to desktops.

The TCO would be offset somewhat by a gradual reduction in the purchase cost of notebooks by about 5 to ten percent per year for the next three to four years as LCD panel prices decline.

"However, we do not expect notebook prices to fall as dramatically as desktop prices have during the past few years," Gartner states.

"We also do not expect the acquisition cost of notebooks to approach the lower acquisition and support costs of desktop machines any time soon, or to achieve the same useful life (two years for notebooks versus three years for desktops)."

Here we go again. A critical flaw in all versions of Microsoft's Windows operating system could allow malicious attackers to corrupt the digital certificates that computers use to connect to network services. The vulnerability relates to a scripting control known as the certificate enrolment control, which allows web-based certificate enrolments.

The control contains a flaw that could enable a web page to use the control in a way that would delete certificates on a user's system, Microsoft warned last week.

Such digital certificates are used to hold encryption keys used in e-mail, the encrypted files system that is shipped with certain versions of Windows, and in the secure sockets layer communications protocol used by many e-commerce Web sites.

All users of Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Windows XP should patch their systems immediately.

The patch, listed in the 48th security advisory issued by Microsoft this year, is available at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-048.asp.

Tech Tattle deals with issues in technology. Contact Ahmed ElAmin at editor@offshoreon.com.

Ahmed ElAmin us editor of Offshore, Online which publishes news and information about offshore financial centres.

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