Test run by Lasse Rouhiainen on September 25, 2026, for the article 'Which Claude Model Is Best' (lasserouhiainen.com). All companies and figures are fictional.

Full answer from Fable 5.1, returned in Claude Code with the alias 'fable', default effort, no tools, one attempt. Shown as returned, except long dashes replaced by colons.

# Supplier comparison: 40 laptops for Northwind Dental Clinics

## 1. Normalized view (all prices excluding VAT, VAT 21%)

| Term | A: TechNova | B: Brightline IT | C: Orbis Systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware, 40 units | EUR 38,000 (40 × 950, "excluding VAT", Offer A) | Not itemized. Package price EUR 47,190 "VAT included" (Offer B) → EUR 39,000 ex VAT if the 21% rate applies (47,190 / 1.21) | EUR 36,400 (40 × 910, "excluding VAT", Offer C) |
| Installation + data migration | Not included. Optional at EUR 45/device = EUR 1,800 (Offer A, Notes) | Included in package (Offer B) | Included (Offer C) |
| Mandatory extras | None stated | None stated | 24-month support at EUR 150/month = EUR 3,600 ex VAT, required (Offer C, Conditions) |
| Comparable total, same scope (laptops + install + migration) | EUR 39,800 | EUR 39,000 (derived, see caveat) | EUR 36,400, or EUR 40,000 including the forced support |
| Delivery | 4 weeks (meets 6-week requirement) | 5 weeks (meets) | 8 to 10 weeks (fails the 6-week requirement) |
| Warranty | 3 years, on-site (meets) | "Standard manufacturer warranty", duration not stated (cannot confirm 3-year requirement) | 3 years; on-site or return-to-base not stated |
| Payment | 30 days | 50% on order, 50% on delivery | Not stated |
| Validity | 30 days | Not stated | Not stated |
| Support after installation | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 24 months included (content not described) |

## 2. Prices that cannot yet be compared fairly

- **B's ex-VAT figure is derived, not quoted.** EUR 39,000 assumes the 21% rate on the full amount. If any line carries a different rate or the figure was rounded, the number moves. Ask for an itemized ex-VAT quote.
- **B's warranty is undefined.** Manufacturer standard on business laptops is often 1 year, sometimes 3. If it is 1 year, B either fails the requirement or needs a warranty extension priced on top.
- **C's support contract mixes two things.** EUR 3,600 is a cost you did not ask for, but it is also a service A and B do not offer. Fair comparison depends on whether Northwind wants support anyway. If yes, A and B need a support quote added. If no, C's true cost of entry is EUR 40,000.
- **Scope of "installation and data migration" is not defined in any offer.** On-site vs. remote, data volume per device, old machines collected or not, user setup, domain join. A's EUR 45/device may cover less than B's or C's inclusion.
- **No laptop specifications in any offer.** "Business laptops" at EUR 950 and EUR 910 may not be equivalent machines. Price per unit is meaningless until the model and spec are matched.

## 3. Compliance against the stated requirements

- Delivery within 6 weeks: A yes, B yes, C no.
- 3-year warranty: A yes, B unknown, C yes (service level unknown).
- Installed and migrated: A only as an add-on, B yes, C yes.

## 4. Recommended next decision

Do not award yet. Shortlist A and B as the compliant offers. Keep C only if it can deliver within 6 weeks or the opening date has slack; otherwise it drops regardless of price.

On current information, A (EUR 39,800) and B (EUR 39,000) are within EUR 800 of each other, which is smaller than the uncertainty in B's warranty and scope. The decision hinges on B's answers, not on price.

## 5. Questions before committing

**To Brightline IT (B)**
1. Itemized quote ex VAT: hardware, installation, migration.
2. Exact warranty term and whether it is on-site. Price of extending to 3 years on-site if not.
3. Laptop model and spec.
4. Validity of the offer.

**To TechNova (A)**
1. Confirm the bundle at EUR 39,800 ex VAT with installation on-site and data migration scope defined.
2. Laptop model and spec.
3. Offer valid 30 days: the clarification round must close before that date.

**To Orbis Systems (C)**
1. Can delivery be brought within 6 weeks, even partially?
2. What does the EUR 150/month support cover (hours, response time, remote/on-site)? Can it be waived?
3. Is the 3-year warranty on-site?
4. Payment terms.

**Internal, before deciding**
- Hard opening date, and whether a slip beyond 6 weeks is tolerable.
- Does Northwind need ongoing support anyway? This changes whether C's EUR 3,600 is a cost or a benefit.
- Cash-flow preference: B wants 50% up front.

## 6. Missing information that would change the recommendation

- Laptop specs: if B or C offer weaker machines, the price gap reverses.
- B's warranty term: decides whether B is compliant at all.
- The support question: if support is wanted, C could become the best total value if it fixes delivery.

Confidence in the current ranking (A and B ahead, C non-compliant on delivery): about 70%. What is not clear: B's warranty and specs. What would change the evaluation: B confirming 3-year on-site warranty and equivalent specs would make B the leader by EUR 800.