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 Opus 5.5, returned in Claude Code with the alias 'opus', default effort, no tools, one attempt. Shown as returned, except long dashes replaced by colons.

# Laptop supplier comparison: Northwind Dental Clinics (40 laptops)

## 1. Normalized comparison (all amounts EUR, excluding 21% VAT)

| Term | A: TechNova | B: Brightline IT | C: Orbis Systems | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | 40 (A, line 1) | 40 (B, line 1) | 40 (C, line 1) | 40 |
| Hardware | 38,000 (A, line 1) | Not broken out (B, line 1) | 36,400 (C, line 1) | - |
| Installation + data migration | Not included. Optional at 45/device = 1,800 (A, Notes) | Included (B, line 1) | Included (C, line 1) | Required |
| Tax treatment | Excl. VAT (A, line 1) | **Incl. VAT**: 47,190 / 1.21 = **39,000** excl. (B, line 1) | Excl. VAT (C, line 1) | Compare excl. VAT |
| Mandatory extras | None stated | None stated | 24-month support at 150/month = **3,600** (C, Conditions) | - |
| **Normalized total** | **39,800** (or 41,600, see gap A1) | **39,000** | **40,000** | - |
| Warranty | 3 years, on-site (A, Warranty) | "Standard manufacturer warranty", length not stated (B, Warranty) | 3 years, on-site or not stated (C, Warranty) | 3 years |
| Lead time | 4 weeks (A, Delivery) | 5 weeks (B, Delivery) | **8-10 weeks** (C, Delivery) | Within 6 weeks |
| Payment | 30 days (A, Payment) | 50% on order, 50% on delivery (B, Payment) | Not stated | - |
| Validity | 30 days (A, Notes) | Not stated | Not stated | - |
| Laptop model/specs | Not stated ("business laptops") | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |

## 2. Compliance with the requirement

- **A** meets all stated requirements if the optional installation and migration service is added.
- **B** meets scope and lead time. It does not show that it meets the 3-year warranty.
- **C** fails the 6-week delivery requirement: even its best case of 8 weeks is 2 weeks late. It also adds a support contract that we did not ask for.

## 3. Prices that cannot yet be compared fairly

1. **B's 39,000 is not like-for-like.** The warranty length is not stated. The cost of extending it to 3 years is unknown. B is only the cheapest option if that uplift costs less than 800 excl. VAT (the gap to A's 39,800).
2. **B's VAT conversion is an assumption.** I assumed 21% applies to the whole package. The exact match (39,000 x 1.21 = 47,190) supports this, but B has not confirmed it.
3. **A's service price is ambiguous.** "EUR 45 per device" could cover installation and migration together (1,800) or each one separately (3,600, giving a total of 41,600). A's total is uncertain until A clarifies.
4. **C's 40,000 includes a service we did not specify.** The value of the support contract is unknown. So is whether it continues after 24 months. Either way, C is non-compliant on lead time.
5. **No offer states the laptop model or specs.** Without CPU, RAM, storage and OS edition, even the hardware prices are not proven to be like-for-like. This is the biggest gap. If the specs differ materially, the ranking could change.

## 4. Recommendation

**Do not commit yet.** Shortlist A and B and send them clarification questions now. A's price expires 30 days from its offer date, and that date is not given.

- **A is the current front-runner.** It is the only offer that is fully compliant on paper, it has the best payment terms and no prepayment, and it has the most delivery buffer.
- **B could win** if it confirms a 3-year warranty (ideally on-site) for less than about 800 extra, and equivalent specs.
- **Drop C** unless it can guarantee delivery within 6 weeks, or Northwind can accept a later opening date.

## 5. Questions to ask before committing

**All suppliers**
- Exact model and full specs, and whether the OS licence (e.g. Windows Pro) is included.
- Delivery cost and location.
- Does the lead time cover delivery only, or delivery plus installation and migration?
- Data migration scope: data volume, how many old machines, whether user profiles and applications are included, and how the old drives are wiped or disposed of.

**A (TechNova)**
- Is the 45 per device for installation and migration combined, or for each?
- What is the offer date, so we know exactly when the 30-day validity ends?

**B (Brightline IT)**
- Warranty length and type (on-site or return-to-base)?
- Price to extend to 3 years?
- Please confirm the price excl. VAT.
- Can the 50% prepayment be reduced, or covered by a guarantee?

**C (Orbis Systems)**
- Can you commit to delivery within 6 weeks, with penalties?
- What exactly does the support contract include?
- Is it optional, and what happens after month 24?
- Payment terms? On-site warranty?

**Confidence:** about 70% that A remains the best choice. Three things are still unclear: B's warranty, the specs, and A's service pricing. Confirmation that B includes a 3-year warranty at no extra cost, or evidence that A's hardware is a lower spec, would change this assessment.