I am beginning to understand what the problem is, you all wish that you had joined Arthur Andersen or similar, do you want company cars as well?
When I was a YO I went out and bought a Amstrad 9512, this eventually was donated to the Sqn, the IBM that I purchased next accompanied me to my first civvie job and was far in advance of anything being used by that firm of Stock Brokers. My present firm has wonderful front office kit but is still running early DOS type programmes for client files etc. (it is the biggest US bank). However, my home computer is still more up to date than the laptop I am typing this on, the cost of replacing such items across my firm which employs about 60,000 pople is prohibitive, especially in this business climate.
If you are incapable of keeping notes on your soldiers on exercise, or in camp for that matter, without a Laptop, heaven help us all!
I understand that much paperwork is requested in any number of formats. In my day (not that long ago) we had SD templates and we somehow managed to run our troops in camp, on exercise and at war.
I agree that bulk purchase offers might be an option (but never at cost as this may be construed as a benefit in kind, ie, you might get charged tax on it) and am suprised that the hand book of discounts does not already have a few offers.
Please get a grip on reality, there is no way that the Army should or could pay for YOs laptops . I am not against change but this is not change it is purely a case of keeping up with your civvie chums
Please remember that your chums in civvie street who have shiny laptops, company cars etc. actually make money for thier employers, if they did not they would quickly be on the dole minus the above.