@Lawrence Press:

Managed is better because it would be handling the following:

• Admins could administer centrally
• Updating virus and security risk definitions
• Configuring antivirus and firewall settings
• Upgrading or migrating client software

Note: If you want to let users change client settings, Symantec recommends as a
best practice to install the clients in a managed environment.

Thanks...

Thought I might add to the discussion these two articles:

How to convert a client from managed to unmanaged without having to do an uninstall/reinstall:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ent-security....

How to convert a client from unmanaged to managed:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ent-security....

Thought you guys might find this useful. Maybe this would even allow you to turn one of you test machines into an unmanaged client for a while to test things out.

Cheers
Grant

Managed & Unmanaged modes are designed seperately.

If clents are using laptops and they are not able to update policies every day thet must must be in unmanaged mode.

All other clients can switched to managed mode.

Thanks

Even if laptops cannot connect every day or every week, I still think Managed mode is far better from an admin point of view.  I can change policies and know that when they do connect, they will update their policies (can't do this for unmanaged).  I can assign an installation package to a group and will know that when they connect, they will upgrade their client (can't do this for unmanaged).  I can set up a location based policy that check for SEPM connections and if they cannot connect to a SEPM, force them to connect to Symantec's Live Update Servers to keep definitions up to date.

Managed Mode is always better it hlps you to manage the network properly in case of any Virus Outbreak. :)

Does your boss have a specific reason why he wants them to be unmanaged? Are you going to be held responsible for ensuring that those clients are up to date? Does he want to know if there are any problems with those clients and have the ability to update them and view log data? 

If all 30 clients are in one small office than having all of them unmanaged wouldnt be too bad. However, I dont see a specific reason NOT to have have a console unless he just doesnt want you to spend the cycles setting up the back-end.