-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Fdm0edyTGhlZ9dLiMNo1iD0e5aRKgFGix7uiHOfFe4cUqu68o2FnrExqZOHnAHyP
 zIsN7ssJXY9qUlfnMN1uVA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001095449-03-000079.txt : 20031107
<SEC-HEADER>0001095449-03-000079.hdr.sgml : 20031107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031107171552
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001095449-03-000079
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031107

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROGRAMMERS PARADISE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000945983
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-COMPUTER & PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE [5045]
		IRS NUMBER:				133136104
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1157 SHREWSBURY AVE
		CITY:			SHREWSBURY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7323898950

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1157 SHREWSBURY AVE
		CITY:			SHREWSBURY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07702

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROI PARTNERS L P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000882871

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26408
		FILM NUMBER:		03986054

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 175
		CITY:			GREENBRAE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94904
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4154648023

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 175
		CITY:			GREENBRAE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94904
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-07</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000945983</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROGRAMMERS PARADISE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>prog</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000882871</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROI PARTNERS L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 175</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENBRAE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94904</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.1511</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>806900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mitchell J. Soboleski</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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