<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001095449-03-000080
<TYPE>4/A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031107
<FILING-DATE>20031107
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>PROGRAMMERS PARADISE INC
<CIK>0000945983
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5045
<IRS-NUMBER>133136104
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1157 SHREWSBURY AVE
<CITY>SHREWSBURY
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07702
<PHONE>7323898950
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1157 SHREWSBURY AVE
<CITY>SHREWSBURY
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07702
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ROI PARTNERS L P
<CIK>0000882871
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4/A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26408
<FILM-NUMBER>03986287
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 175
<CITY>GREENBRAE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94904
<PHONE>4154648023
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 175
<CITY>GREENBRAE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94904
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

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

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-11-07</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <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>463900</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>
</SUBMISSION>
