<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10(kk)


                                   TERM NOTE

                               (Thomas C. Lynch)
                               CompuCom Systems


$796,875                                                       December 23, 1998



        In consideration of the loan (hereinafter referred to as a "Loan")
CompuCom Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Lender"), has made to
Thomas C. Lynch, (the "Borrower"), and for value received, the Borrower hereby
promises to pay to the order of the Lender, at the Lender's office located at
7171 Forest Lane, Dallas, Texas, 75230 or at such other place in the continental
United States as the Lender may designate in writing, in lawful money of the
United States, and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of
$796,875.

        The unpaid principal balance of the Note shall be paid in full on
December 31, 2001. The Borrower hereby further promises to pay to the order of
the Lender interest on the outstanding principal amount from the date hereof, at
a per annum rate equal to 4.33% (the "Loan Rate"). The Borrower shall pay on
demand interest on any overdue payment of principal and interest (to the extent
legally enforceable) at the Loan Rate plus three percent (3%). In the event of
Borrower's termination of employment, the unpaid principal balance and all
accrued interest thereon shall be paid in full.

        Interest shall be paid upon maturity or early repayment of the entire
outstanding principal balance of the Note.

        All payments made on this Note (including, without limitation,
prepayments) shall be applied, at the option of the Lender, first to late
charges and collection costs, if any, then to accrued interest and then to
principal. Interest payable hereunder shall be calculated for actual days
elapsed on the basis of a 360-day year. All accrued and unpaid interest shall be
due and payable upon maturity of this Note. After maturity or in the event of
default, interest shall continue to accrue on the Note at the rate set forth
above and shall be payable on demand of the Lender.

        The outstanding principal amount of this Note may be prepaid in whole or
in part without any prepayment penalty or premium at any time or from time to
time by Borrower upon notice to the Lender; provided, that any prepayment shall
be applied first to any interest due to the date of such prepayment on this
Note.

        Notwithstanding anything in this Note, the interest rate charged hereon
shall not exceed the maximum rate allowable by applicable law. If any stated
interest rate herein exceeds the maximum allowable rate, then the interest rate
shall be reduced to the maximum allowable rate, and any excess payment of
interest made by Borrower at any time shall be applied to the unpaid balance of
any outstanding principal of this Note.

        An event of default hereunder shall consist of:

        (i)    a default in the payment by the Borrower to the Lender of
   principal or interest under this Note as and when the same shall become due
   and payable or failure to perform any agreements hereunder; or

        (ii)   an event of default under the Pledge Agreement dated, as of
   December 23, 1998 between Borrower and the Lender or an event of default
   under the Security Agreement, dated as of December 23, 1998 between Borrower
   and Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.; or
<PAGE>
 
        (iii)  institution of any proceeding by or against the Borrower under
   any present or future bankruptcy or insolvency statute or similar law and, if
   involuntary, if the same are not stayed or dismissed within sixty (60) days,
   or the Borrower's assignment for the benefit of creditors or the appointment
   of a receiver, trustee, conservator or other judicial representative for the
   Borrower or the Borrower's property or the Borrower's being adjudicated a
   bankrupt or insolvent.

        Upon the occurrence of an event of default hereunder, this Note shall
automatically without any action or notice by Lender, be accelerated and become
immediately due and payable, and Lender shall have all of the rights and
remedies provided for herein or otherwise available at law or in equity, all of
which remedies shall be cumulative.

        Neither the reference to nor the provisions of any agreement or document
referred to herein shall affect or impair the absolute and unconditional
obligation of the Borrower to pay the principal of and interest on this Note as
herein provided.

        Any action, suit or proceeding where the amount in controversy as to at
least one party, exclusive of interest and costs, exceeds $1,000,000 ("Summary
Proceeding"), arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Pledge Agreement
or the Security Agreement or the breach, termination or validity thereof, shall
be litigated exclusively in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (the
"Delaware Superior Court") as a summary proceeding pursuant to Rules 124-131 of
the Delaware Superior Court, or any successor rules (the "Summary Proceeding
Rules"). Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i)
submits to the jurisdiction of the Delaware Superior Court for any Summary
Proceeding, (ii) agrees not to commence any Summary Proceeding except in the
Delaware Superior Court, (iii) waives, and agrees not to plead or to make, any
objection to the venue of any Summary Proceeding in the Delaware Superior Court,
(iv) waives, and agrees not to plead or to make, any claim that any Summary
Proceeding brought in the Delaware Superior Court has been brought in an
improper or otherwise inconvenient forum, (v) waives, and agrees not to plead or
to make, any claim that the Delaware Superior Court lacks personal jurisdiction
over it, (vi) waives its right to remove any Summary Proceeding to the federal
courts except where such courts are vested with sole and exclusive jurisdiction
by statute and (vii) understands and agrees that it shall not seek a jury trial
or punitive damages in any Summary Proceeding based upon or arising out of or
otherwise related to this Agreement waives any and all rights to any such jury
trial or to seek punitive damages.

        In the event any action, suit or proceeding where the amount in
controversy as to at least one party, exclusive of interest and costs, does not
exceed $1,000,000 (a "Proceeding"), arising out of or relating to this Agreement
or the breach, termination or validity thereof is brought, the parties to such
Proceeding agree to make application to the Delaware Superior Court to proceed
under the Summary Proceeding Rules. Until such time as such application is
rejected, such Proceeding shall be treated as a Summary Proceeding and all of
the foregoing provisions of this Section relating to Summary Proceedings shall
apply to such Proceeding.

        If a Summary Proceeding is not available to resolve any dispute
hereunder, the controversy or claim shall be settled by arbitration conducted on
a confidential basis, under the U.S. Arbitration Act, if applicable, and the
then current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association (the "Association") strictly in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and the substantive law of the State of Delaware. The arbitration
shall be conducted at the Association's regional office located closest to the
Lender's principal place of business by a single arbitrator. Judgment upon the
arbitrator's award may be entered and enforced in any court of competent
jurisdiction. Neither party shall institute a proceeding hereunder unless at
least 60 days prior thereto such party shall have given written notice to the
other party of its intent to do so.

        Neither party shall be precluded hereby from securing equitable remedies
in courts of any jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, temporary
restraining orders and preliminary injunctions to protect its rights and
interests but shall not be sought as a means to avoid or stay arbitration or
Summary Proceedings.
<PAGE>
 
        Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably designates and appoints
Corporation Service Company (the "Service Agent") with offices on the date
hereof at 1013 Centre Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19805, as its agent to receive
service of process in any Proceeding or Summary Proceeding. Each of the parties
hereto further covenants and agrees that, so long as this Agreement or the
Pledge Agreement shall be in effect, each such party shall maintain a duly
appointed agent for the service of summonses and other legal processes in the
State of Delaware and will notify the other parties hereto of the name and
address of such agent if it is no longer the Service Agent.

        The Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest and notice of
dishonor and protest, and also waives all other exemptions; and agrees that
extension or extensions of the time of payment of this Note or any installment
or part thereof may be made before, at or after maturity by agreement by the
Lender. Upon default hereunder the Lender shall have the right to offset the
amount owed by the Borrower against any amounts owed by the Lender in any
capacity to the Borrower, whether or not due, and the Lender shall be deemed to
have exercised such right of offset and to have made a charge against any such
account or amounts immediately upon the occurrence of an event of default
hereunder even though such charge is made or entered on the books of the Lender
subsequent thereto. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender, upon demand, all costs
and expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and legal expenses,
that may be incurred by the Lender in connection with the enforcement of this
Note.

        Notices required to be given hereunder shall be deemed validly given (i)
three business days after sent, postage prepaid, by certified mail, return
receipt requested, (ii) one business day after sent, charges paid by the sender,
by Federal Express Next Day Delivery or other guaranteed delivery service, (iii)
when sent by facsimile transmission, or (iv) when delivered by hand:

If to the Lender:        CompuCom Systems, Inc.
                               Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
                               7171 Forest Lane
                               Dallas, TX 75230

If to the Borrower:      Thomas C. Lynch
                               1236 Denbigh Lane
                               Radnor, PA 19087

or to such other address, or in care of such other person, as the holder or the
Borrower shall hereafter specify to the other from time to time by due notice.

        Any failure by the Lender to exercise any right hereunder shall not be
construed as a waiver of the right to exercise the same or any other right at
any time. No amendment to or modification of this Note shall be binding upon the
Lender unless in writing and signed by it. Any provision hereof found to be
illegal, invalid or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever shall not affect the
validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder hereof. This Note shall
apply to and bind the successors of the Borrower and shall inure to the benefit
of the Lender, its successors and assigns.

        This Note shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has duly executed this Term Note as of
the date first written above.


                                             /s/ THOMAS C. LYNCH
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            THOMAS C. LYNCH