Following are some frequently asked questions regarding the computer ownership requirement
Dartmouth requires all students to own a computer that meets minimum hardware requirements and works on the Dartmouth network. While you may certainly choose to purchase your computer anywhere, there are some advantages to buying through the Dartmouth Computer Store. All computers sold through the campus store meet our hardware standards, and are "network ready" out of the box. In addition, you'll receive an educational discount when buying through the store, and can have warranty service performed on premises. If you already own a computer, or plan to buy one elsewhere please be aware that you WILL NOT be entitled to a free loaner and will be charged a service fee if service is needed, please check to be sure it meets our minimum supported hardware requirements.
Dartmouth offers a number of laptop computer packages to incoming students — both from Lenovo and Apple. To keep up to date on the most current information about packages we recommend, we suggest you monitor the Class of 2017 website (http://2017.dartmouth.edu/). We will post updated information as it becomes available over the summer.
We will also have netbooks for sale, like the Dell Latitude E6430 and the MacBook Pro, as well as Apple iPads. New products may be introduced over the summer and we will update our offerings as they become available.
A computer purchased through Dartmouth will come with documentation that will help you automatically download, install and configure much of the software students need for Dartmouth’s network. Students who buy their computers from Dartmouth say they have far fewer problems getting started on our network.
iPads and Netbooks are not intended to be replacements for computers; they are something that people purchase in addition to a computer. They are useful for surfing the Web or checking e-mail while you’re away from your computer. Some courses require students to install applications which would not work on Netbooks or iPads.
All Apple computers sold to students come with a 3-year warranty and Dell computers come with a 4-year Complete Care warranty.
You can spend nearly your entire college career without worrying about getting the service you need. The Computer Store on campus is an authorized repair shop for both.
In late May you will receive notice of a Web site from which you can order your computer from. The site will contain information on our recommended Apple and Dell computers, optional products and ordering instructions. All computers offered by Dartmouth are available at special educational prices. We strongly encourage you to wait until you hear from us before buying your computer so that you can take advantage of educational discounts on the latest models. Computers ordered through Dartmouth are available for delivery to you at your home, or may be picked up on campus.
Note: computer models are updated regularly and you will receive the model that has the latest technology at the time of your purchase.
If you already own a computer, or plan to buy one elsewhere please be aware that you WILL NOT be entitled to a free loaner and will be charged a service fee if service is needed.
Computers that are brought from home often have network compatibility problems. In some cases, these problems cannot be resolved, and as a result, these systems do not meet the computer ownership requirement. You should not assume that because you are bringing a relatively new brand name computer that it will work properly on our network. Additionally, if you experience a problem with a computer that is not one of our supported models, you may need to be referred off campus for support. Resolving the problem may require time and money.
If you bring a computer from home, it must have antivirus software installed and active. Computers that contract viruses will be denied access to the network until all viruses have been removed.
That said, if you plan to bring a computer from home, or if you purchase a used computer, e-mail or talk to us (866-720-7567) to make sure you can use it here.
You can purchase software, cables, and accessories from The Computer Store. On many items, The Computer Store is able to obtain educational discounts that can save you money.
Before buying a less expensive computer, you want to make sure that it will meet your needs here on campus. Be sure that the memory and processing speeds are comparable with the one recommended by Dartmouth, and look carefully at the warranty being offered. Four years of college can be hard on a computer so you want to make sure that as many potential problems are covered by the warranty, for as long a period as possible.
Dartmouth supports Mac OS X and Windows 7 Professional. If you purchase a Windows computer through Dartmouth it will come with Windows 7 Professional. If you purchase a Macintosh computer through Dartmouth it will come with Mac OS X 10.8.
If you have an unsupported operating system, software is available to Dartmouth students from The Computer Store to upgrade to Windows 7 or Mac OS 10.8 for a discounted price.
Top of pageYes, financial aid is available to eligible students in the form of a loan to cover the cost of one of the basic computer packages. (More information on this option will be available in June.)
Starting June 1, when you order your computer, you can arrange to pick it up early or have it sent to your home. Alternatively, you can defer delivery until you arrive on campus. If you want to charge your computer to your student account, this is the option you should choose. The on-campus delivery dates will be included on the Web site in late May or early June. If you elect to pick up your computer on campus before Orientation, you will be asked for contact information so that we can notify you when it will be available.
Dartmouth provides print services to all students, but some prefer to have their own printer. Printers may be ordered with your computer or purchased when you arrive on campus. Financial aid is not available for the purchase of printers.
Print services (known as GreenPrint) are located in several locations around campus and are available for student use. Each student is provided with an allocation of approximately 300 pages free black-and-white printing each term. If your quota is exceeded or if you need color printing, the charges will be transferred to your DA$H discretionary account.
Whether you buy a computer from Dartmouth or bring one from home, we provide a session during Orientation that introduces important aspects of the Dartmouth computing environment, such as the network and public computing resources. Materials will be given out that describe how to use our computer resources and services. You will be informed of the locations of these sessions in the Orientation information you receive when you arrive on campus.
In addition, Dartmouth Computing Services provides help year-round through our IT Walk-In Center (Help Desk), The Computer Store, and our Apple and Dell-certified technicians.
The ordering Web site will be up in late May and will have additional information on compatible systems on it. We also have a telephone hotline (866-720-7567) for questions where you can call for more information about computer purchases and compatibility requirements. We advise you to read the information carefully, and if you still have questions, call the hotline number provided or e-mail us. Remember, before you buy a computer, consider our academically discounted prices and the value-added services we provide.
Congratulations and welcome to Dartmouth!
