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Following are some frequently asked questions regarding the computer
ownership requirement
Do I Have to Buy a Personal Computer?
Dartmouth’s computer ownership requirement means that all incoming undergraduate students must own a personal computer for electronic mail, to register for classes, review course materials, submit assignments, search library catalogs, and more. Any computer you use must work with our network and should be new enough to take full advantage of all of these resources. It must also be properly configured and have antivirus protection installed and active. Fortunately, the College sells network-ready computers to students at academically discounted prices. If you already own a computer that you plan to bring, you may not need to purchase another one; however, there are many advantages to having a new computer, especially one purchased through Dartmouth.
Are Computers Dartmouth Sells Good to Go out of the Box?
A computer purchased through Dartmouth will already have much of the software needed by students installed on it. It will be competitively priced, preconfigured for our network, and preloaded with operating system software, Microsoft Office, Symantec EndPoint Protection (an antivirus and personal firewall), an FTP client, and Web browsers. Students who buy their computers from Dartmouth also say they have far fewer problems getting started on our network. And after the sale, Dartmouth provides on-site service and support for the products we sell.
What Kind of Warranties Do You Offer?
All Apple computers sold to students come with a 3-year warranty and Lenovos come with a 4-year ADP (Accident Damage Protection) warranty.
You can spend nearly your entire college career without worrying about getting the service you need. Computer Sales and Service on campus is an authorized repair shop for both.
What Is the Timeline for Buying a Computer?
In late May you will receive a flyer announcing a Web site from
which you can order your computer starting June 1. The site will
contain information on our recommended Apple and Dell computers, 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 from Dartmouth so that you can take advantage of
educational discounts on the latest models. Computers ordered through Dartmouth
are available for delivery after purchase or may be picked up. The Web site
will explain your delivery options or when computers will be available for pick
up during the summer or at Orientation in September. Also included will be a
letter from the Financial Aid Office, a list of the computer packages
available, information on peer-to-peer file sharing and copyright law, and how
to back up your data.
In late July or early August, you will also receive an e-mail
notice explaining computer orientation activities that are planned during
Orientation Week for all incoming undergraduate students and details on when we
will distribute the pre-ordered personal computers and computer materials.
Note: computer models are updated regularly and you will receive the model
that was the latest technology at the time of your purchase.
Are There Any Downsides to Bringing a Computer from Home?
Computers that are brought from home often have network compatibility problems. Specifically, most of the problems can be traced to hardware components such as wireless or Ethernet cards or with system-level software configurations. In some cases, these problems cannot be resolved, and as a result, these systems won’t work on our network and do not meet the computer ownership requirement. Sometimes software will be out of date and cause problems too. For example, last year some students came to Dartmouth with a version of the Vista operating system that didn’t work with our network and they had to purchase an upgrade and update their computers in order to connect.
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 won’t be able to get on-campus warranty service on it and will likely be referred off campus for support. Resolving the problem may require time and money – and leave you without a computer in the meantime.
If you bring a computer from home, it must have antivirus protection 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, come by and talk to us to make sure you can use it here. You can purchase or order the commercial software, cables, and accessories from Dartmouth’s Computer Sales and Service. On many items, Computer Sales and Service is able to obtain academic pricing that can save you money.
What Computers Are Being Recommended to Incoming Students?
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 2013 Web site (http://2013.dartmouth.edu/). We will post updated information as it becomes available over the summer.
What Operating Systems Does Dartmouth Support?
Dartmouth supports only Apple Macintosh computers and the Lenovo laptop and Hewlett-Packard desktop lines of computers running Mac OS X and the Windows Vista Ultimate edition or Windows XP Professional. If you purchase a Windows computer through Dartmouth, it will come with Windows Vista. If you purchase a Macintosh computer through Dartmouth, it will come with Mac OS X. If you have an unsupported operating system, software is available to Dartmouth students from Computer Sales and Service to upgrade to Windows Vista or Mac OS 10.5 Leopard for a discounted price.
Are There Any Types of Computers Not Recommended?
You can choose to purchase a new or used system from a source other than Dartmouth. However, we provide warranty service only to these laptops:
- Apple Macintosh (recommended)
- Lenovo (recommended)
- Dell
When the Web site becomes available in early June, please read the information carefully before purchasing any computer so you will know which system will best fit your needs.
Keep in mind that Dartmouth's Peter Kiewit Computing Services does not support Windows XP Home or Windows Vista Home. If you bring a personal computer other than one of the recommended models, or with an unsupported operating system, you will need to take your computer off campus for warranty repair. Students who bring computers other than those recommended sometimes have problems getting their computers connected to the Dartmouth network, even though the computer appears to meet our specifications.
If you plan to bring a new computer that matches the specifications of the packages recommended, you will be asked to call the incoming student computer hotline (the hotline number will be activated in early June) to discuss your options and to find out about the standards for network interface cards and other key components.
Is Financial Aid Available to Help with the Purchase of A Computer?
Yes, 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.)
- If you choose to have your computer shipped to you during the summer, you will be required to pay in advance by credit card, but you can receive the loan as a credit to your student account in the fall.
- If you pick up your computer when you arrive on campus, the purchase will be charged to your student account and can be offset by the loan amount.
- If you elect to purchase a computer elsewhere, you would still be eligible for a loan up to the amount of the basic package offered by Dartmouth.
- If you are ineligible for financial aid, financing arrangements are sometimes available through the manufacturers, through local (New Hampshire) banks, or through private sources that specialize in educational loans.
When Can I Get My Computer?
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 Orientation Week. If you want to charge your computer to your student account, this is the option you should choose. Either way your computer will arrive with all operating software preinstalled and preconfigured, and it will be ready for use at Dartmouth. The on-campus delivery dates will be included on the Web site in early June. If you elect to pick up your computer early, you will be asked for contact information so that we can notify you when it will be available.
Should I Buy a Printer?
The College provides print services, but some students prefer to have their own printer. Printers may be ordered with your computer or purchased when you arrive on campus. Print services (known as GreenPrint) are located in several locations around campus and are available for student use over the network. Each student is provided with an allocation of free black-and-white printing each term (currently $20). This is the equivalent of approximately 300 pages. Color printing is not provided free of charge. When quotas are exceeded or in the event you need color printing, charges will be incurred and transferred to your DA$H discretionary spending account. Financial aid is not available for the purchase of printers.
Are There Basic Training Sessions on How to Use the Computer I Purchase? What about all the Other Network-Based Resources Available at Dartmouth?
Whether you buy a computer from Dartmouth or bring one from home, we provide training during the orientation period that introduces important aspects of the Dartmouth computing environment, such as the network and public computing resources around campus. 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 booklet you receive when you arrive on campus.
In addition, Dartmouth Computing Services provides help year-round through our IT Service (Help) Desk, Computer Sales and Service, and our Apple and Lenovo-certified technicians.
Where Should I Go for More Information?
The ordering Web site will be up on June 1 and will have additional information on compatible systems on it. We will also have a telephone hotline 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. Remember, before you buy a computer, to consider our academically discounted prices and the value-added services we provide.
Congratulations and welcome to Dartmouth!
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