Welcome to Dartmouth

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Joseph Mehling '69

Please take time to read the following information before you buy a computer. When you have made a decision about which computer best suits your needs, you may place your order online using the Dartmouth Student Information System.

Go online to www.dartmouth.edu/bannerstudent/ before August 13, 2008. Once you enter the system, you will need to use the PIN and password that were sent to you by the Admissions Office to gain access.

For help call the incoming student computer hotline at 1-603-646-1104 (from the U.S. or Canada) or 1-866-720-7567 (from outside the U.S. or Canada; the call is toll-free) or send us e-mail at computer.hotline@dartmouth.edu

A Letter to the Class of 2012 from Dartmouth Computing Services

Congratulations on your decision to attend Dartmouth! This Web site contains important information about computing at Dartmouth, including the computer ownership requirement for incoming students.

Please read the information provided very carefully and remember to make your selection on the Web site no later than August 13, 2008. You must sign in at www.dartmouth.edu/bannerstudent, even if you are not ordering a computer at this time, to let us know you are deferring your decision. This year we are offering home deliveries on computers. However, models change frequently and if you ask for home delivery you will receive the current model at the time of your order. We know, for example, that Dell will be announcing an upgrade in the summer and recommend that you pick up your Dell when you get on campus to ensure you get the latest model available.

You can bring a computer from home, but we encourage you to take a look at what you get when you buy from Dartmouth. Many students who bring a new or used computer from home have difficulty getting them set up for our network, even though the computer appears to meet our specifications. You will avoid these difficulties if you buy from us. We offer preconfigured Apple and Dell computers at educational prices that run on our network right out of the box. These packages also include all the software, cables, and security devices you will need to use our network. And you can have any computer you buy here serviced under warranty, so you won’t have to ship it off campus.

Read on and let us know if you have any questions about the computer ownership requirement or the information provided on this Web site. Please call the incoming student computer hotline at 1-603-646-1104 if you are calling from the U.S. or Canada. From outside the U.S. or Canada, call toll-free at 1-866-720-7567.

You can also find us on the Web at www.dartmouth.edu/comp/resources/facilities/store/ or send us e-mail at computer.hotline@dartmouth.edu

Computer Ownership Requirement

Dartmouth requires all incoming students to own a personal computer and it must work on the Dartmouth network. You will use your computer for electronic mail, to register for classes, submit assignments, search library catalogs, reference the World Wide Web, and more. The network and all of its resources are available literally from every corner of the campus, both wired and wireless. All laptops offered through the incoming student program are wireless enabled.

To-do List

To fulfill Dartmouth's computer ownership requirement, be sure to:

  • Read through the contents of this Web site.
  • Place your order online. Your order must be placed by August 13, 2008.

Your response is required. In early August, we will e-mail you more information about picking up your computer when you get to campus and also about classes we offer during Orientation. If you have questions, please call the incoming student computer hotline at 1-603-646-1104 if you are calling from the U.S. or Canada. From outside the U.S. or Canada, call toll-free at 1-866-720-7567.

Choosing a Computer Package

Dartmouth recommends that students purchase either Apple or Dell laptops. Before you come to Dartmouth you will need to decide whether to use Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac OS. Dartmouth offers a number of computer packages and accessories to incoming students. Which one is right for you?

Models We Recommend

Dartmouth offers two basic laptop packages that we believe represent the best balance between cost and performance.

  • The Apple MacBook Intel Core 2 Duo comes with a 2.40 GHz processor, 2 GB (2 chips) of RAM, a 13.3- inch color screen, a 160 GB hard drive, and an 8x Double-layer SuperDrive.
  • The Dell XPS M1330 Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 comes with a 2.40 GHz processor, 2 GB (2 chips) of RAM, a 14.1-inch color WXGA screen, a 160 GB hard drive, and an 8x DVD+/-RW drive.

In addition, we offer two high-end laptop packages. Should you choose one of these packages, financial aid will only cover up to the cost of the basic package toward one of the high-end packages. Please read the letter from the Financial Aid Office that you will receive in mid-June for details.

  • The Apple MacBook Pro Intel Core 2 Duo comes with a 2.40 GHz processor, 4 GB (2 chips) of RAM, a 15.4-inch color screen, a 200 GB hard drive, and an 8x Double-layer SuperDrive.
  • The Dell Latitude D630 Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 comes with a 2.40 GHz processor, 4 GB (2 chip) of RAM, a 15.4-inch color WSXGA+ screen, a 200 GB hard drive, and an 8x DVD+/-RW drive.

Software

A standard software package will be pre-installed on computers purchased through Dartmouth. It includes: System software; Microsoft Office; Symantec AntiVirus; BlitzMail (Dartmouth's electronic mail program); Sygate Security Agent (a personal firewall); an FTP client; and Web browsers. You will also receive utilities that allow you to use shared network resources, such as public laser printers and file servers.

Apple systems will be preloaded with Mac OS X Leopard. Windows systems will be preloaded with the Windows Vista Ultimate edition. Dartmouth supports Apple’s Mac OS X and Microsoft's Windows Vista Ultimate edition and Windows XP Professional operating systems. We do not support Windows XP Home or Windows Vista Home. 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 for a low price.

Our Warranties

All Apple computers come with a three-year AppleCare warranty; all Dell computers include a four-year CompleteCare warranty. The Apple warranty covers manufacture defects only (not accidental damage); the Dell warranty covers manufacture defects, plus accidental damage. Please note that software-related problems are not covered on any of the systems.

Repairs to Apple computers and the Dell computers can be done on campus by our certified technicians, regardless of whether you purchase them through us, through them, or elsewhere. If you bring a personal computer other than one of the recommended models, you will need to take your computer off campus for warranty service and support. We do not support Dell Dimension computers.

In rare cases, you may need to take a class that requires the use of software or resources that are not available for the computer you own — either Macintosh or Windows. You can meet the class requirements by using a friend’s computer or using a computer in one of the public computer clusters.

Should You Buy a Printer?

The College provides students with an allocation for free printing each term at public printers located around campus. Once that allocation has been depleted, you will be charged for printing. You may choose to purchase a personal printer, but Dartmouth financial aid is not available for the purchase of printers. To find out more, go to www.dartmouth.edu/comp/resources/equipment/greenprint/.

Placing Your Order

To place your order online, go to www.dartmouth.edu/bannerstudent/. All students ordering a new computer from Dartmouth or planning to bring their own computer to Dartmouth should respond on the Web site no later than August 13, 2008. You will need to use the PIN and password you received from the Admissions Office to place your order. If you have a problem ordering online, please call the hotline number at 1-603-646-1104 if you are calling from the U.S. or Canada. From outside the U.S. or Canada, call toll-free at 1-866-720-7567.

order-form

If you plan to have your computer shipped to your home this summer, you will need to call the hotline number with your credit card information after you place your online order. Alternatively, if you wait to pick up your computer, the cost will be added to your initial College bill and is due with that payment. This is the only time Dartmouth allows you to charge Computer Sales and Service items to your student account. The standard Dartmouth policies for payment of tuition and fees apply.

If you choose not to order a computer now and instead decide to purchase a computer from Dartmouth later, your student account can be charged for one computer during your first year at Dartmouth. By delaying your purchase decision until shortly after you arrive at Dartmouth, you may give yourself additional time to assess the computing environment, evaluate the equipment on display at Computer Sales and Service, and check used equipment listings. However, delaying your purchase may make it difficult for you to take advantage of some early-term computer-based activities. Special pricing, Dartmouth software installation and configuration, and delivery are only available when ordering your computer from Dartmouth at this time.

Students who are delaying their decision must remember that they have until October 10, 2008 to comply with the computer ownership requirement

Before You Order

The computer industry changes quickly, and product lines from Apple and Dell can change unexpectedly. Prices drop, performance increases, and new products are introduced. Watch the 2012.dartmouth.edu Web site for late-breaking news.

Additional Notes

  • There is no sales tax in New Hampshire.
  • You may pay by credit card if you decide to have your computer shipped to you over the summer. Otherwise the cost of the items ordered from the Web will be added to your initial Dartmouth College bill and is due with that payment

The Fine Print

Implications for Financial Aid

If you were awarded need-based financial aid and you request a loan to cover the cost of one of the basic laptop computer packages or up to the cost of the basic package toward the purchase of one of the high-end laptop computer packages, your award will be revised in late summer or early fall, following verification of your purchase from Computer Sales and Service.

If you choose to defer your purchase of a personal computer until you arrive on campus, or if you elect to buy directly from Apple, Dell, or elsewhere, you will still be eligible to receive financial aid. You will receive a letter from the Financial Aid Office in mid-June with details and limitations.

For those ineligible for financial aid, financing arrangements are sometimes possible through the manufacturers, through local (Hanover, NH) banks, or through private sources that specialize in educational loans.

Keep in Mind ...

Dartmouth has an Apple and Dell authorized repair facility on campus. Maintenance arrangements differ for different makes and models of equipment. Once the product is out of warranty, you will not be able to purchase extended warranty coverage. You are encouraged to insure your computer against other risks (such as theft) through a homeowner's policy or through another commercially available plan.

Also, this year we will not be distributing computers on campus during a single day. Students instead will pick up their computers after they complete their first-year trips or during their athletic sessions.

If you did not place an order on the Web site before August 13, 2008, you will need to come to Computer Sales and Service in person to order a computer.

When Will I Receive My Computer?

There are a number of options for receiving your computer. You may elect to have it sent to your house when you order it, pick it up while you’re on campus during the summer, or pick it up after you move into your residence hall room before Orientation.

Sent to Your Home Early

You can specify on the order form that you would like to have your computer sent to your home. You will need to call the hotline number to give your credit card information to a Computer Sales and Service employee. Note: Computer models change often. You will receive the model that is current at the time of your order.

For Athletes on Campus Early and on DOC Trips before September 1

If you are already on campus before Orientation due to athletics training or because of a DOC trip, you can pick your computer up while you’re here. Be sure to get your student ID first, as you’ll need this to pick up your computer.

Picking Your Computer Up in September

We recommend that most students wait to pick up their computer when they arrive on campus for the fall term. Generally you should plan to pick up your key from housing, get your student ID at Thayer Dining Hall, and come over to Computing Sales and Service in Carson Hall (attached to Baker-Berry Library) to pick up your computer. Our hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, please call the incoming student computer hotline at 1-603-646-1104 (from the U.S. or Canada) or 1-866-720-7567 (from outside the U.S. or Canada; the call is toll-free).

What If I Already Have a Computer or Want a Different Model

Students who bring computers other than those recommended sometimes have problems getting their computers connected to the Dartmouth network, even when the computer appears to meet our specifications. In some cases, these problems could not be resolved, and as a result, those systems did not meet the computer ownership requirement. You should not assume that because you are bringing a relatively new, brand-name computer that it will meet the computer ownership requirement. Resolving problems on systems not supported by Dartmouth may require time and money — and leave you without a computer in the meantime.

If you choose to purchase a new or used system from a source other than Dartmouth, you should carefully consider what you buy. If you want to purchase something other than what’s being recommended, you can pre-order it from us and pick it up at Computer Sales and Service, or you can wait until you get on campus to make your purchase. You can also order something from an outside vendor, but it will not be preconfigured for our network, and you will have to purchase a CD with Dartmouth’s software package and install it yourself. You will also need to separately purchase basic commercial software, such as Microsoft Office and Symantec AntiVirus (available at educational discounts at Computer Sales and Service) and install them yourself.

Also we only support the specific computer models we recommend: Macintosh computers running Mac OS X and the Dell line of computers running the Windows Vista Ultimate edition or Windows XP Professional. If you buy or bring a personal computer other than one of the recommended models, you will need to take your computer off campus for warranty repair and support.

If you purchased your computer elsewhere, you must contact the incoming student computer hotline to discuss your options and to find out about our standards for network interface cards and other key components. Call the incoming student computer hotline at 1-603-646-1104 (from the U.S. or Canada) or 1-866-720-7567 (from outside the U.S. or Canada; the call is toll-free).

Learning About Computing at Dartmouth

Peter Kiewit Computing Services offers many opportunities to learn about the computing environment. Some are provided exclusively for incoming students; others are offered year-round.

In late July, Computing Services will send you a letter explaining computer orientation events. Upon your arrival in September, several public computing facilities will be open on a walk-in basis. When you pick up your computer, you will receive handouts that describe Orientation events and general information about computing at Dartmouth. Online information will also describe how to use our computing resources.

On Wednesday, September 17, the "Introduction to Computing at Dartmouth" sessions will be combined with Academic Advising. In the "Introduction to Computing at Dartmouth" session, you will find out about technology resources that are available to you as a member of the Dartmouth community, including: how to register for classes, how to use BlitzMail, how to use Dartmouth's campus-wide printing system, how to protect your computer from being attacked, how to access the wireless network, how to obtain and use site-licensed software, how to get discounts on computer hardware and software, how to set up and connect your computer to the network, and where to get computing help when you need it.

Your undergraduate advisor (UGA) will be able to help you sort through any Orientation confusion and point you in the right direction for computing and other activities.

Dartmouth Computing Services provides help year-round:

Backing Up Your Data

While backups might seem like an unnecessary or tedious task, having a current backup is the best preventative measure you can take against any computer disaster. If a file is accidentally deleted or your computer suffers a hardware problem or is stolen, your data is safe and can be restored.

System software and software applications can be re-installed from their original disks so they do not need to be backed up. It is the documents that you have created or acquired that would be difficult and time consuming (or in some cases, impossible) to recreate or re-acquire.

There are many different ways to back up your documents:

  • Burning CDs or DVDs.
  • Copying files to a USB drive.
  • Mirroring or synching files to an external hard drive.
  • Using a Zip drive.
  • Backing up on a tape drive.

Points to consider:

  • Using CDs, DVDs, Zip drives, or an external hard drive to back up files requires consistent effort and a detailed labeling system.
  • Using backup software helps to automate the process by allowing scheduling; the program keeps track of what needs to be backed up.

Options for external hard drives and USB Flash drives are available from Computer Sales and Service.

If You Have Questions, Contact Us

Selecting computer equipment is confusing — even for those of us who provide computing advice regularly. For help with making your decision about a computer purchase, please contact us: Call the incoming student computer hotline at 1-603-646-1104 if you are calling from the U.S. or Canada. If you are calling from outside the U.S. or Canada, call toll-free at 1-866-720-7567.

Find us on the Web at www.dartmouth.edu/comp/resources/facilities/store/. Send e-mail to computer.hotline@dartmouth.edu.

Last Updated: 5/30/08