Laptop Purchase Program, Fall 2008

Looking to purchase a computer for the fall?  The Goucher College Information Technology (IT) Help Desk may be able to save you some time and money. 

Continuing in Fall 2008, Goucher’s Laptop Purchase Program offers incoming students the opportunity to buy a new Lenovo, Dell, or Apple laptop computer. The program features several strong advantages. 

The Laptop Models page shows all recommended models and configurations.

Reduced Price

By negotiating with the vendors and selecting several models configured to meet college guidelines, the college is able to provide students and their parents with discounted pricing off the retail price.  The recommended models will be the base, but several upgrade options will be offered.  The hard drive, memory (RAM), video card, CPU, optical drive, and accidental damage warranty will all be upgradeable.

Goucher Support

The IT Help Desk will offer full software support for these models and will serve as a central drop-off location for all hardware issues.  Students who have purchased the recommended laptop will receive a quicker service turnaround over computers not in the program, since Help Desk technicians will be familiar with its hardware and, in the event of a software problem, will be able to back up information more easily and restore the machine to its factory settings.

Preloaded Software

Through the Laptop Purchase Program, the Lenovo and Dell computers will be preloaded with Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, OneNote and Outlook), McAfee VirusScan, and Anti-Spyware software.

Apple computers purchsaed through the program will not be preloaded with any Goucher specific software, however, both Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac and McAfee VirusScan for Mac are readily available via CD or download at no additional cost.

Wireless Connectivity

While Goucher students aren’t required to bring a computer to campus, the college strongly recommends the use of a wireless laptop because of its portability, flexibility in and out of the classroom, and wireless connectivity.  The recommended machine will be able to connect to wireless “hot spots” inside and outside campus buildings.

Solid Warranty

The recommended Lenovo and Dell models will include a three-year on-site warranty and three years of accidental damage coverage.  These warranties cover equipment malfunctions and accidental damage.  You will have access to "Institutional" customer support instead of regular consumer support.  For laptops with damaged components, students in the program will be given a “loaner” machine of the same make and model so that downtime is minimized while the original machine is repaired.

The recommended Apple models will include a three-year AppleCare warranty, which covers equipment malfuntions and telephone technical support. For laptops with damaged components, students in the program will be given a “loaner” machine of the same make and model so that downtime is minimized while the original machine is repaired. To insure that accidental damage is covered, it is highly recommended that Safeware laptop insurance is purchased with any Apple laptops.

We at the IT Help Desk are pleased to be able to offer this program, which was initiated and is presently being developed largely in response to student and parent requests for computer recommendations and configuration assistance.