General
Computer Purchase Information (updated July 2009)
Students in the College of Design make extensive use
of computers in their coursework and everyday lives. There is a lot
to consider when purchasing computer hardware and software. This document,
adapted from the NC
State University Office of Information Technology Computer Recommendations webpage
to include College of Design information, provides information for students
interested in making those purchases. Links to departmental computing
requirements are also provided below.
Each department in the College
of Design has different computer requirements. Students should contact
their departmental office if, after reading these pages, they have questions
about specific hardware or software requirements. Even without a
computer requirement, many students find they benefit from the convenience
of having their own computer.
We recommend College of Design undergraduate students
wait until their sophomore year to purchase a computer for coursework.
Graduate students should check their departmental computing requirements. Freshmen
will not be required to use their own computer for College of Design
coursework. By waiting until the second year, students can get a
better computer for about the same amount of money. Computer capabilities
grow at a dramatic rate, so next year's computers will be "bigger,
better, faster" than
this year's models. Waiting a year will also decrease the need to buy
a new computer in the later years of college to keep up with computing
needs then.
The College of Design has chosen Apple Inc. as one of
its recommended computer vendors. Students, faculty and staff may obtain
the maximum educational discount available from Apple by ordering Apple
products through the NCSU Bookstores. Apple typically offers a Back-to-School
promotion each summer, which includes a printer and an iPod
or other product with the purchase of a computer.
The NC State Office of Information Technology and
the NCSU Bookstores have made arrangements with several computer vendors
to offer special pricing to students. Students should compare these
prices before making a final purchase, since these prices can offer
a substantial savings. For more information see: Computer
vendors with special pricing for NC State students or
contact the NCSU Bookstores before
making your final purchase.
Students should always ask for educational prices. Companies usually
offer significant discounts to students.
The NCSU Bookstores'
computer department is a great resource for students purchasing computers,
software and peripherals. Before purchasing hardware
or software, students should compare prices with the Bookstores. The
Computer Connections department at the main NCSU Bookstore sells computer
hardware and a wide variety of software at educational discounts. They
also provide hardware and software bundles which meet the requirements
of College of Design departments. You can contact Computer Connections
at (919) 515-3400. Information about the NCSU Bookstores is also online
at http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/ncsubookstores.
The NCSU Bookstores
provides an Online Store for students to use. This
Online Store can provide significant discounts beyond the typical
educational discounts many vendors provide. Please
click here for the NCSU Bookstores Online Store.
When using the Online Store, please type
"College of Design" in the Order Options box on the checkout page.
Order
forms must be completed by July 1, 2009 to allow delivery by Tax Holiday
weekend, August 7-9, 2009.
The College of Design's Information
Technology Laboratory maintains approximately 125 Macintosh and
Windows computers for student use. College of Design students also
have use of a high-speed data network. Through StudioNet,
the College provides a high-speed network connection to all students
taking second year or higher studio courses. StudioNet connection
provides access to the worldwide web, email, College file servers, Unity
file space and lab printers. Wireless
networking is also available
throughout most of the College of Design complex, as well as in many
other areas on campus. More information on StudioNet is available at
the StudioNet website.
Students living in an on-campus residence hall or Greek
Court chapter house can access the ResNet network. For more information,
see the ResNet website.
Computer purchases may be included as part of a financial aid package.
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid online at (http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/financial_aid/)
for more information.
Students are responsible for the security of their own computer equipment. Students
should purchase locks and/or cables to lock their equipment to their
desk. Students with laptops should be especially careful to lock their
equipment and keep it in a carrying case when moving from place to place.
Also, make sure to write down the serial numbers of all equipment.
To discourage theft, it is a good idea to engrave your driver's license
or ID number on any computer equipment you bring to campus. Engraving
tools are available from the NCSU
Campus Police Department. Students may want to check with their insurance
company to make sure their computer is covered.
Other Things to Consider
Should
I purchase a laptop or desktop computer?
Again, we recommend College of Design undergraduate students wait
until their sophomore year to purchase a computer for coursework. Graduate
students should check their departmental computing requirements. With
this in mind, the School of Architecture requires students to purchase
laptop computers. Other departments in the College of Design leave the
choice of laptop or desktop computer to the student. Many people today
are purchasing laptop computers for their mobility. Your decision on
the type of computer to purchase should be based on how well a laptop
computer will suit your lifestyle and your needs on campus. Mobility
is appealing, but since you will be spending long hours using your computer,
you may wish to consider an external monitor and/or keyboard for your
laptop.
Laptop computers are more vulnerable to theft. If you choose to purchase
a laptop computer, you should have a separate record of your computer's
serial number (including the ethernet address of your ethernet card).
Keep your computer locked up when it's not in use.
Laptops do provide the ability to work anywhere, anytime.
Students can work in their studios and then take their laptops home,
to the library, even outdoors to work. Students can use their laptops
on class field trips. Wireless
networking is available throughout the College of Design
complex. Laptop users can access the network away from their desk, outside,
in classrooms, etc. Wireless
networking is also available in other campus buildings, allowing network
access in
public areas. Availability is expanding across campus.
Laptops are sometimes less capable than desktop computers, and upgrade
possibilities are more limited. Many innovations are available in desktops
before laptops. However, desktop computers take up more space on a studio
desk. Sometimes this isn't a problem. Having a larger monitor can be
helpful when working on large documents or layouts.
Finally, consider the purchase price, as well as repair and maintenance
costs associated with laptops versus desktop computers. Laptops tend
to be more expensive to repair, and they may also be more vulnerable
to damage since they may accidentally be dropped. We strongly recommend
an extended warranty for laptops.
Consider the options and decide whether a laptop or a desktop would
better suit your needs and lifestyle.
Should
I purchase a Macintosh or Windows computer?
While much of this choice depends on personal preference,
students should strongly consider the recommended platform for their department.
While most of the software applications used in the College are available
on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms, there are some exceptions.
Apple Macintosh computers now allow both Macintosh and
Windows software to run on the same computer. Current Macintosh computers
allow Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista, as well as Windows
applications to run along with Mac OS X. The College
of Design Information Technology Labs use this dual-boot system on many
of our lab computers and we are expanding this as we buy new computers
for the labs.
Other options for running Windows applications
on a Macintosh using virtualization software are available as well.
Please note the cost of Windows operating system and Windows-compatible
software will be in addition to Macintosh-compatible software. We consider
the dual-boot method a good option for students wanting to use both
Macintosh and Windows software. More of our students are choosing to
go this way. Students interested in running Windows on a Macintosh
computer are encouraged to speak with the College of Design Information
Technology staff.
Each department in the College of Design has
different computer requirements. For example, the Department of Graphic Design
uses Macintosh computers almost exclusively and recommends Macintosh
for their students. While students could use a Windows computer for
graphic design, their peers and instructors may not be able to help
them as much if they run into trouble. Graphic Design instructors will
use Macintosh for teaching. The opposite would true for the School
of Architecture, which prefers Windows-compatible software.
The Department of Industrial Design leans heavily
towards using Windows-compatible software applications
for certain courses as well. Industrial Design has some specific computers
that are tested for use with this software. The Department of Art and
Design, the Department of Landscape Architecture, and the PhD Program
use both Macintosh and Windows computers. The choice is left to the
student.
But, as mentioned above, there are ways to run
both Macintosh and Windows software on one Macintosh computer.
See the departmental recommendation links below for more information.
What Operating
System (OS) Version should I use?
For personal computers
running Windows, the College of Design IT Staff supports Windows XP and
Windows Vista. We recommend students NOT use
Windows XP Home or Windows Vista Home
Basic because
of issues in accessin campu resources.
The College of Design has standardized
on Windows XP Professional for computers in its public computer labs.
These labs will operate on Windows XP Professional at least through
Spring Semester 2010.
For Macintosh operating system, we
strongly recommend using Mac OS X, version 10.5 or later. Mac
OS X
(10.5) ships on all current Macintosh computers. NC
State and the College of Design currently use Mac OS X (10.5) for Macs
in public computer labs. The College provides only
limited support for Mac OS 10.3 or earlier. Students wishing to access
College servers and printers from a Mac must run Mac OS 10.5 or later.
Students are welcome to use other operating systems such as Linux or
Unix and other open-source software with the understanding that support
by College IT staff will be limited at best. Other resources for Linux
and Unix help are available on campus.
What
software do I need to buy and where is the best place to buy software?
Each department in the College of Design has different software requirements
which are linked below. After reading their department's requirements, students
should contact their departmental office if they have questions about specific
software requirements. In general, the College of Design cannot provide software
to students because of licensing restrictions. Most students find a word
processor, spreadsheet, illustration application, web browser, and email
application to be essential. Many applications that are used in various classes
are available for students to purchase and use on their own computers. Many
of these applications, as well as educationally priced versions of other
popular applications are available for purchase at the NCSU Bookstores (http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/ncsubookstores).
Always check the prices there.
The NCSU Bookstores provides
an Online Store for students to use. This
Online Store can provide significant discounts beyond the typical
educational discounts many vendors provide. Please
click here for the NCSU Bookstores Online Store. When
using the Online Store, please type
"College of Design" in the Order Options box on the checkout
page. Order
forms must be completed by July 1, 2009 to allow delivery by Tax Holiday
weekend, August 7-9, 2009.
Other software companies and internet stores
also offer significant savings through educational prices. Some of these
include:
NC State REQUIRES use of an approved and up-to-date
anti-virus program for all computers connected to
the NC State network. Anti-virus software is available FREE to students
at http://www.ncsu.edu/antivirus/.
Don't buy anti-virus software from other places, use the free version
available from the University.
Other
software
utilities such as Symantec products
(Windows), Alsoft DiskWarrior
(Macintosh), and Micromat TechTool
Pro (Macintosh) can be a great help when a computer has problems. Other
utilities are helpful, as well.
As a student, you should always ask if a vendor provides an educational
discount. Most companies do and these discounts can be significant.
Where
should I buy computer hardware?
As mentioned above, the NC State Office of Information Technology has made arrangements with several computer vendors
to offer special pricing to students. Students should compare these
prices before making a final purchase, since these prices can offer
a substantial savings. For more information see: Computer
vendors with special pricing for NC State students
The NCSU Bookstores'
computer department is a great resource for students purchasing computers,
software and peripherals. Before
purchasing hardware or software, students should compare prices with
the Bookstores. You can
contact Computer Connections at (919) 515-3400 or online at http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/ncsubookstores.
Again, the
NCSU Bookstores provides an Online Store for students to use. This
Online Store can provide significant discounts beyond the typical
educational discounts many vendors provide. Please
click here for the NCSU Bookstores Online Store. When
using the Online Store, please type
"College of Design" in the Order Options box on the checkout
page. Order
forms must be completed by July 1, 2009 to allow delivery by Tax Holiday
weekend, August 7-9, 2009.
Students should always compare prices on computing equipment and software.
Several websites are good resources for comparing prices. There are many
such websites, including:
Students should especially compare prices on RAM (Random
Access Memory). Many times computer manufacturers sell RAM at a significantly
higher price than is available from other vendors. Check for prices
online. One website is www.ramseeker.com.
The sites listed above are also good resources. Students should consider
adding as much RAM as they can reasonably afford. RAM is the least expensive
way to increase a computer's performance.
As a student, you should always ask if a vendor provides an educational
discount. Most companies do and these discounts can be significant.
Additional recommended options and accessories include:
• a quality surge protector or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect
against power problems
• a Category 5 ethernet cable, 15' to 25' in length (required for wired
network connection) These are available at the NCSU
Bookstores.
• an 802.11g compatible wireless network adapter for laptops (optional,
but needed for wireless
network connection), many computers now include this
• a carrying case if you purchase a laptop computer
• a CDRW/DVD-R drive, most computers now include this option
• an external hard drive or "thumb" drive to back-up or transfer
files
• an extended warranty or service contract.
Students bringing their own computers to campus may also
want to consider bringing a printer. WolfCopy does
provide a variety of black & white and color printers for a per page
fee. Users can
take a document to a lab and print it there for a fee. Computers connected
to StudioNet can also access lab printers over the network. However,
many students find it more convenient to print their documents directly
from their own computer to a printer in their studio or residence.
Students may also want to consider purchasing other peripherals
such as scanners, digital cameras, etc. The
College's Information
Technology Laboratory has a limited number of these types of peripherals
available for student use, but some students may wish to have their own.
I
already have a computer, do I need to buy a new one now?
Again, we recommend that College
of Design undergraduate students wait until their sophomore year to purchase
a computer for coursework. Graduate students should check their departmental
computing requirements. Freshmen will not be required to use their own
computer for coursework. However, students may wish to have a computer
on campus for other purposes, such as email, web browsing, typing class
papers, etc. If you already have a computer that you wish to bring to
campus, it should meet minimum requirements to take full advantage of
campus resources. This chart, Recommendations
for Older Computers, will help you determine the minimum recommendations
for older computers. Expected useful life of older computers is about
one year.
Sometimes parents will purchase a new computer to keep at home and send
the older computer with their student for the first year. Then, before
the sophomore year, they will purchase a new computer for their student
to use for their remaining college years.
Remember, even older computers are required to have an
approved and up-to-date antivirus program,
available free to students at http://www.ncsu.edu/antivirus/.
Also, remember there are over 125 computers available
to students in labs throughout the College of Design. There are many
other public computer labs across campus, as well.
A Word About Back-ups
Students are strongly encouraged to purchase an
external hard drive, CDs/DVDs or other device to provide easy, continuous
back-ups of their work. Current operating systems provide easy
methods for making back-ups, but these require some sort of external
drive on which to put the back-up files. Getting into the habit of consistently
making back-ups of your work will save you pain and trouble in the future.
The question is not IF you will lose files, but WHEN you will lose files.
It usually happens when the files are the most critical. Do yourself
a huge favor and get into the habit of making consistent back-ups.
Computer
Documentation, Software and Repair
When you bring your own computer to campus, please be sure to bring
along associated documentation, warranty information, and software disks.
These items may be needed if you install or reconfigure any hardware
or software on your computer. Be sure to keep these items in a safe place.
Also, make sure you write down the serial numbers of all your equipment.
NC State Office of Information Technology recommends purchasing the full
3-year maintenance and repair agreement offered by your computer's manufacturer.
North
Carolina Tax Holiday
North Carolina has a state-wide sales tax holiday
each year during the first full weekend of August. For 2009, the dates
are August 7-9. Most computer hardware is exempt from North Carolina
sales tax on those dates. This can save 7% on the cost of a computer.
See http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sales/salestax_holiday.html for
more information. Contact the NCSU
Bookstores to make arrangements to pre-order for purchase during
the sales tax holiday.
School
and Departmental Computing Requirements
Not all students in the College of Design are required to
purchase computers. Each school or department in the College of Design
has different computer requirements. If you still have questions after
reading the pages linked below, contact your school or department office.
School of Architecture
Phone: 919.515.8350
Architecture
Computing Requirements
Department of Art and Design
Phone: 919.515.8315
Art
and Design Computing Requirements
Department of Graphic Design
Phone: 919.515.8326
Graphic Design Computing Requirements
Department of Industrial Design
Phone: 919.515.8322
Industrial Design Computing Requirements
Department of Landscape Architecture
Phone: 919.515.8340
Landscape Architecture Computing Requirements
Questions?
First, read the pages linked above for your department. If you
still have questions about specific hardware and/or software requirements,
please contact your school or department office at one of the numbers
above.
For technical assistance or if you would like us to look over your purchase
selection before you spend money, feel free to contact the
College's Information Technology staff by sending an email to: design_help@ncsu.edu.
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