Computing Resources: Computer Sales
The Computer Sales program offers students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to buy specially selected Apple and Dell personal computers and peripherals at educational discount prices.
Use this website to learn about our recommendations and to place your orders directly through our partner companies.
Recommended Systems
The College of Wooster recommends the Apple Macintosh and Dell lines of laptop and desktop computers for incoming students. Most retail chains like Best Buy or Circuit City offer back to school deals on computers. While these deals offer a lower sticker price, they don't always include useful products like extended warranties, accidental damage protection, and productivity software. Extended warranties are a good idea. A logic board replacement in the second year of the machine can cost upwards of $900. A four year warranty will ensure that the computer will last throughout the student's 4 years at Wooster. Both Apple and Dell offer extended warranty options. Apple provides Applecare protection on the Macbook, Macbook Pro, and iMac lines. Dell offers a 4 yr. warranty with onsite service. Should a hardware issue occur the student can call Dell and a technician will be dispatched to repair the system. Accidental damage protection through Dell also covers a laptop should liquid be spilled on the system, which happens often in dorm rooms. A normal warranty does not cover this damage.
To simplify the computer purchase process, we have partnered with Dell and Apple to provide already bundled configurations for laptops and desktops. The links below will take you to our University pages. Computers can be shipped directly to your home.
Microsoft Office works on both Windows and Macintosh systems and is recommended by the Office of Information Technology. Dell bundles on the University page include a copy of Microsoft Office 2007 student edition. While the Apple bundle does not include a copy of Microsoft Office, it can be purchased at most retail stores, including the College's Wilson Bookstore.
The College of Wooster's Dell Member ID number is listed on the first webpage after clicking on the Dell logo below. You can use this number to receive our 12% discount when purchasing any Dell system.
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| Recommended Systems | ||
| L A P T O P |
Apple MacBook
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Dell Latitude D630
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| D E S K T O P |
Apple iMac
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Dell OptiPlex 755 Small Form Factor
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Regardless of whether you choose Apple or Dell, we strongly encourage you to purchase one of our recommended systems as these are computers that we have selected as the best choices for a Wooster education. We also urge you to purchase an extended warranty with any computer purchase. Terms and prices differ, but a 3-year or 4-year extended warranty will go a long way to protect your investment — and your wallet.
If you already have a computer you wish to bring to Wooster, please check to see if it meets our minimum system requirements; if it does not, we cannot guarantee that it will work on our network.
Wireless Connectivity with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
On Friday, October 26, 2007, Apple released its new operating system version 10.5 Leopard. Since this release, some members of the campus community have reported connectivity issues with 10.5 and the campus wireless network using LEAP or PEAP. Because of this instability, we do not recommend that students come to campus with a MacBook Air.
Microsoft Vista Announcement
The Office of Information Technology continues to test the Windows Vista operating system with our campus technology resources. Due to the number of applications that have yet to release Vista compatible versions, OIT will not be deploying Vista to campus until 2009.
Students may bring Windows Vista to campus; however, limited support will be provided due to the number of applications used on campus that have not yet released Vista compatible versions. If purchasing a computer with Windows Vista, be sure to purchase either the Ultimate or Business edition as these are designed to work on large networks. We cannot guarantee that Home Premium and Home Basic will have full functionality on our network.
If you have questions about new PC purchases with Windows Vista and Office 2007, please contact the help desk at (330) 287-3000 extension 1111.
Microsoft Office 2007
While students may bring Microsoft Office 2007 to campus, the faculty and staff at Wooster will continue to use Office 2003. There are known compatibility issues between Office 2003 and Office 2007 due to the change in default file type of .doc to .docx. Students who need to e-mail a file to faculty member using Office 2003 should save the file in Office 2007 as an Office 2003 file.
Special Notice regarding Windows Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, XP Home Edition & Windows Media Center:
We are not able to support Windows XP Home edition, Windows Media Center, Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium in the College of Wooster's networking environment. Since Media Center Edition is built on Home Edition we would therefore request that any machine purchased with Windows XP be purchased with Windows XP Professional. Further we recommend that any system purchased with Windows Vista be purchased with Windows Vista Business or Ultimate.
- Networking.
The networking in Windows XP Home is not designed for use in any networking environment beyond the home or a small office; Microsoft themselves recommend that it should not be used in a network of more than around five machines.
Currently, our network is based on Novell Netware. Novell does not support their client software on Windows XP Home, Vista Basic or Premium based on Microsoft's position — it is not designed for use in corporate or enterprise networks and so therefore they are not doing any work on their client on XP Home, Vista Basic or Vista Premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the college's minimum system requirements?
Our experience has been that students who buy our recommended systems have no problems using their computer on our network, whereas students who bring other computers often do. If you do bring your own computer to campus, please make sure that it meets the minimum requirements listed below, and understand that we cannot guarantee that all computers will work on our network.
Macintosh - G3 processor, 233 MHz or greater
- at least 128 MB RAM
- 4 GB or larger hard drive
- Mac OS X
- Original system restore CD(s)
- Microsoft Office X or 2004
- 10 BaseT Ethernet
Windows - Intel Pentium processor or compatible, 300 MHz or greater
- at least 128 MB RAM
- 4 GB or larger hard drive
- Windows 2000 or XP Professional (XP Home Edition is not supported)
- Original system restore CD(s)
- Microsoft Office 97, 2000, or XP
- 10 BaseT Ethernet
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Do I need a printer?
The College provides public printing in the Libraries, Taylor Hall, Kauke Hall, and the Lowry student center, so you don't need a printer. However, you may want to consider an inexpensive inkjet for the convenience of printing in your own residence hall. We also offer color printing and a poster printer in Taylor 205.
Each first-year and sophomore student will be given a printing account of $60.00 per semester, the equivalent of 1,200 pages printed on one of the new public copiers. Juniors will receive $75.00 (1,500 pages) and seniors will receive a $100.00 (2,000 pages) per semester. Once their account limit is exceeded, students will be charged 5 cents per page printed. More money may be added to printing accounts at the Financial Services counter at the Wilson Bookstore.
