pinkkkpanther

Does Smith offer any kind of tech support? Besides internet access, what other tech services does Smith provide? (free computer software for students, perhaps?)

SmithieandProud

If you buy a computer or laptop through Smith you get free tech support and repairs for the duration of your stay. They also give you a discount, though I know in the case of Mac computers it's equal to the study discount you would regularly receive if you bought your computer in a store.

Students don't get free computer software (unless maybe you buy your laptop through the tech department, I don't remember). But the computers in the computer labs are stocked with all the latest fancy software, including photoshop (which is expensive to purchase personally) and other digital design software. There's a whole lab that's just devoted to digital design and music and is full of equipment i don't know how to use, but the tech person on duty can help you navigate.

The tech department also provides things like digital projectors for class or student org presentations, and support using the classroom media suites, which most of the classrooms are equipped with these days (dvd, projector, video, internet,surround speakers, etc.).

There's also CFLAC (center for foreign languages and cultures) which is a special media lab for language students. They have viewing stations for watching foreign language films for class and computers and software to support your language learning.

And you can purchase all manner of things at the campus computer store. They can also give you advice on your computer, though they only repair computers that are bought through Smith.

TheDad

The tech service is pretty good. The hard drive on D's laptop went south once and they got her back up and running in hours.

My only caution is on the initial purchase: the machine she got was a little older, aka inventory being moved out, than would have been the optimal inventory at the time. Check things like speed/memory carefully and haggle for an upgrade if necessary. In worst case, we would have spent an extra $100 to get a more current machine.

Momwaitingfornew

When my D bought, Smith bundled Microsoft Office for Students/Educators into the computer purchase. We priced everything separately -- and Smith didn't offer a price that we couldn't beat on our own; however, the extra benefit of tech service tipped us over into buying from the college.

pinkkkpanther

Thanks for all the responses.
I'm contemplating whether I should buy a laptop now or wait till I get to Smith. The Apple Store offered me a discount on the 3-year protection plan (which includes 24 hour support) on top of the student discount. If Smith doesn't offer laptops equipped with some software or at least a discount, would you suggest that I buy now or wait?

SmithieandProud

I would wait for three reasons.

1. When you get the flyer about computers from Smith over the summer, you'll be able to see what kind of software discount you'll get. If you buy from the apple store, your computer won't come with any kind of bundled in software except for iLife, which is Garage Band, iTunes, iPhoto, iDvd, and iMovie, but doesn't include a word processor like MS word or even Pages (i think you get a pages demo for 30 days, but that won't get you far). You can purchase word on your own, but it might be cheaper to get it bundled in with the new computer.

2. Apple usually does a back to school promotion for college students where they bundle a free iPod nano/mini with every laptop purchase and sometimes they throw in a discount on a printer. But that doesn't roll out until August. So if you're thinking about getting a Mac, I would wait till then and make the most out of your money.

3. Apple still has its major developer's conference coming up before the end of the year (the World Wide Developers Conference or WWDC). Usually at each of these they roll out some new computing upgrade. If its a laptop, and you buy now, before the developer's conference, your computer may already be on its way to obsolete by august.

TheDad

Another vote for "definitely wait." There are very very few deals in the world that are so good that they are of the "never again" variety. Remember, a lot of marketing uses inducements couple with FUD--fear, uncertainty, doubt--to get you to buy *now*. Mind you, there's no reason not to buy now as long as you realize this and, after weighing all the factors, decide you want to buy now instead of waiting. But S&P gives reasons to wait that I agree with.