<p>Does anyone know how the financial aid on the computer selection works? I saw that we have to pick up the computer on campus after Aug. 1 in order to be eligible for one, but how does it work? Does being given a financial aid package mean we will get a financial aid on the computer selection? Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Yes, the school will grant you FA (in terms of a loan) for a computer if paying for one presents financial difficulty for you/your family.</p>
<p>You will get the paperwork over the summer (when you get the computer selection paperwork) or you will get the information electronically when it becomes available. Contact the FA office, they will send you the paperwork.</p>
<p>When you order your computer through Dartmouth, you will be able to pick up your computer on move in day at the school.</p>
<p>Sorry to ask what seems to be implicit in this thread but does Dartmouth require you to purchase a specific computer when you arrive?
I am an incoming international transfer student and I was just hoping to bring my laptop with me.</p>
<p>Yes, they want to make sure your computer will work with their system.
This link should have everything…
<a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/comp/support/library/start/using-pc/ownership-req/incoming-students/index.html[/url]”>http://www.dartmouth.edu/comp/support/library/start/using-pc/ownership-req/incoming-students/index.html</a></p>
<p>Oh no!
Thanks for the link!</p>
<p>Does anyone have advice about whether it is worth it to get one of their computers? Is it actually very difficult to sync a different computer to the Dartmouth system?
I recently bought a laptop and I don’t really want to fork out for another one. I could get a loan but I don’t really want to…</p>
<p>I purchased a computer for my D through Dartmouth (a couple of months after she go t a new computer). You pick up your computer move in day and everything is set up and ready to use. Also when you purchase your computer on campus, you are covered under warranty so if you have a problem, you can drop it off at the service center, get a loaner and keep things moving. </p>
<p>If you are not the most computer savvy person, you will your self a lot of time and headaches just getting the computer.</p>
<p>If you recently bought a laptop, I would certainly not bother. It really isn’t very hard to get it set up with the Dartmouth system if you are even modestly computer literate, and while it’s almost always a waste of money to buy two computers one after the other, the deals offered through the college are typically pretty terrible making it a doubly bad deal (too lazy to fix run-on sentence). Furthermore, in my experience, the people at the IT desk didn’t care if your computer wasn’t bought through the school, and I never got turned away on the rare occasions when I needed to take my computer there.</p>
<p>Oh, and there’s really nothing magical about the Dartmouth system that should make you worry that your computer might not be compatible. The computers you can buy through the College, and the ones it designs its network to be compatible with, are PCs running Windows or Macs. Well, if you buy a computer on your own, there’s approximately a 99.9999% chance it will be either a PC running Windows (maybe not a Dell, which is what the school sells but again, the SYSTEM is the same) or a Mac. And if you’re voluntarily a Linux user, then you are savvy enough to be able to set up your computer properly. So that’s it. There’s really nothing there that isn’t compatible. All you’ll have to do when you get to campus is download Blitzmail and the Internet client and maybe a few other things (Greenprint most likely) off of Dartmouth Computing’s website. It will take all of 10 minutes, tops.</p>
<p>Actually, they’re selling Lenovo ThinkPads now instead of Dells… I just completed my computer information on bannerstudent. I still opted for a Macbook though :)</p>
<p>Thanks so much for that helpful information.
I think I’ll call the Computer Hotline and check that my computer will be okay (it’s an Asus with Windows Vista). The only thing I am a little concerned about is hooking my computer up because it uses plugs configured for Australian power points which are different to those in the US, but I guess can just use one of those power point converters.
If worst comes to worst and it doesn’t work out, I can always buy a computer when I get to Dartmouth!
Does this sound like a reasonable plan?</p>
<p>Does anyone have any suggestions as to whether I should buy a MacBook or a Lenovo? I know this is a really broad question and each person has different preferences, but I guess I just wanted some pros and cons of each. I’ve never used a Mac before, but my parents want me to get an Apple laptop because it’s lighter to carry around in their opinion. But then, neither of my parents has used a Mac either, so I wanted to ask for some suggestions. Also, do most people at Dartmouth use Mac or Windows? Or is it more like 50-50? I was thinking that if I meet trouble using Mac and I need to ask around then that would be easier if more people around me uses Mac. But really I’m just looking for any opinion on this. Thanks!</p>
<p>Everyone has their preference. I was a Windows person before Dartmouth made me go get a Mac since my computer was not compatible with the network, but a majority of people on campus use Macs because it is compact and easy to carry around. But you will see a few Dell’s and others (Lenovos, I guess) on campus.</p>
<p>The Apple computers have their share of problems from things like Dartmouth Secure not working and Microsoft Word crashing when you’re in the middle of a paper, but the Dell’s do have problems too.</p>
<p>I guess the best I can tell you is just think about it before you decide.
What are you comfortable with Windows or Mac? (It’s not too hard to get adjusted)
Are you up for a heavy computer? (People use their computers everywhere)
Specs. of the computer…do they meet what you what or need?
Is cost an issue? etc. etc.</p>
<p>Also when I was an incoming freshman, Apple has this deal where you get the computer, an Itouch and a free printer. I don’t know if they’re still doing that but it kind of swayed my decision a bit.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!
~Questionable 28</p>
<p>Just a heads up: Apple re-announced the “free iPod with purchase of Mac” promotion for this summer. They also just dropped their prices significantly, and did away with the Macbooks that they basically just released a few quarters ago- now that whole category has been upgraded to Macbook Pro. </p>
<p>Hope the Dartmouth store updates their offerings to reflect this.</p>