<p>Does the CLAS specify a certain computer? I would prefer to get a Dell, but I can’t find any information on the website about computers and majors. I may go pre-med or pre-commerce. I also am not sure which one to choose/how much memory I will need…any ideas?</p>
<p>just get something along the lines of the dci computers [Desktop</a> Computing Initiative](<a href=“http://dci.virginia.edu/]Desktop”>http://dci.virginia.edu/)</p>
<p>otoh, while people constantly rag on dci, they replaced my motherboard for free when i spilled tea on my computer. plus all i had to do was drop it off at the bookstore and pick it up there (super convenient). 4 year warranty is a useful thing.</p>
<p>DCI sells PCs at 2-3 times the price of their real value.</p>
<p>I’d recommend getting one online and then getting a warranty for a fraction of the price.</p>
<p>While DCI’s warranty is nice, you can get a similar warranty from Dell/Apple/Lenovo etc. for a more competitive price, and since DCI is an authorized service center for them, you can still take it to them to fix your computer. </p>
<p>I’d recommend an Apple MacBook/Pro, they run very well, don’t have the same issues with viruses, you get a big student discount, a big discount on an extended warranty, a free iPod Touch, and a free printer.</p>
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<p>Neither does a dual-boot with Linux on a PC/x86 :)</p>
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<p>Amen.</p>
<p>If you are thinking about a MacBook, here’s a thread to consider. Also, powder’s experience purchasing with DCI.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/509872-macbook-question.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/509872-macbook-question.html</a></p>
<p>Last year, I bought a new MBP before I was going out of the country and I wanted to take it with me; it came in the morning of my flight. Unfortunately, the fan on the right side was louder than I expected, so I called Apple and after some unsuccessful troubleshooting, they said they would be happy to replace my laptop, provided I shipped it back in within 7 days. I told them I was going out of the country, needed my laptop, and wouldn’t be back for at least a month. They worked with me and let me send in my laptop after I got back from my trip a month later. Apple made it as painless as possible to replace my computer. It’s hard to imagine that I would get the same customer service with DCI.</p>
<p>wow, lots of wrong information here. The DCI program is only for UVA Departmental purchasers.
Visit [CAV::</a> Details](<a href=“http://www.uvastudentcomputers.com%5DCAV::”>http://www.uvastudentcomputers.com) and click undergrad.
any computer will do fine for CLAS. I recommend the Lenovo Thinkpads, the T400 or the $999 R400. These come with 4-year warranty and 4-years of accidental damage and the loaner program.
The CAV Apple, Dell and Lenovo computers are the only fully supported computers by UVA now.</p>
<p>D just ordered her computer from Cav Computers on Friday. Great service and explanations for why the computers were recommended. She’s going into SEAS and while she’s technologically adept, her parents are not as savvy when words like Linux spring into the conversation. Class of 2013 FB group has a good discussion going on re: computers that you might want to check out.</p>
<p>My computer has a sticker that says “University of Virginia Desktop Computing Initiative” ??</p>
<p>Yes. that was the old program. New students have a completely different program that starts with the class of 2013.
Cavalier Computers has taken over the program from ITC. We have made a whole list of enhancements and brought in more affordable computer options with better 24/7 support.</p>
<p>Note:</p>
<p>WDStrongJr is a representative from Cavalier Computers. </p>
<p>While it appears that their packages have improved slightly, you still save money and get a free printer from the Apple store.</p>
<p>galoisien, most people won’t use Linux or bother to figure it out.</p>
<p>again… wrong information…</p>
<p>Our packages have improved in a big way.</p>
<p>All Apple computers sold through the CAV Program get a FREE Canon Printer / Copier / Scanner.
All CAV Computers, including the CAV Apple computer get PRIORITY service in case repairs are needed.
All CAV Apple computers come with a 4-Tear warranty. Something you CAN NOT get through the Apple Store.
All CAV Apple computers are also eligible for the Apple iPod promotion, basically get a rebate for a free iTouch.</p>
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<p>I do think many e-school people are familiar with it, and for good reason. </p>
<p>For prices, admittedly I haven’t looked at prices this year, but I for me last summer those machines were selling way above market price, even with all the cool things thrown in. You can buy off eBay and get long-term insurance for like 100 dollars. I got a laptop with a high-end graphics card – useful for both school and gaming for 699, free shipping. The 100 dollars Microsoft cashback was good to cover the cost of the warranty. </p>
<p>I don’t know what warranty is worth paying more than double market price.</p>
<p>I really don’t know what you consider Market Price. Compare to Dell, Apple or Lenovo we are well under their EDU discount price.</p>
<p>But in the end, it does not really matter to me what you buy. It is just that over the last decade I have had hundred of students come to me and either thank me recommending the UVA program, or yell at me for not working harder at convincing them. Like the E-school students who purchased Apple computers when the e-school clearly states what you should be using due to support and /or software.</p>
<p>gaming? haha. I wont even go there. But then I am 46 years old and use a computer to make a living. </p>
<p>I have been doing this a very long time. I have seen everything that a student can through at a computer. That is why we build them like we do.</p>
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not really dude. I had a class with a UNIX machine lab, and no one knew how to use it. CS people and a few random e-schoolers here and there might know it, but that’s about it.</p>
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Lies. I just bought a MacBookPro back in March, you guys were the same exact price. The only things that are slightly “cheaper” than “market” is the older models, and you can get those on Apple’s Refurb site for much much less than you guys. And no, Apple refurbs are not crap, I can tell you first hand that.</p>
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I kinda expected to you to see beyond that bullcrap. There’s nothing a PC can do that an Apple can’t. Except for maybe cause you misery =P</p>
<p>To all e-schoolers: plenty of us get by with a MacbookPro. Almost every program runs on OSX (operating system of Macs) just fine, and the one or two that don’t, you can either use a public computer on grounds or run Windows on your Mac via Parallels or VM Fusion (ask me if you have questions about that, it’s a lengthy explanation). If you want a MBP, by all means, GO FOR IT. Beautiful machines and many of my friends that got a Mac first year are still humming along beautifully. </p>
<p>To anyone considering a Mac: if you don’t need/want the printer or iPod, consider looking into buying Apple Refurbs. Any computer that has been opened that is returned MUST be re-sold as a refurb. What Apple does is dissects the computer, finds any problems and fixes it, if there are any issues even, the re-sells the computer at a FAR CHEAPER price. It still comes with the full warranty (1 year standard) with an option to extend it. There is NOTHING different about a refurb over a new computer, other than it has been meticulously checked. They even give it a brand spanking new outside case/shell. Again, feel free to ask questions</p>
<p>e-schoolers… First years.
I really suggest you contact Professor Mitch Rosen before even thinking of getting an Apple computer, despite what the above student states, I have worked very closely with the e-school and Professor Rosen (head of Engineering IT) about which computers you will need for your course of study.
Things are changing in the e-school. Please contact Professor Rosen first.
The recommended computers for Engineering are the CAV Dell Latitudes and the Lenovo Thinkpad T400.
When a student like the above states “public computer labs”, then I know he does not understand, or may not know the coming changes within the Engineering school.
Thank you for your input though.</p>
<p>Oh, and the Apples that you purchased were in fact EDU models that you can purchase from CavComp or the Apple store direct for the same price. The models that are listed on the CAV page with the 4-year warranty are NOT those computers. Apple really stepped up to the plate this year.
But the best computer we sell are the Lenovo ThinkPad T500 and T400 with the 400 winning due to the battery life, and with incoming first years that will be a critical factor in your upcoming semesters.</p>
<p>If you would like to come to the bookstore and discuss these “lies” that you accuse me of, I would be glad to set up an appointment to explain how you are wrong.
I am in Canada this week playing race car driver. I will be back at work next Tuesday if you would like to stop by the Bookstore and discuss this.
You would really be surprised at how wrong you are, as most people who tell us what you said are.</p>
<p>Explain how I’m wrong? You can RUN WINDOWS on a Mac. Anything at all you could possibly need from a PC, you can do on a Mac. I, in fact, only run Fusion with Windows when I need to use Mathcad, but even that is hardly ever because there is a Mac App that does the same exact thing and will even convert it to MathCad file format. I only use the Windows version if my teacher needs the file saved under the previous version.</p>
<p>Also, my current MBP (unibody, but removable battery) can run up to 5 hours with BT off and medium brightness (which is more than you need in a well lit room). The new ones are at about 7. That is a ridiculous amount of battery life, and I hardly ever need anymore than 1-2 without having a wall outlet nearby. This isn’t high school, a class day isn’t 7-8 hours long.
Also, we all know that the public computer labs are going. But, unless SEAS is about to severely screw over all of its students, there will still be computers available if need be. </p>
<p>E-schoolers: trust a student. More than half of my e-school friends switched. Go with what makes you happy (in addition, i’ve had 4 e-school professors with Macs, and my advisor has one…). It’s ridiculous that people are still saying “engineers can’t have Macs!”</p>
<p>As a CS TA, I have mixed opinions on Macs. There were people with older Mac OS’s that wouldn’t cooperate and they had to do all of their work on public lab computers (1. pain 2. the lab is all Windows anyways…). There were people whose Macs worked perfectly. The people who really had problems were those who weren’t really comfortable with their Mac, and couldn’t trouble shoot.</p>
<p>All of the work you do in the CS 101 required lab is on Windows machines, so you’ll have to learn how to do everything both ways if you’re using a Mac (there are in-class assignments and quizzes on the Windows machines, laptops not allowed for quizzes, while for your hw you’d be using your Mac). If that doesn’t bother you, then go for it. If you think you’ll struggle as it is (about 1/3 of the class I would classify as “struggling”)… You might consider getting a Dell, where TAs and friends can easily trouble shoot for you (we have at most one resident Mac troubleshooting TA and the rest of the TAs don’t know anything about Macs, in my experience as 3 semesters TA-ing).</p>
<p>Most CS professors have Macs because it’s built around the unix shell and they know what they’re doing. It doesn’t reflect on what a first year student will need to do their work. Macs or PCs are okay as long as you’re comfortable with the choice you make, IMHO.</p>
<p>for the record I am using a Dell Optiplex 960 quadcore running windows vista 64 to type this. This is also the machine that I use AutoDesk Inventor 2010 on along with Rhino 4.0 and Adobe CS4.
I also have a fairly new Apple MacBook Pro 15" and a Lenovo T series and a Dell Mini9 along with a Apple PowerBook 12" just for fun. So I do know what you are talking about when it comes to Apples. I was using Fusion, but just found it way to slow. I went back to Bootcamp and am currently running Win7 on it with a full selection of windows software.
Like hazelorb stated above, some students can do this, they have the knowledge and the skill. But the majority wont. And it is the majority that we are servicing.
But the major question is that for the price of a mac you really are not getting anything special. The best MacBook pro we sell only comes with the 3MB L2 Cache. The Lenovo T400 comes with 6MB. The hard drives on the mac are 5400 rpm. The T400, 7200 rpm. The video side, the Lenovo wins again. Price? Lenovo hands down. Warranty? Drop your MacBook Pro 15", or spill something inside it, or crush the screen in your bookbag, and it will cost $1300 to repair. That is what Apple makes us charge. The Dell or the Lenovo? Zero cost. It is protected under their accidental protection plans. </p>
<p>That is why engineering is pushing for a certain brand. Because they know how rough you guys are on your computers, that the first time you break it that getting it fixed can and sometimes does break the bank. With the Dell and Lenovo there are no issues like that. None. Zilch and zero.</p>
<p>I love my mac. Mainly due to being able to put it to sleep and it wakes up instantly. I personally think that windows is a better OS, but I use a computer for work and rarely play, and the rest of the automotive field that I work in (Besides working at the UVA Bookstore I run a full time home business, I run a 40,000 member car club that is respected world-wide, I have been written about in about 6 or 7 automotive related magazines, have built the worlds first Toyota Mr2 using a V8 in the back of that little sports car, and currently preparing a Toyota MR2 for use in the MARRS in ITB. I also am a SAE member in good standing and work as a Brake system inspector at Formula SAE events. Just to let you know where I stand on this engineering subject. Oh, and I am self taught with the exception of specialized nuclear training via the USAF.) pretty much uses the Windows OS.
I am done. email me if you have any other questions. I am off to do what I love most, go fast. We are testing a new car and are going to run it for 8 hours and see what breaks.</p>