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Home > Advice and how-to > Purchasing > Purchasing computers and related equipment
This article provides general information on buying new computer hardware. Before making any computer-related purchase, please consult your LSCR consultant, who can help you evaluate your needs and come up with specific recommendations. Not all equipment available through the vendors mentioned below can be supported by LSCR, and compatibility and other issues can arise.
It is important to select a new computer that will meet your present needs and the needs that you anticipate over the life of the machine. Because of rapid changes in technology, any computer that you purchase today will likely become obsolete within the next three to five years. A "close-out" model, based on older technology, may reach the end of its useful life before three years have elapsed. Your LSCR consultant can provide you with specific recommendations on what machines will best meet your present and future needs.
If your department wants to purchase a large number of machines (more than 10) all at once, you may want to contact Tom Holub (tom@LS.Berkeley.EDU), who may be able to work out a discount for you with one of our vendors.
The best way for departments and campus-affiliated individuals to purchase new computers is generally through The Scholar's Workstation (TSW). There are two TSW stores, one for departments (156 Martin Luther King Junior Student Union, 510-642-8424, info@tsw.berkeley.edu) and one for campus-affiliated individuals (108 Martin Luther King Junior Student Union, 510-642-9000 ext. 697, ucberkeley@bkstr.com). Both stores offer special educational pricing.
Recommendations for new computer purchases for departments in the College of Letters & Science are now available on The Scholar's Workstation website. To access the
recommendations, go to The Scholar's Workstation website and click on webstore under Computer Sales for Departments on the right of the screen. Then click on Department Recommendations under BROWSE CATEGORIES in the navigation bar on the left of the screen. On the next screen, click on TECHNOLOGY
RECOMMENDATIONS under Letters and Science.
In some cases, you may wish to get a custom configuration. You can create a custom configuration of an Apple computer for purchase through TSW using the Apple Store for Higher Education website. Likewise, a Dell computer can be configured for purchase through TSW via Dell's Premier website. Your LSCR consultant can provide assistance with this process.
TSW provides information on how to order.
Although TSW is generally the best source for computer hardware for campus users, there are some other sources for computer products at
special educational prices. In particular, departments can purchase specific,
specially priced configurations of ThinkPad notebook computers through the Blu portal: log into the portal with your
CalNet ID, click on the Buying tab and then
PC's and Accessories in the navigation box in the right of the screen.
configurations
As mentioned above, L&S recommendations are available on the TSW website, but here are some general guidelines for Mac and PC purchases:
Information on the minimal and recommended computer configurations for support from LSCR is available in the LSCR supported hardware page.
If you will using a computer at home for telecommuting, LSCR generally recommends the same types of machines as those that are used on campus.
Individuals affiliated with the campus (students, faculty, and staff) can buy computer equipment at educational prices from TSW.
If you wish to buy a Mac, you can also order directly from the Apple Store for Higher Education and have the computer shipped directly to you.
If you wish to buy a Dell PC, you can get an already configured system from TSW, order a custom configuration through TSW using the Dell Premier website, or order directly using the Dell University personal purchase program. (For Dell University purchases, you may be asked to enter the campus member identification number, which is US24728907.) In some cases, prices may be cheaper using the Dell University personal purchase program and in other cases prices may be higher, so it may be a good idea to check both sites.
Students, faculty, and staff can order Lenovo desktop and notebook PCs at an educational discount through a web portal at http://lenovo.com/shop/deals/ucberkeley.Computer peripherals and accessories such as printers, scanners, and cables are also available from The Scholar's Workstation.
In addition, many manufacturers and mail order retailers often offer discounts to educational institutions. Your LSCR consultant can help you select appropriate accessories and peripherals for your computer system.
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