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New laptops, new issues

Jenna Rignanese

Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: News
SHU's Laptop Refresh Program connects students with the latest technoloy.
Media Credit: The Spectrum/Brittany Raine
SHU's Laptop Refresh Program connects students with the latest technoloy.

Click, Swipe, Click!

IBM. Dell. Mac. A new year means new laptops and new computer issues.

Sacred Heart University is part of a select number of colleges in the nation that use a "Mobile Computing System." This system is used to keep current college students up to date in the field of technology to better their educational experience via the laptop.

The "Mobile Computing System" is one of Sacred Heart's claims to fame. The newest computers are provided to students with the latest software and programs to insure everyone is connected through mainstream technology.

All makes and models of laptops that SHU distributes to the student body are under an insurance plan to better deal with damage and computer protection. Technical support is always available at the Information Technology (IT) department's hot spot known as the "Factory." From quick fixes to batteries and new hard drives, the staff at the Factory is ready to save your day.

Training for the laptops is always readily available. A wireless campus and a Media Lab make accessing the Internet on campus a simple click away. The IT department works hard to make IBM, Dell and MAC laptop programs easy to understand to even the most clueless technology users.

With a recent switch in laptop makes and models, different questions and problems inevitably arise.

"Internet related issues seem to be the biggest problem," said Evan Gillette, IT, junior, Rochester, N.Y. "Many students are complaining about the Internet connections and are having trouble getting used to the differences between the Dell and the IBM [computers]."

The "Laptop Refresh Program" is Sacred Heart's most efficient way to distribute laptops to new students every year. Students receive a new laptop in their freshmen and junior years as part of tuition and get to keep them after graduation. Within the last year, SHU replaced the old model of Dell laptops with IBM's.

Media Studies, Communication Technology and Art student's use Mac Notebooks because the software is more compatible for creative assignments, such as graphic design, creating commercials, and photo related work. All other major's use the IBM ThinkPad's.
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