Suggested Minimum Specifications for New Computers
Buying a computer with the following specifications will protect you from obsolescence for three to five years. If your needs do not dramatically increase, you may be able to keep using your computer for even longer.
The most common question we are asked is: “Should I buy a Mac or a PC?” There is no clear-cut answer. The choice of PC vs. Mac is mostly a personal one; Windows Vista and Mac OS X are both stable, mature, and full-featured. Besides personal preference, however, there are a number of other factors to consider in your choice of computer. Read more about Macs vs. PCs.
Below are the suggested minimum specifications for new computer purchases.
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Topics: faculty, learn, recommendations, staff, student
Help Desk are pleased to offer educational discounts on Dell and Apple equipment and various software to members of the SLC community. Review the Acceptable Use Policy and then use the links below to purchase desktop and notebook computers, software, and peripherals.
Hardware

http://www.slc.edu/dell

http://tinyurl.com/slclenovo

http://www.slc.edu/apple
Software

http://govconnection.com/sarahlawrence
* You will need to create a govconnection account to browse their catalog.

http://www.journeyed.com

http://www.microsoft.com/student
Topics: discounts, faculty, learn, recommendations, staff, student
Students may print and scan in the Library computer labs. While some students choose to bring their own printer or scanner, Help Desk does not support personal printers or scanners.
For additional information on public printing, please read the Printer FAQs.
Topics: learn, printing, recommendations, student
Your data is not secure if it only exists in one place. Hard drives, CDs, DVDs, flash drives, etc., will all fail eventually. To ensure the safety of your data, you must back up.
Backing up is simple: make a copy of the file(s) on another medium. If you store documents on your computer hard drive, copy them to a USB flash drive or burn a CD or DVD on a regular basis. Important school documents should be copied to your network drive.
If you back up monthly, you will never lose more than one month’s work. Critical work should be backed up at least daily!
Topics: backup, faculty, h drive, learn, network storage, recommendations, staff, student
“Sarah Lawrence extends loans to employees for the purchase of computer equipment and peripherals. Employees may borrow up to $2000 once every five (5) years during their employment with the college. Repayment is through payroll deduction and may be over a period of no more than 24 consecutive months or two academic years (for employees paid over 10 months), interest free. Borrowers must show proof of purchase and must repay the loan in full immediately if employment is terminated. Detailed information, payroll deduction forms and repayment notes are available in the Controller’s office.” — Human Resources
Topics: discounts, faculty, learn, recommendations, staff, student
Some recommendations for free software:
Topics: faculty, learn, recommendations, staff, student
As of June 1, 2007, Sarah Lawrence will no longer provide Dial-up access to the college community. Here is a list of companies to consider when looking for an internet service provider. Expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $56 per month.
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Topics: faculty, help desk, learn, recommendations, staff, student
Mac or PC?
Besides the aesthetic “feel” of each platform, there are a number of important practical differences between Macs and PCs that should be taken into account when deciding which one is right for you.
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Topics: faculty, learn, recommendations, staff, student
New SLC Student and Parent Tech Guide
If you have any questions that are not answered here please search this website or contact the Help Desk.
WIRELESS:
The SLC Wireless network can only be accessed while on campus.
Complete this form to access the SLC Wireless network:
http://pages.slc.edu/~support/article/wireless-access-request-form
ETHERNET:
The Help Desk suggests an Ethernet cable length of 15 feet, or longer.
JOBS:
All positions available in the Help Desk are posted on MySLC.
DISCOUNTS & RECOMMENDATIONS:
SLC has teamed up with Apple & Dell to make laptops, software, etc. available to you at discounted prices.
Click here to read our ‘Suggested Minimum Specifications for New Computers’:
http://pages.slc.edu/~support/tag/recommendations
While shopping the Apple site you will see the discounted price. While browsing the Dell site you will not see the discounted price until you check out.
Please Note – You must use the code provided at the front page of the Dell Store.
Apple Store – http://slc.edu/apple
Dell Store – http://slc.edu/dell
PERSONAL STORAGE SPACE:
Student email, Gryphon Mail, has over 7GB of storage for email, Word documents, PDFs, etc.
USB Keys or Thumb Drives, CD-R’s, and CD-RW’s, and are very popular and inexpensive media to save and transport data.
ON CAMPUS STORAGE SPACE:
Each student has 100 MB of space on the network. Files saved to your H: Drive are available to any properly configured computer on campus, or can be accessed via FTP. Files are backed up nightly.
Details can be found here:
http://pages.slc.edu/~support/tag/h-drive
WEB PAGE SPACE:
Students may use the school server pages.slc.edu for website development.
Details can be found here:
http://pages.slc.edu/~support/tag/websites
PRINTING & SCANNING:
Please refer to the following link for details on each of these items:
http://pages.slc.edu/~support/tag/printing
SOFTWARE:
The Library Computer Lab has the following:
http://pages.slc.edu/~support/article/library-pc-lab
The Heimbold Visual Arts Center lab has the following:
http://pages.slc.edu/~support/article/digital-media-lab
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Help Desk
hd@slc.edu
914-395-2460
Topics: backup, contact, digital media lab, discounts, email, h drive, heimbold, help desk, jobs, learn, policies, printing, recommendations, student, wireless