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

1. Computer Nerds, Inc jump to info
2. Computer Tutor @ PCI and TeamLogic IT jump to info
3. Corporate Computer Solutions jump to info
4. Custom Computers and Repair jump to info
5. DoctorMac jump to info
6. Geeks On Call jump to info
7. GeekSquad jump to info
8. LaptopRescue.comjump to info
9. R & R Computer Service jump to info
10. MacService / ThinkpadService jump to info
11. Firedog jump to info
12. Mount Vernon Computers jump to info

Computer Nerds, Inc

• Address – 441 Bronxville Rd, Bronxville, NY
• Phone – 914-779-7952
• Hours – 8:30 am to 7pm (answering phone)
• Email – info@thecomputernerdsinc.com
• Website -http://www.thecomputernerdsinc.com
• Service Type – On-site
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – ‘will not guarantee anything’7.4
• Rate – $130/hour + parts
• Discount – Talk to Jim Minovich (owner)
• Pick up – Yes (Free)
• Drop off – Yes (Free)
• Notes – Will make house calls.

Computer Tutor @ PCI and TeamLogic IT

• Address – Westchester
• Phone – 914-337-1700, 914-337-8400
• Hours – Vary.
• Email – ctpci94@aol.com
• Website – http://www.computertutorpci.com andhttp://www.teamlogicit.com
• Service Type – on-site
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – Yes
• Rate – $95/hour + parts
• Discount – Will probably discount 10-20%, could set up a meeting with owner.
• Pick up – Yes (Free)
• Drop off – Yes (Free)
• Notes – Does house calls all over the area.

Corporate Computer Solutions

• Address – 55 Halstead Avenue Harrison, NY 10528
• Phone – 914-835-1105
• Hours – 9-5
• Email – Winston Henry whenry@corporatecomputersol.com
• Website – http://www.corporatecomputersol.com
• Service Type – On-site
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – No
• Rate – $80/hour, 1 hr minimum
• Discount – None.
• Pick up – Yes
• Drop off – Yes
• Notes – n/a

Custom Computers and Repair

• Address – Yonkers
• Phone – 914-374-0917
• Hours -
• Email – tom@customcomprepair.com, mobile@yonkerspcrepair.com
• Website – http://www.customcomprepair.com
• Service Type – On-site
• Windows – Yes
• OS X -
• Rate – $75-$125/hour + parts
• Discount – $50-$100/hour + parts (for SLC)
• Pick up – Yes (Free)
• Drop off – Yes (Free)
• Notes -Does house calls. IrishMidak on AIM. Low price: software installation (non-OS), simple hardware installation. High price: data recovery, serious virus trouble.

DoctorMac

• Address – 20 North Ave, Larchmont, NY 10538
• Phone – 914-834-8810
• Hours -
• Email – lou@doctormacny.com
• Website -www.doctormacny.com
• Service Type – On-site
• Windows – No
• OS X – Yes
• Rate -
• Discount -
• Pick up -
• Drop off -
• Notes -

Geeks On Call

• Address – World Headquarters
  814 Kempsville Road, Suite 106
  Norfolk, VA, USA 23502
• Phone – 800-905-GEEK
• Hours -Monday to Friday 8 to 12am. Sunday 10-7
• Email – shana.keith@porternovelli.com
• Website -http://www.geeksoncall.com/
• Service Type – On-site
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – Yes
• Rate – $165 for first hour for networked computer, + $120/additional hour, or $30 per quarter hour. Diagnostic calls: $79/first 15 minutes, after that, shifts to hourly or flat rate depending on computer. Hardware installation flat rate: $165 for 1^st part, $65 for each additional.
• Discount – No
• Pick up – No
• Drop off – No
• Notes – All work will take place on-site. Technicians A+ certified. Generally enterprise-level services.

GeekSquad

• Address – Best Buy 555 E Sandford Blvd
• Mount Vernon, NY 10550
• Phone (914) 664-4425
• Phone – 1-800-GEEK-SQUAD
• Hours – Vary
• Email -info@bestbuy.com
• Website -www.geeksquad.com
• Service Type -
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – Yes
• Rate -http://www.geeksquad.com/pricing/default.aspx#section1 (price list)
• Discount – No
• Pick up -
• Drop off -
• Notes -

LaptopRescue.com

• Address – 912 W Isabella St, Salisbury, MD 21801
• Phone – 800-574-7642
• Hours – M-F 9am-6pm Eastern
• Email -http://www.laptoprescue.com/contactus.php
• Website -http://www.laptoprescue.com
• Service Type – Mail-in laptop only. East Coast and West Coast centers.
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – No
• Rate – No more than $149 plus parts. Diagnostic free with repair; without, may cost $29.95. Quotes free, up front, before work begun. See below.
• Discount – None
• Pick up – n/a
• Drop off – n/a
• Notes – Service HP, Dell, ThinkPad, Toshiba, Sony, Fujitsu, Alienware, Acer, Asus, Panasonic, Gateway, and Compaq. No fix = no charge. Better Business Bureau certified.

R & R Computer Service

• Address – PO BOX 728 Yonkers NY 107084
• Phone – 914-422-1804 or 888-randr99
• Hours – 24/7
• Email – raimonj@randrservice.com
• Website -http://www.randrservice.com(WEBSITE CURRENTLY DOWN)
• Service Type – On-site
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – Yes
• Rate – $110 for a call including 1 hour, plus $90/hour after.
• Discount – $85/$75 for students/schools.
• Pick up – Yes
• Drop off – Yes
• Notes – No fix = no charge.

MacService / ThinkpadService

• Address – 3034 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054
• Phone – 877-622-3473 or 408-855-0010
• Hours – 9-5 (west coast)
• Email -orders@macservice.com
• Website -http://www.macservice.com or http://www.thinkpadservice.com
• Service Type – Mail-in laptop only.
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – Yes
• Rate – Fixed prices, which include parts, shipping, box, and labor.
• Discount – Education Program allows for discounts, free estimates, free shipping. Can sign up online.
• Pick up – No
• Drop off – No
• Notes – Services Apple, HP, Dell, ThinkPad, Toshiba, Sony, Fujitsu, Alieneare, Acer, Asus, Panasonic, Gateway, and Compaq. Better Business Bureau certified.

Firedog

• Address – Circuit City, 750 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704 next to the Cross County Shopping Center
• Phone – 800-fire-dog or 914-969-1629
• Hours – 1am Eastern Time Closes.
• Email -customercare@firedog.com
• Website -http://www.firedog.com/
• Service Type – In-store, on-site, remote/online, phone
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – No
• Rate -http://www.firedog.com/pcs_all.html
• Discount – None. Can sign up online for special offers.
• Pick up – No
• Drop off – No
• Notes – n/a

Mount Vernon Computers

• Address – 1455 Route 22, Wingdale, New York, 12594, Mount Vernon, NY 10550
• Phone – 914-439-7118
• Hours – 9 – 5.
• Email -info@mountvernoncomputers.com
• Website -http://www.mountvernoncomputers.com/
• Service Type – On-site.
• Windows – Yes
• OS X – Yes
• Rate – $65 an hour.
• Discount – On enquiry discount can be set up.
• Pick up – Yes
• Drop off – Yes
• Notes – n/a

LEGEND

Company Name

• Address – Address (if applicable)
• Phone – phone number (if applicable)
• Hours – M, T, W, Th, F, Sa, Su
• Email – address or contact page (if applicable)
• Website – company web site
• Service Type – In-store, on-site (aka house call), remote/online, phone, mail-in
• Windows – Yes (supported) No (not-supported)
• OS X – Yes (supported) No (not-supported)
• Rate – Hourly/Flat rate information
• Discount – Education/SLC discount information (if applicable)
• Pick up – Company will pick up computer (cost if applicable)
• Drop off – Company will drop off computer (cost if applicable)
• Notes – Any additional information.

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.

• Price
  Macs are generally more expensive. Because Apple offers fewer models, you are more likely to pay for features that you don’t need when you buy a Mac. Apple’s cheaper models tend to be more expensive than cheap PCs. In addition, Sarah Lawrence College’s Apple store gives you a academic discount that will lower the price of a new Mac, in most cases. Sarah Lawrence College’s partnership with Dell typically only results in a small percentage off the final price. However, substantial discounts for Dell computers can often be found in local and/or national newspapers.
• Security
  According to Symantec, a popular antivirus software vendor, “there are no file-infecting viruses that can infect Mac OS X.” If you wish, you can run anti-virus and anti-spyware software for maximum peace of mind and guaranteed security, but the likelihood of catching a virus or being overrun with spyware on a Mac is very, very low. By contrast, Symantec tracks more than 73,000 Windows viruses.
• Warranty
  A 3-year warranty from Dell or Apple will cost roughly the same. However, Apple does not offer as many types of support as Dell or many other manufacturers, e.g., accidental damage or on-site repair and replacement coverage.
• Hardware Variety
  There are hundreds of models of Windows PCs sold by dozens of manufacturers you can choose from to ensure that you buy exactly what you need. Apple is the only company that sells Macs, and there many types of computers that Apple simply does not make; if you absolutely need a laptop for under $900, a desktop under $500, a tablet PC, or an ultra-portable subnotebook, a Windows PC is your best option.
• Software compatibility
  Though there is vastly more Windows software than Mac OS X software, new Macs can run Windows software (though not vice versa). Any Mac manufactured since May 2006 has the ability to run Windows software through one of the following two methods: the first uses Apple’s free Boot Camp software and involves installing Windows on a separate hard drive partition. Thus, you can choose to boot the computer up running either Mac OS X or Windows, but not both at the same time. Alternatively, you can purchase Parallels Desktop, which allows you to run Windows and OS X simultaneously, giving you access to the combined software libraries of both platforms at the same time. For maximum flexibility, you can have it both ways and use both Boot camp and Parallels if you wish. For either approach, you must possess a licensed copy of Windows to install.
  

  If you are a film student (or intend to become one), a Mac will useful because Final Cut Pro–the video editing software supported by and taught at Sarah Lawrence College–is a Mac-only product. For most other purposes, software compatibility is no longer likely to be the deciding factor between PC and Mac.

High Speed Internet Options

Time Warner Road Runner
1-866-520-5983

Optimum Online
1-888-467-8468

EarthLink
(Cable, DSL, and Dial-Up)
1-800-327-8454

Verizon DSL
1-877-483-5898

Verizon Fios
1-888-933-3331

Dial-up Conections (long distance charges may apply)

MetConnect Free Dial-up Connection

DialupForFree (in Connecticut only)

MetConnect Access Numbers:
212-359-2000, 347-562-0000, 516-630-2000, 631-236-0000, 646-496-0000, 845-727-9001, 914-595-8001

DialupForFree Access Numbers:
308-344-9890, 308-344-9891

• Ajax Launch office software
• Ardour digital audio workstation
• Audacity digital audio editor
• Blender 3D modeler and animator
• Celtx pre-production software for film, video, theatre, and animation
• Context Free Art image creator
• Cyberduck FTP client
• Eyespot digital video editor
• Firefox web browser
• Fugu SFTP client
• Gimp image manipulator
• Handbrake DVD ripper
• ImageMagick command-line image manipulator
• Jahshaka digital video workstation
• Inkscape vector image designer
• Nvu web designer
• OpenOffice office software, see also NeoOffice for Mac
• Processing Java animation environment
• Supercollider digital audio synthesizer
• TextWrangler text editor
• VLC video player/transcoder/streamer

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!

For additional information on public printing, please read the Printer FAQs.

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

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.

• Laptop or Desktop — Sarah Lawrence College recommends a laptop. Though a desktop will be cheaper and more powerful, a laptop’s portability will come in handy on campus.
• Processor — Almost any recent processor will be sufficient, though we do not recommend Celeron or Sempron processors.
• Memory (RAM) — 3 gigabytes.
• Hard drive — At least 160 gigabytes is recommended; 250 or greater if you intend to create digital art.
• Display size — 12 inches or greater on a laptop; 17 inches or greater for a desktop.
• Wireless internet access — A wireless card is a necessity for a laptop, but not required for a desktop.
• Disc burning — Make sure that your computer can burn CDs. If you edit videos, DVD burning can also be useful. Look for a CD-R or DVD-R/DVD+R drive.
• Warranty — A three or four year warranty is recommended, especially if you have a laptop.
• Removable Media — A 1 gigabyte (or larger) USB flash drive is recommended for quick file transfers, and you can use it for backing up important documents as well.

After you buy:

• Web browsing — We recommend that Windows users use Firefox, a free, powerful, and secure web browser. Firefox is easier to use than Internet Explorer 7, and more secure than Internet Explorer 6–which should be avoided. Download Firefox here. For Mac users, we recommend either Firefox or Safari (the web browser that comes installed).
• Security — Sophos Anti-Virus (Mac and Windows) is offered free to students by Sarah Lawrence College. Beyond that, Ad-Aware SE and Spybot S&D are excellent free anti-spyware tools for Windows.

Further Reading

• Laptop or Desktop?
  A laptop’s portability allows you to take it to class, the library, with you on plane flights, and home over breaks without having to ship it through the postal service. A desktop will give you more “bang for your buck.”
• Mac or PC?
  Today Macs and PCs are both capable of performing the same tasks in roughly the same amount of time. No matter what platform and what computer you choose, it will be perfectly sufficient for word processing, reading email and browsing the Web. However, Macs and PCs are still very different in their “feel,” price, and software libraries. Click here for a more in-depth discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• Processor
  Modern processors–such as the Intel Core 2 Duo–are all extremely fast and powerful. However, some manufacturers still sell computers with Celeron or Sempron processors which are very slow in a misguided attempt to cut costs. Avoid these computers, no matter how cheap they are.
• Memory (RAM)
  More RAM allows you to run more programs at once and still have your computer feel responsive. Less RAM will limit your ability to multitask and make your computer feel slower–in fact, not enough RAM is the most common bottleneck a computer can experience. RAM is so cheap these days that even 2 gigabytes is fairly inexpensive. Consider more (4 GB), especially for extreme multitaskers, video editors, or heavy Photoshop users.
• Hard drive
  A larger hard drive will let you store more data (pictures, music, movies, conference papers, etc.) on your computer. Because of the relative difficulty and expense involved in removing and replacing a hard drive, we recommend that you buy a computer with a hard drive you can “grow into” to avoid space cramps later.
• Display size
  On a laptop, a larger display will add considerably to the weight of your computer, limiting your ability to easily transport it. It will also probably raise the price, too. On the other hand, it will give you more room to work and make multitasking easier. On a desktop, bigger is always better, since the computer isn’t going anywhere. Though 17 inch displays are common, a 20 or 22 inch display is likely to be a better idea, and prices are always coming down. We recommend a widescreen monitor (16:9 rather than 4:3).
• Wireless internet access
  A wireless card is not very important if you have a desktop, as the dorms have ports to the wired network. On a laptop, though, a wireless card is vital, and will make your life easier anytime you need to connect to the internet away from home.
• Disc burning
  Beng able to burn CDs is less important if you have a decently-sized flash drive, but it is still handy. Being able to burn DVDs can be quite convenient for moving larger amounts of data than can fit in a flash drive, and CDs or DVDs are excellent for distributing digital media you have created. For the most storage capacity, look for a dual-layer DVD burner.
• Word processing/productivity
  Microsoft Office has become the de facto standard. If you need many of the advanced features of Office but would like to avoid the “Office tax,” you might consider OpenOffice, which is free, does most of what Office can do, and reads and writes Office file formats (.doc, .ppt, .xls) natively. Mac users may prefer NeoOffice, which is a more Mac-like version of OpenOffice. Please note that we are unable to provide support for OpenOffice or NeoOffice.
• Warranty
  A good warranty is essential for any computer, especially laptops, which typically see more wear and tear than desktops. A warranty will protect you from having to pay expensive repair costs should anything go wrong with your computer during coverage, and will have paid for itself should even one repair be required.
• Web browsing
  We recommend Mozilla Firefox for a variety of reasons: security, speed, standards compliance, and user customizability. Firefox outmatches Internet Explorer 6 in all these categories, and Internet Explorer 7 in most of them. Firefox is also free (zero cost and open source).
• Security
  Anti-virus and anti-spyware software is very important for any Windows computer. Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy are both free and easy to use, and failure to use them can result in infections of malware–spyware that can steal your personal information or viruses that can hold your files hostage or even turn your computer into a spam zombie. Macs are mostly immune to these threats, as little to no malware exists that targets Macs.