Who is required to purchase a computer?
First Year students (both Undergraduate and Graduate, MArch I) are required to have a computer in their first Fall semester.
Selecting and purchasing your computer Below are the recommended hardware and softwarepurchases, with recommended locations for completing your order. Theserecommendations are meant to serve as a guide to aid in your purchasingdecision. Althoughnot required, please be aware we recommend studentspurchase a portable computer, rather than a desktop computer. Weunderstand that this can be a tough process, full of technical languageand opportunity for misunderstanding. If you need additionalinformation about anything computer related, or just want to askquestions about our computing environment, then please feel free tocontact:
Chris Tangora, System Admin
704-687-4975 ctangora@uncc.edu
Step 1: Pick A System
Attention
We strongly advise AGAINST purchasing any system without a dedicated graphics card (MacBooks, MacBook Airs & 20" iMacs & Mac Minis). Studentswithout a dedicated graphics card in their computers will have troublerunning graphically intensive programs such as Adobe Photoshop orGoogle Sketchup.Apple & Dell usually offer a "Back To School" bundle in July/August/September. Also, forNorth Carolina residents, computers purchased during the "Tax Free"weekend (starting the first Friday in August) will offer the extra discount of not havingto pay sales tax. For more information, check the website:
http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sales/salestax_holiday.html
Hardware Macintosh or Windows? Oneof the most frequently asked questions is why do we suggest a Macintoshcomputer over a Windows computer. You don't have to purchase aMacintosh computer, a Windows computer will work fine. However, thereare a few advantages of the Mac over Windows. The Macintosh platformhas nowhere near the number of viruses, malware, trojans & spywarethat the Windows platform does. Also, the SoA students can access theSoA server off-campus if they have a Macintosh, but not if they have aWindows computer. Macintosh computers can also run Windows OperatingSystems (OS), but you must have a valid license/serial number for it.
Inthe end you have to go with what works for you best. Therecommendations for computers are Apple computers. If you can find a Windows only machine with comparable specs (outlined below) it should work equally as well for you.
Basedon what we believe will give the students the best computing experiencefor the least amount of money, the current recommendedconfigurations are: 
| Minimal Recommendation
Refurbished 15" MacBook Pro
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
| Base Recommendation
Standard 15" MacBook Pro
2.4 GHz CPU
| Advanced Recommendation
Custom 15" MacBook Pro
2.66 GHz CPU | | CPU | 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (1066MHz FSB) | 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (1066MHz FSB) | 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (1066MHz FSB) | RAM
| 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM @ 1066 MHz
| 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM @ 1066 MHz
| 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM @ 1066 MHz
| Graphics Card
| NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 256MB
| NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 256MB
| NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 512MB
| Hard Drive
| 250 GB SATA @ 5400 RPM
| 250 GB SATA @ 5400 RPM | 250 GB SATA @ 7200 RPM* | Optical Drive
| DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW | DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW | DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW | Price
| Varies, click here to check Apple's Refurbished section for current deals.
| $1,999 - retail
$1,899 - educational discount
| $2,499 - retail
$2,276 - educational discount | Apple laptops are the only laptops with dual video cards (one integrated, one dedicated).
If you purchase a non-Apple laptop you need at least a 256 MB dedicated graphics card.
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* The standard MacBook Pro comes with a 320GB 5400 RPM hard drive. For the advanced recommendation we suggest a 7200 RPM drive for faster access. Add More RAM RAM is your operating memory. The more RAM that you have, the moreoperations your computer will be able to perform at the same time. Inmany ways having more RAM is more important than having a fastercomputer. Allof the recommended Apple computers have at least 2 GB of RAM. Because of thehigh-end graphic nature of the work performed at the SoA, 2 GB isthe minimum and 4 GB is preferable.
Becauseportable computers only have two slots available for expanding your operating memory, it is best to place themaximum amount of RAM in each slot when adding modules. Ifyou are ordering through the UNC Charlotte Custom Apple Online Store,you can add RAM to your configuration during the purchasing process. Itwill not be the cheapest price, but it will already be installed.
Ifyou wish to upgrade your RAM through a third party, make sure you matchyour RAM speed to the Front Side Bus of your CPU. Here are a fewrecommended vendors:
Prices vary from vendor to vendor and fluctuate daily, so "shopping around" is a good idea.
Althoughnot a difficult process, if you have never installed an internalcomputing component before, then we recommend that you do not installthe RAM yourself.
Step 2: Pick A Place From Which To Purchase Regardless of where you choose to make your final purchase, the bestplace to get hands on experience with Apple hardware is at an AppleRetail Store. Apple Retail Stores offer educational discounts (thesame pricing as the Apple Online Education Store -- on their website) to students but you must have your student identification card forproof of enrollment. The following web page will assist you in finding the Apple Retail Store nearest to where you live: http://www.apple.com/buy/ Thatsame web page will also assist you in locating all of the possibleretail and online locations for making your final purchase. Best Buy also carries Apple, Dell, HP, Toshiba & many others. You can go to a store and take a look around
Whileyou are in no way required to purchase your computer online, the UNCCharlotte Custom Apple Online Store is most likely the best place foryou to make your final purchase, as it will reflect the fulleducational discount available to you, as well as any specialpromotions that may be extended to our individual university. UNC Charlotte Custom Apple Online Store: launch your browser go to http://www.uncc.edu/constituents/faculty-and-staff/apple-personal.asp in the Email field, enter your UNCC email
click check email
Clickon the appropriate model (our recommendation or the model of yourchoosing) and follow the instructions for completing your order. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions and concerns.
Step 3: Get a Warranty
Yourcomputer is an investment in your education. Accidents happen and whenthey do it is far better to have a warranty to repair your computerthan to have to re-purchase a computer. It is HIGHLY advisedto purchase a warranty for your computer and to understand what iscovered and more importantly what is NOT covered by the warranty.
The SoA computing staff's main job is to keep the servers and otherservices up and running. While they can help with simple day-to-dayconfiguration issues, they are not responsible for troubleshootingissues that might arise throughout the year with a student's computer. Warranties provides you with years of supportand repair for all the parts of your computer. 
| AppleCare The AppleCare Protection Plan extends your computer's 90 days ofcomplimentary phone support and one-year warranty to three years of fullsupport. AppleCare for Macbook Pro - $239 (if you buy a monitor at the same time the monitor is covered by the same AppleCare warranty)
The Extended AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with three years of supportand repair for all the parts of your computer, directly from Apple.
AppleCare does NOT cover accidental damage.
|  | Best Buy Warranties
Best Buy offers awarranty if you buy your computer through them (Apple, Dell, HP, etc).
Their warranties can cover accidental damage, which AppleCare does NOTcover.
If purchasing a warranty through Best Buy, make sure you askabout the Accidental Damage from Handling Coverage (ADH). |  | Dell Warranties
If you purchase a computer through Dell you have the option to buy arange of warranties. Each with a different length and scope.
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Step 4: Purchasing Software
What To Purchase The following software represents the core set of CAD and Graphicsdigital design tools that students will find useful throughout the SoAcurriculum. Inthe same way a textbook purchase would be required for a class, asstudents progress through the program, additional software purchasesmay be requested by individual professors or desired by individualstudents. By waiting to purchase software until it is actually needed,students will be able to purchase the most up-to-date version and notcarry the burden of upgrading software they may not have used.
Youare not required to purchase any additional applications at this time.But, if you wish to do so, then please be aware that the applicationsthat are currently supported and available for use in the SoA ComputingLab include:
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Apple Final Cut Express
Apple iMovie
Apple iWork
Apple iLife
Google SketchUp
Microsoft Office 2003 & 2008
If you have an Intel-based Mac you can, provided you have your own copy, install Windows XP orWindows Vista along side of the Mac OS with Bootcamp from Apple (standard in Mac OS X 10.5). The SoA is not responsiblefor supporting Bootcamp, or any of the other programs installed on astudent's computer. It is highly suggested that students keep theirown backups up to date throughout the semester.
To purchase software at academic prices, we recommend using JourneyEd or Academic Superstore.
Highly Recommended Items Thebrands and models listed in this section are suggestions based on userexperience. You are of course welcome to select devices that you prefer.
External Hard Drives
Eachstudent computer should have an external hard drive. The drive can beused with the 10.5 Macintosh operating system to do backups via the"Time Machine" feature. It can also be manually updated so you alwayshave a backup of your data. You want to make sure you get an externalhard drive large enough to backup most of your entire hard drive, plussome. All external hard drives should have a USB 2.0 interface atleast, but a dual USB/Firewire interface is recommended, as theperformance and functionality is greatly improved.
Studentshave also found USB jump drives to be very handy. An USB flash driveformatted to be FAT32 can be read and written to by both the Mac andWindows computers. This is very handy for moving your files from yourpersonal computer to a lab computer.
Surge Protection Each student computer should be plugged into a computer grade surgeprotector. University electrical power is typically even and reliable,and the power supplies in the Apple CPUs are robust. Still, loss ofdata, if not damage to the computer, can be prevented by use of a highquality surge protector. These are available at any local computerreseller, and through any online computer reseller, and typically carrya warranty for replacement of equipment damaged by power relatedissues. Fellowes Portable Laptop Surge Protector ($50,000 coverage) - $15.00 - 20.00
Ethernet Patch Cable
Everystudent has use of their own network port in the design studioenvironment, allowing access to the internet, the SoA file servers, theSoA printers; as well as easy exchange of files between any two studentcomputers in the building. In order to plug in to the networkport, you will need to purchase an Ethernet patch cable. These can bepurchased from any place that sells computing equipment and typicallycost about a dollar a foot. Because over the years you willchange locations within the design studios, it would be safest topurchase a 15 foot patch cable. Do not purchase a patch cable longerthan this as it is not guaranteed to work by our campus networkingdepartment. Do not confuse this with a standard phone patch cable. They look similar, but the Ethernet patch cable has a wider head. 15' ethernet cable - $15.00
Security Kit The SoA is a relatively secure location on campus. It is a welllighted, open space, which is typically populated 24 hours a day.However, it is very important that you understand the SoA can make noguarantees for the security of your privately owned computingequipment, and that you are ultimately responsible for the safety ofyour computer. Whenit comes to computing equipment, the more security the better. Toprovide increased protection, the SoA recommends a high qualitysecurity device. These are available at any local computer reseller,and through any online computer reseller. Kensington MicroSaver Guaranteed Notebook Replacement ($1500 coverage) - $40.00 - 50.00
External Optical Mouse
A mouse is not required, but is preferable. Performing creative tasksover long periods of time with only the built-in trackpad can becomedifficult. Logitech Optical Mouse - $20.00
Other Additional Items Carrying Case
Acarrying case is not required, but may be preferable. Apple portablesare built to withstand normal day-to-day wear and tear, but cosmeticand exterior functional aspects of your portable may decline over timeif a carrying case is not used, and you are not particularly careful intransporting your equipment. Prices vary, but a good quality, yetaffordable carrying case should run about $50.
Removable Media
Inaddition to the file transfer capabilities of the network describedabove, the CD-rewritable drive in the recommended systems can also beused to transfer files from one computer to another. Flash drives arealso recommended as they offer a large amount of space at a relativelyinexpensive price.
Digital Camera
Adigital camera may be preferable, but is not required, as the SoAprovides several digital still and video cameras for reservation &checkout.
InkJet Printer
Onemay come with your computer for free, or you may wish to purchase yourown inkjet printer. But, your own personal printer is not a necessity,as the SoA provides a large variety of printing options available toall architecture majors via the network. Students are charged a minimalmaterial recovery cost per print, but given the cost of ink jetreplacement cartridges, owning your own printer will not necessarilysave you money.
Insurance An 'inland marine rider' can be written as an accompaniment to yourfamily homeowner's or renter's insurance policy. It will list theequipment you own, including software, and will insure the listed itemsfor replacement value in case of damage or theft. Many policies extenddamage coverage to lost data. Rates are moderate, and depend on thevalue of the computer system. The recommended systems should costaround $60-$75 per year to insure.
Financial Information Student Loans All students may apply for loans to assist with a computer purchase bycompleting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Althoughstudent loan money may be used for required computer purchases, thisneed will not increase the amount of loan money an individual studentqualifies for as determined by federal financial aid guidelines. Studentsshould also be aware that because of federal rules, these loan fundsare not available any earlier than the first day of classes. Additionalquestions regarding student loans should be directed to the StudentFinancial Aid Office, 122 Reese Building (704-687-2461). Apple Credit Card
Other assistance options include an Apple credit card. If you chooseto purchase your computer with an Apple credit card, then you will berequired to purchase through the UNC Charlotte Custom Apple OnlineStore or at any Apple Retail Store. More information on the AppleInstant Loan is available at the Apple Online Store (http://store.apple.com/).
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