<p>If a Harvard student-to-be buys a laptop through Harvard early this summer, does the kid get the computer in the fall before the semester begins, or can the computer be shipped to the student at his/her home over the summer? Anyone know? How has anyone else handled this?</p>
<p>You can get it shipped.</p>
<p>Also, be sure to shop around, sometimes Harvard's discounts aren't necessarily the best deal (for example, if you're looking for a cheap-o PC laptop, you can probably get it cheaper through a Dell deal, than Lenovo... that said Lenovo makes much higher quality machines).</p>
<p>My son ordered his new laptop through Harvard and he LOVES it! It arrived in about 1 week. He's really enjoying it. He's getting familiar with it now before school starts</p>
<p>If buying a mac, you may want to wait until August. They should be releasing a line of Macbooks with the latest Intel processors by then. Also, they may be redesigned to compliment the look of the iMacs or iPhones.</p>
<p>D bought a Macbook through H, and found it to be the best price. But, she was not allowed to wait and pick it up there, it had to be shipped to her. The wastefulness of this was ridiculous: It was shipped from Apple in Calif. to H, then shipped from H to D in Calif., then shipped by D from Calif. back to H in Sept.</p>
<p>Jeef - Apple also runs a "free iPod with purchase of any mac" promo around August as well.</p>
<p>Apple (both online and in the stores) also gives a student discount.</p>
<p>The financial aid office told me that if I wanted to use extra scholarship money towards the laptop, I had to wait till after I graduated. Is this true, and has anyone else heard this as well?</p>
<p>I think they mean after you matriculated.</p>
<p>nickybol makes sense. They would want you to matriculate first.</p>
<p>Is there any difference in the computer tech support students receive from Harvard based on whether or not they purchase the computer through Harvard?</p>
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Is there any difference in the computer tech support students receive from Harvard based on whether or not they purchase the computer through Harvard?
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<p>There are two types of tech support you can get from Harvard.
1. From student "User Assistants." They'll try to help with any software problem (i.e. you got a virus) or basic hardware stuff (copying data off of a dying drive). They'll give you the exact same help no matter what type of computer you have or where you purchased.</p>
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<li>From the Harvard computer store in the basement of the Science Center. These people do more extensive hardware repairs (i.e. your motherboard died, and your computer is under warranty). They can only work on Lenovo + Apple machines, as far as I know -- but it doesn't matter whether you bought them through Harvard or on your own. Unfortunately, I've heard nothing but bad things about them - it seems like in 90% of all cases, they just ship the computer off the the manufacturer to be fixed, which you could have just done yourself. I'd recommend taking Apple computers to one of the local Apple Stores (Cambridgeside, or the soon to open on on Newbury St.) where they can do on-site repairs.</li>
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<p>I hear you can either purchase a laptop through Harvard, or purchase one through Apple and use your HUID to get any discount still. Does anyone have any recommendation which to do and the positives/negatives of each route?</p>
<p>I'm a fan of going through Apple, so you can customize your computer and take part in the free printer/free iPod promos they usually have going on. Sometimes, going through Harvard gives you more RAM for cheaper (although it's almost always cheapest to upgrade the RAM yourself).</p>