<p>Does Duke have special recomendation or discount on certain type of labtop/computer for the freshman class? Any suggestion? Mac or PC?</p>
<p>u can go to the duke university store's online website, just search it on duke.edu and there is a lot of info there. as far as mac or pc, mac is better but you pay for it. if you are an engineer, i think pc's are preffered. for trinity, i dont think it really matters, macs just out perform pcs</p>
<p>Why is a mac computer so much better?</p>
<p>A mac is better primarily because of its mac operating system. the mac os or "leopard" is much more stable. the computer as a whole is simply better too. I read somewhere that the computer that runs windows vista the fastest is a mac. but like i said before, macs are really expensive.</p>
<p>The deals on laptops from Duke's store really aren't that great. The biggest advantage though is that Duke packages them with a 3 yr warranty that allows the computer to be serviced by the IT department on campus, rather than shipping it off if something breaks.</p>
<p>just a note: Pratt son has been using a mac at Duke for 2 years with no complaints (which is a miracle, considering his techno-snob self). He has run Windows and Solidworks with no problem, but prefers the Mac operating system.</p>
<p>Mac = Windows really</p>
<p>As someone said, Duke computer store is very expensive but convenient. If you know where to look, you can get the same computer for 50-75% the price, but won't get that at Duke repair.</p>
<p>I'd really suggest getting the Duke warranty...IMHO it's worth it. I always thought that I took great care of my computer...BUT when you're a college student all sorts of things can happen. You carry your computer to class/the library with you all the time. Your desk where you keep it is also where you eat dinner half the time. You're always bringing it to places, and eating meals/snacks while working on things. </p>
<p>I don't have a Duke warranty, and as a consequence my touchpad hasn't worked for 2 years. And I have the least computer problems out of all my friends.</p>
<p>can we bring a non-duke laptop but purchase duke warranty?</p>
<p>my freshman bought a Dell from Duke the first time. It was stolen - watch your laptops! - and got a Mac the second time. She likes the Mac better for some reason. No, you can't get the Duke warranty without purchasing it through their computer store.</p>
<p>Not a response to the OP's question, but given ForeverBlue's post, pertinent, I think:</p>
<p>Check your home owner's policy. We found that, for a very low price, we could add our and our son's laptop as "personal articles." I'm thinking it was $18/yr. You are covered for damage and theft. I think we have a $50 deductible. When S's computer screen cracked after an incident with a renegade soccer ball in his dorm room(!) he was covered.</p>
<p>wait, so the duke store wont fix your laptop if you didnt buy it from the school? Not even for some type of fee?</p>
<p>I got a Dell XPS laptop, fully loaded, top notch for gaming and schoolwork, for 1100. I used one of those coupon codes and managed to save $400!</p>
<p>lenovo>>>mac>>>dell</p>
<p>I know lots of engineers that have switched to mac b/c of their frustrations with PC (mostly Michael Dell's ****ty creations)... mac's are prevalent</p>
<p>Duke OIT is pretty useless. My D has a Mac and it was not holding a charge. She took it to them at the beginning of April and they told her they would have to send it off.</p>
<p>She just kept it plugged in all the time. Visited Apple store at home - they just put in a new battery which is very easy - the battery is built into the bottom of the Mac and just slides out. New one just slides in.</p>
<p>Too bad OIT couldn't figure that out! Apple store personnel just shook their heads at hearing that story!</p>
<p>I don't think Duke OIT services the machines onsite. They can do diagnostics and software troubleshooting at the OIT helpdesk, but they do send off your computer to an offsite service center. When I worked there last year, the typical turnaround time is 3 days. They first ship it off to a local Duke-run service center where I think they do minor repairs and stuff. But for major things (like your mobo going belly up), I think they send it to the manufacturer. </p>
<p>The real convenience of the Duke warranty is that it pairs the onsite services (software, problem ID, delivery) with the 3 year warranty. So you can basically drop your computer off at the helpdesk in the BC and come back in a couple of days to get it. None of that going to Fedex/UPS, shipping it off, waiting around for it to be delivered, etc etc. </p>
<p>Of course, all of that doesn't come cheaply. I'd say, on average, a computer bought through TAP will run you about $400-500 more than a comparably spec-ed machine CTOed directly from the OEM. That's just a little more than what you'd pay for the same warranty (minus onsite stuff) when you buy the notebook CTO. </p>
<p>Note: the onsite services like software issues and diagnostics should be free and available for all students. The TAP benefits only kicks in when you need actual repairs (say...a new harddrive). Then if you have the TAP warranty, OIT will take care of it for you for free, but if you don't then you'd need to deal with the computer company directly (20 minute holds, followed by an enlightening convo with an Indian tech with a heavy accent).</p>
<p>With the TAP, do you get a loaner while it's being repaired?</p>
<p>According to the OIT website's description of TAP, loaner laptops are available:</p>
<p>SBR - to replace the battery pack for the Mac the machine does not have to be opened up. I stood at the counter while the service rep turned the computer over and undid the latch and took the battery pack out and just replaced it with another. That's how simple it was. There was no reason for OIT to state that they had to send the Mac off for repair!</p>
<p>Yes, but the OIT helpdesk doesn't have spare macbook batteries just lying around. In fact, the OIT helpdesk doesn't do any hardware repair/replacement as far as I know...It's just a desk with two people where you drop off your machine and pick it up again. Even for a battery replacement, I think OIT would need to at least send it to the local service center. Inefficient...yes, but that's the way they operate (at least last year). For that kind of stuff...might as well take it to the nearest apple store (I think there's one at a mall nearby).</p>