Notebooks..

<p>Posting the website for Cavalier Computers and talking about the advantages of CC is pretty much advertising, which isn't allowed here. I would lay off on anything but technical related questions. Right now you're just basically trying to sell your product for your business.</p>

<p>For others, I would highly discourage you from taking too much from believing these advertisements. Jags brings up valid points that many people I know here have, and for the most part Cavalier Computers is an overpriced ripoff when you can obtain notebooks or desktops (with warranties) for significantly cheaper prices online with coupons if you just search around a bit.</p>

<p>When i say a lemon i mean - i've had 3 harddrives, 2 cd roms drives, new video card, new motherboard, new screen, 2 new keyboards (on a laptop). not to mention, im not bothering bringing it in because 2 of the 4 USB ports don't work. Also, theres a "virus" that is quarrentined that I've asked you guys to remove the last 2 times i've brought it in. Its still in "quarrentine." I just give up because it doesn't really affect performance. The fastest turn around i've ever gotten was a monday noon drop off and having to be told i can "drive out to milton avenue friday afternoon" unless I wanted to wait until monday for it. I should note, I'm not dropping my backpack, and I'm not lugging the computer around grounds. With any "luck" of my own, it'll just completely break at the end of my 4th year and CavComp will replace the whole thing just in time for graduation.</p>

<p>Calling the "help desk" doesn't fix hardware problems unless you need a new keyboard. You have to bring it either to the bookstore computer store, or drive out to milton avenue and drop it off. Its never faster to sit around waiting for a tech when you can just drop it off on ur own schedule. On a side note, if you do have some silly software problem, the ITC helpdesk is pretty useful (provided the problem is between 9-5).</p>

<p>Also, while they will replace those things under warranty i HIGHLY recommend to everyone to save every piece of academic related items to Home Directory. They charge something ridiculous like $80/hr to ATTEMPT to save files from a busted harddrive to a new harddrive (if you ever need a new one). Also, they leave the harddrive completely wiped when its replaced, so you'll be stuck having to reinstall word and such.</p>

<p>Finally, the "pre loaded uva software that has everything you'll need" is available free on UVa's website. When you're a first year and on grounds, you download that stuff at light speed - don't think you're getting something nobody else has by buying a CavComp.</p>

<p>Jags861, I have PMed you and sent you an aim. Wanted to get your issues sorted out. I contacted the head of DCI and he wants to speak to you either by phone or email. details are in the PM.</p>

<p>my tour guide recommended buying through the school. it costs a little bit more, but you get ALL the things you'll need (no guesswork) AND!!! they will repair ANYTHING (short of intentionally hitting it with your car or dropping it off the roof) for free.
he said a friend of his spilled lemonade on her keyboard right before midterms, took it in to get it repaired, and got it back in less than 48 hours (for free, mind you!).
And they sell Macs & PCs.
I thought it sounded pretty nice.</p>

<p>Just remember the a "repair anything" bit does not apply to the Apple computers. They do not come with a "complete care" style warranty. </p>

<p>I should have the computers up within the next week or so. We are just finishing up the catalog you guys will be getting in the mail. Hopefully it will be going to the printer in the next day or so.</p>

<p>and we are doing the comparisons now and the savings is actually pretty high... the do NOT cost more... so far it looks like the savings are between $500 to $700 (actually a bit more, but I want to stay on the safe side for now) over the equivalent computer at Dell.</p>

<p>That...means...nothing. Since Dell laptops are terribly built, and are thus more prone to accidents.</p>

<p>I will need to check out the actual offerings of the laptops' specifications myself. I have even heard contrary to what you say, in that the university's laptops are rip-offs.</p>

<p>Just remember that we sell the business class (Latitude) models which are in a totally different class of computer then the consumer brand (Inspiron) that most people purchase (usually due to Dell not marketing the higher rated Latitude brand to the consumer buyer).</p>

<p>This may explain the Latitude serios a bit better than I can.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Latitude%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Latitude&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Just remember that when you purchase a computer, you need to ask yourself and maybe even the company that you are purchasing from, are parts going to be available in four years? Can you still get it fixed? In two years? Three?</p>

<p>How can saving $700 be a rip off? I don't get it.</p>

<p>Still not sold. As I've said, I need to see the actual models they're offering and their respective prices.</p>

<p>The fact that the laptops are business class models is a positive.</p>

<p>However, as far as I know, there's no reason for me to believe that I'd be saving $700. Sorry, I'm not easily sold on hear-say.</p>

<p>if you're a computer person you're better off not buying from cav computers because the prices are higher then what you can find on the open market (ie from general dell discounts). For those that know nothing about computers it's an ok deal because you can have people fix your laptop.</p>

<p>Dell's are built with cost in mind. For the price they are offered at they are honestly a good deal.</p>

<p>The website is live now.
<a href="http://www.cavcompbts.virginia.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cavcompbts.virginia.edu&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I will have the Law and Architecture school requirements completed by Tuesday. We just received their requirements today.</p>

<p>I am still waiting for the Nursing and Medical schools computer info. Once I get those I'll make the pages.</p>

<p>You will be getting a printed version of the catalog next week. </p>

<p>again, welcome to UVA.</p>

<p>Thanks for the post.</p>

<p>For those that care, the Macbooks, first off, are terrible rip-offs. Don't do it. If you want a Macbook, buy it off the Apple site with the student discount.</p>

<p>The Dells are ambiguous, but the only reason I'm even considering them is because of their four-year warranty. However, Santa Rosa comes out in the coming weeks, and Dell will have a new laptop line to sport; that could possibly drive down the prices of the existing laptop line of D620s and D820s.</p>

<p>The DCI's inflexibility is also another point of concern: I don't want Vista Business, and the catalog doesn't even tell me the brand or make of the RAM besides the fact that it's two sticks of 1GB, 667mhz. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, I came out a little disappointed.</p>

<p>Thanks for posting your opinion, but I want to clarify some of your statements.</p>

<p>Buying off the Apple website will not get you a 4-year warranty as it is not offered. The DCI Apples are the only place to get the 4-year Applecare and they are cheaper than apple.com. </p>

<p>As for the Dell's, Dell could not guarantee delivery of the "X30" series in time to make certain that they would be available AND have the UVA image on it before the start of school. We were working directly with Dell to have these as an option, but it just didn't make sense.</p>

<p>I'm not sure what your concerns are with Vista Business, but fyi, this is what is going to be supported by UVA's help desk. It is what the University chose. </p>

<p>Finally, the Ram is supplied and installed by Dell. It is Dell branded ram, which historically been supplied by Crucial. </p>

<p>We certainly respect your right to purchase whatever computer you'd like, but we do want to make sure that everyone here has accurate information to make their own decision.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>so i have now completely had it with cavcomp, and fully recommend to everybody coming to UVa to not buy a computer through the school.</p>

<p>the lastest story of incompetence. my network card and power chord were no longer working on my dell laptop. bring it in to the bookstore tuesday morning--am told it will take "2 to 3 days to fix" (its always 2 to 3 days). Come today--4th day--still have not heard. So i go to the bookstore, they don't have it. i drive out to milton ave, the service center at 1 pm--nobody there has even looked at the computer yet--it was just sitting on the shelf. Obviously they weren't very busy because all i had to say was "i want it fixed today" for them to work on it. Computer needed a new motherboard, and the guy had to "check if the part was in stock." Fortunately, they have the part. Had they not had the part, who knows how much longer it would have taken. So he gives me a new power chord, and then says "i'll call you around 3, it'll be done by then." by 430 still hadn't received a call. I go back, and its done--the paper said at 3, but no call. I get home, and what do you know, the power chord that he gave me does not fit into the computer--of course i get the 2 things separately, so i couldn't check to see if it fit while I was still at the store. </p>

<p>Now its past 5, the store is closed, and i am out my computer for the rest of the weekend during the middle of finals (which is why i made a big deal about getting it back today anyway--they are closed on weekends).</p>

<p>so Jags, were would you recommend having a computer fixed around c'ville without a car for sheap if you don't buy through cav comp? I can take care of a lot of things on my own, but if I don't have time and I need it back quick in time for finals is there a good place to go? If all I had was a manufactures limited warranty I would be SOL if I dropped it or couldn't wait a week to have it shipped out to dell/sony/hp/etc.</p>

<p>oh yeah, and btw, there isn't a chance I am dealing with Vista except for when I have to. dual boot into linux ftw!</p>

<p>damn, i just read this on the SEAS computing recommendations:</p>

<p>"There are also alternative platforms for running Vista and XP, but they too are not supported. They may function quite well for many pieces of software, but technical support is not available if something doesn't work right. There may be cases where some software or connected devices may not work at all. Examples include:
--Linux enthusiasts deploying a dual-boot Windows/Linux mode or running a Windows virtualized environment under Linux."</p>

<p>Does this mean that even if I am running a dual boot, they won't be of any help to my windows OS? thats retarded.</p>

<p>ehiunno,</p>

<p>i don't know any places which fix computers besides the cav comp. the bonus of the cav comp is that if u buy from dell through the school its free. you can get anything repaired there at the rate of like $75 or $100/hr--and I'd bet they get to it quicker. </p>

<p>That being said, I don't recommend dell laptops. if they can't handle normal wear and tear of being thrown in back packs, then they arn't that good. buy an IBM (which are indestructible and have great service) or a mac which i've never really heard of many service problems.</p>

<p>IBM no longer manufactures laptops; they've given that up to Lenovo. </p>

<p>And no, the same wear and tear that will ruin a Dell Latitude offered by the school will ruin a Lenovo ThinkPad (which is the IBM equivalent).</p>

<p>I don't know why anyone would throw around an investment of over $1,000 like that. You should rethink what laptops are and more specifically reassess the laptops you disparage before proclaiming unsubstantiated claims on their build quality or lack thereof.</p>

<p>I have a question. I was reading the specification requirements for computers/notebook, and is it really necessary to have a 1GB RAM?</p>

<p>Yes, in fact 2GB is better.
The way the memory manager works in Vista is very different then previous Windows versions. Vista will preload software that it knows you use on a regular basis. It reserves memory for those processes. Knowing that you will have a few browser windows open, Word, email, music playing, couple of chat windows, anti-virus running, anti-spam running, UVA Networking and other basics programs, you will need all of that 1GB.
I have 1GB on my home box, I could really use 2GB. I just updated my wifes new Vista computer to 2GB and it runs much better.</p>

<p>Want to make that Vista computer even faster? get a thumbdrive and use ReadyBoost. I use a 4GB thumbdrive and it really helped speed up my home dual processor 3GHz Xeon Dell workstation.</p>

<p>Macs are the same. They will need at least 1GB. Again, using it as a student will, you will be better off getting two GB.</p>