Frequently Asked Questions
from
First Year Students and Their Parents
 

Purchasing a Windows PC or an Apple Macintosh
A question increasingly asked by incoming freshmen and their parents is whether to purchase a Windows PC or an Apple Macintosh.  To help you make an informed decision please read Windows PC or Apple Macintosh: Pros and Cons.

Computer Purchases

Software

Lehigh's Campus Network

 

Does Lehigh sell computers or have access to special deals with certain computer vendors?

Lehigh University does not sell computers, but does provide purchasing advice based on our own support and repair facilities and links to customized bundles and pricing at www.lehigh.edu/computing/buy. The the information and links there are the most up-to-date and may provide worthwhile discounts to Lehigh students.

Which version of Windows Vista should I get on my new PC?

There are 4 different versions of Windows Vista; Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate and all 4 will work fine on Lehigh's network. 

The decision on which version to get installed on a new computer will depend on the model selected.  Business class computers will generally have Vista Business or Ultimate as install options, consumer class computers will have Home Basic and Home Premium.  The choice of which version to install is up to the individual user,  most students opt to get either Vista Home Premium or Vista Business. 

Note: All Lehigh students as part of the Technology fee are entitled to 1 upgrade copy of Windows Vista Ultimate when they arrive on campus.  With this benefit, if the need should arise students have a cost-free upgrade to Microsoft's most complete version of Vista.   

Does Lehigh recommend getting an extended warranty for new computers?

In most cases, purchasing an extended warranty is a prudent thing to do.  With an extended warranty, a student who has a computer with a hardware problem will not have to worry about the expense of fixing or replacing defective computer parts.  All of the recommended computer vendors (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Apple) offer extended warranties of 3 to 4 years.  Repair costs for an out-of-warranty computer can be high; below are examples of the repair costs for a 1 1/2 yr old out-of-warranty Dell laptop:

Out-of-warranty flat rate labor charge - $269.00
Motherboard replacement - $430.00
LCD screen replacement - $430.00

If you are considering purchasing an extended warranty from another computer manufacturer there is an important point to consider:  If there is a hardware problem, how does the problem get resolved?  Some smaller manufacturers or vendors only offer assistance if you bring the computer back to the location from which it was purchased or if you mail it back.  Either situation can be very inconvenient for a student who needs his or her computer for schoolwork.

The recommended vendors offer many types of extended warranties. Does Lehigh recommend a particular one?

Which extended warranty is best depends on the individual student's needs and preferences.  Most new computers come with a 1 year onsite warranty that covers parts and labor.  All the recommended computer vendors offer upgrades that extend the warranty to 3 and 4 years.  Lehigh recommends that students choose at least a 3-year warranty upgrade. The Warranties Page has more information about choosing the warranty that's best for you. In general though, the portability and handling of laptops leads to a much greater likelihood of accidents, and the specialization of parts makes them more expensive to fix. See the details and recommendations for each vendor at www.lehigh.edu/computing/buy.

Does Lehigh provide assistance with hardware-related problems for student-owned PCs?

Lehigh University provides hardware repair service for most models of the four recommended computer vendors (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Apple). This includes both in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs. For in-warranty repairs, there is no charge; for out-of-warranty repairs, there is a charge for parts and labor. For more specific details about this policy, link to www.lehigh.edu/computing/tims/lts-maint.html

Does Lehigh provide assistance with hardware-related problems for non-recommended computers?

No, unfortunately Lehigh cannot perform any type of hardware servicing on non-recommended computers.  Lehigh's service technicians are certified to only work on Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Apple computers.  The certification process involves ongoing training and testing; once completed Lehigh gets reimbursed for any warranty work performed.  Other computer vendors will not reimburse Lehigh for warranty work without certification on their computers. 

If you are considering purchasing a computer from another computer manufacturer it is important to consider:  If there is a hardware problem, how does the problem get resolved?  Some smaller manufacturers or vendors only offer assistance if you bring the computer back to the location from which it was purchased or if you mail it back.  Either situation can be very inconvenient for a student who needs their computer for schoolwork.

I plan on getting a recommended brand computer. Why shouldn't I purchase it from a retail store?

Most of our recommended manufacturers sell computers through retail stores such as Best Buy, Circuit City and Staples.  It is important to note that if a recommended brand computer is purchased from a retail store Lehigh may not be able to provide hardware support for it.  Some store warranties require the user to to contact the store where they purchased it for any repairs or assistance.  Lehigh can only provide hardware support for computers that include a manufacturer's warranty. 

Should students have their own personal printer in their dorm room?

Students are not required to have their own printers. The University provides laser printers within (or in close proximity to) the residence halls. However, since dorm printers are shared with other students, there are often problems such as paper unavailability, jammed paper in printers, and hardware problems that can result in students having delays in getting coursework printed.  Many students opt to have a small inexpensive inkjet printer in their room and use both for coursework.

Is it possible to have a computer shipped directly to Lehigh University before the start of the semester?

Yes. You need to have it sent to the following address:

(Student Name)
Lehigh University
Box (Student's Box number)*
39 University Drive
Bethlehem, PA. 18015-3041

* Students are sent their box number in July, along with their room assignment. Some PC vendors will not ship to a box number. If this is the case for you, then don't include the box number in the shipping address; the computer will be stored under your name until it is claimed. For more information, you can contact the Lehigh University Post Office at (610) 758-4193.

NOTE: There are some disadvantages to having a computer shipped directly to Lehigh:

Does the University provide MS Office for students to use?

Yes. Those who pay the Technology Fee -- assessed of all full-time students -- are entitled to a copy of the latest version of Microsoft Office Professional.  The license for this software will allow a student to fully install it onto their computer; the software will run even when the student is not connected to the network.   When Microsoft releases a new version of Office, current students (who pay the Technology Fee) will be entitled to a copy of that version as well. 

Those individuals who will be purchasing a new computer may want to inquire with the manufacturer as to whether or not MS Office Professional is included on the computer.  In some cases the MS Office software can be removed from the PC bundle, reducing the price accordingly.

Students can download their copy of MS Office Professional by going to www.lehigh.edu/software.

What software do students need to have on their computers?

Lehigh University provides access -- through WIRED participation and/or public site computer clusters -- to software students need to complete their coursework.  All full-time Lehigh students are licensed to use the Microsoft Office Professional software suite.  Beyond the computer's operating system, there is nothing that Lehigh requires students to have on their individual PCs.  The software required to connect to the Internet and Lehigh's local area network is either built into the operating system or supplied by the University.

Related to computers, what exactly should students bring to campus?

In addition to a computer equipped with an Ethernet adapter, there are several items students should bring along to campus.  First, it will be necessary to have an Ethernet (LAN) cable in order to physically connect the Ethernet adapter in the computer to the network jack in the wall.  Generally, most new computers that have an Ethernet adapter pre-installed do not ship with an Ethernet cable.    Ethernet cables can be purchased from the Lehigh University Bookstore, which stocks 14 ft., 25 ft., and 50 ft. cables. A 25 ft. cable should be sufficient for most student rooms. 

Students should also bring to campus the disks (CDs or DVDs) that came with their omputer.  These disks may contain the original operating system as well as software and drivers for hardware components installed in the computer.  While these disks aren't necessary for the day-to-day use of the computer, they are essential if it ever becomes necessary to reinstall the operating system or correct serious software problems.

I would like to bring a Macintosh to campus. Will I be able to run all the software necessary for my courses?

Students equipped with a Mac will be able to run all the essential software for normal coursework that a Windows PC can.  This essential software used in normal coursework includes Internet applications (web browsing, e-mail),  MS Office and printing.  The only software not available to Macintoshes are a small number of LAN-based applications used in specific courses.  These courses are generally math and science related and they use special software in which there is only a Windows version available.  In a situation where a student with a Macintosh would need to run one of these special applications there are options available:

Is it possible for students to run all the software necessary for their coursework from the dorm room?

No. While it is possible to run many of the applications necessary to complete coursework, it is not possible to run all from a dorm room.  Because of licensing restrictions and hardware requirements, some software is only available at public site computer clusters.

Is assistance available to students for personal-computer-related problems?

Yes! Please see Getting Help!

Is wireless networking available in individual student rooms?

No, wireless networking is not provided by the University in individual student rooms.  Lehigh provides each student with a traditional wired network connection in their rooms.  While lacking the convenience of a wireless connection the wired network connection is much faster and consistently provides better performance. 

Within each residence hall wireless access is available in the common rooms and study areas for student use.  In some cases the wireless signal will extend to some student rooms near by and students in those rooms could connect to the wireless network.  However, because of connection problems and slower performance LTS does not recommend or support using a wireless connection in student rooms.

Are students allowed to have wireless routers or wireless access points in their room?

No, wireless routers or access points are not allowed in student rooms.  Student-installed routers or access points can and do interfere with Lehigh's wireless network and can allow unauthorized use of Lehigh's network. Also, in the past, some students have installed wireless routers in their rooms anyway, and in some of these cases other students used the wireless router for Internet activity that violated Lehigh's Computer Use Policy (illegal sharing of copyrighted material).  When the illegal activity was reported to Lehigh it was traced back to the owner of the wireless router, and resulted in the owner having his network connection shut off and having to meet with Lehigh's Security and Information Policy Officer.

Where on campus is wireless network access available?

Locations where wireless network access is available as well as instructions for connecting to the wireless network are available at www.lehigh.edu/wireless