UCD Laptop Deal

delta_bravo

hi, i will be going into first year arts (unless it jumps 105 pts:D ) now and i will be getting a laptop. i was just wondering what kind of discounts will we get. i realise it probably isnt released yet but what kind of price discount was given last year? i would be looking for 80gig hd and 512ram as my basic start. i wouldnt want to spend more than €700-€800. im not sure whether to wait for this discount or keep looking at dell outlet and any other deals. any help would be appreciated. thanks

irlrobins

Here's what the Business school laptop programme has this year. I imagine the Dell laptops they list are what Dell has agreed with UCD as a whole.

TBH, I think they're rather pricey. They've gone for the more expensive Latitude models, unnecessary for students imo.

If I was in your position, I'd source my own laptop and look for a better deal. As long as it meets the min spec you're fine. Just don't get a mac, they don't like them for some stupid reason.

delta_bravo

thanks for that, i presume the deals will be the same for all students

irlrobins

That's what I'm guessing.

elmyra

Hey Robin that leads to the Smurfit rather than Quinn school, is there no difference in the laptop programme for undergrads and postgrads? Probably isn't, just in case.

irlrobins

AFAIK I don't think so. I didn't find anything on IT Services page so went with the business school details. That's not to say other schools have their own laptop deals.

Explosive_Cornflake

As it happens I'm working on the other side of the Rollout program, If you are going to smurfit and get a call from Ciarán, that's me.

delta_bravo

Explosive_Cornflake wrote:

As it happens I'm working on the other side of the Rollout program, If you are going to smurfit and get a call from Ciarán, that's me.

can you tell me if they are the only laptops that will be part of the laptop programme for all students? they dont really offer a budget laptop

Blowfish

irlrobins wrote:

Here's what the Business school laptop programme has this year. I imagine the Dell laptops they list are what Dell has agreed with UCD as a whole.

They may be slightly different deals, as they sent out ones to all comp. sci.´s with slightly different specs.

UCD also has a deal with HP, for us they sent out details of their nc6310 and nc6320 models, but tbh there isn´t really that much difference pricewise between the hp´s and dells.

The Apple discount is usually tthe best one, but since they are more expensive to begin with you still dont gain much.

I´d definitely go with Robin´s idea, source one outside UCD, and have a look at the dell outlet, you can usually get some pretty good deals there.

delta_bravo

yeah dell outlet is probably my best bet for a cheap low(ish) spec laptop. i saw a great one this morning for 500€ but went away to have breakfast and by the time i was back it was sold:(

Explosive_Cornflake

delta_bravo wrote:

can you tell me if they are the only laptops that will be part of the laptop programme for all students? they dont really offer a budget laptop

I'm only in smurfit, but yes, that's all they offer. You can get whatever laptop you like, it's just the ones they offer have a full llicence for office and bits like that. If you had office you could use that on a cheap cheap laptop you bought. They offer the latitudes, and I have to say I wouldn't have bought one before, but when they pointed out the differences in the build quality to us, you can really see what they mean. The guys who picked it don't get anything out if it. They are just trying to guess the best deal for the students, and it's not to bad when you add up all the costs.
You can use pretty much any laptop you want, the recomended specs are quite low.

irlrobins

Explosive_Cornflake wrote:

You can use pretty much any laptop you want,

Except a Mac, you don't like Macs

Explosive_Cornflake

You can still use them though You just won't get much support, heh heh

irlrobins

Explosive_Cornflake wrote:

You can still use them though You just won't get much support, heh heh

The ITLG refused to allow a girl to register her Mac on network last year. So she had to sell it at a loss (was brand new) and get a windows machine. Bad form on the part of ITLG tbh. No reason why they couldn't let her use the Mac, had office and everything else that was required.

Stepherunie

That's kinda odd, friend bought a mac last year - had no real problems registering it and using it away, only real problem he ever found was that his msn messenger wouldn't work in ucd.

In saying that he was an archaeology post grad - not much call for a lot of software and what he did need was supplied by the dept on dept laptops.

irlrobins

Ah yea Mac's work no probs on the UCD network. So there was no reason for the ITLG to say that she couldn't use it. Tbh, I think they just knew they wouldn't know how to support it so wanted to save themselves grief in the long run.

zap

UCD have a deal with apple now - currently students get between a 4-6% discount on Macs using the online education store on apple.com/ie however, before the start of term there will be a link in ucd connect to a new UCD Apple online store that will offer 10% discounts across the board.

Explosive_Cornflake

This in smurfit or quinn? The ILTG in smurfit have no problems with it anyway.

irlrobins

Explosive_Cornflake wrote:

This in smurfit or quinn? The ILTG in smurfit have no problems with it anyway.

Quinn

delta_bravo

delta_bravo wrote:

yeah dell outlet is probably my best bet for a cheap low(ish) spec laptop. i saw a great one this morning for 500€ but went away to have breakfast and by the time i was back it was sold:(

I've been viewing http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/ over the past few days, and it seems quite cheap.

And no, I've nothing to do with them.

Red Alert

the latitude build quality is streets ahead of the inspiron, same as the optiplex is a much better machine than a dimension. a lot of parts are standardised across all models making them easy to maintain.

Can someone de-acronymise ITLG?

irlrobins

Information and Technology Learning Group

delta_bravo

i found it again:D 80gig hard drive, 512 ram only 500€. im a happy camper:) thanks for everyones help

Chakar

delta_bravo wrote:

i found it again:D 80gig hard drive, 512 ram only 500€. im a happy camper:) thanks for everyones help

Don't forget to get it registered by UCD's Computing Services in the Daedulus Building its crucial for example printing documents from your laptop on a internet connection.

Also you get Sophos Anti virus Updates

irlrobins

Chakar wrote:

Also you get Sophos Anti virus Updates

AVG is better imo

Chakar

irlrobins wrote:

AVG is better imo

Well UCD don't have them don't know why.I have them too and the updates are so good.

irlrobins

They don't have AVG Free cos they wouldn't be allowed to use it a on a free basis as they are a "business". Sophos is not bad, their spam filtering on UCD mail is pretty good. But AVG is just easier to use. Plus Sophos on default settings only tells you that you have a virus, it doesn't actually try to remove it. So unless the user knows how to disinfect it's not cleaning up the infection.

Syth

You do not need to register your laptop (to be more precice, the MAC address on your wifi card) with computer services to use the wireless internet around UCD. At least you didn't last year. WaveLAN is completly open.

You need to register your laptop with computer science if you want to use the wireless network in the computer science network. That's cause they have their own network. Funny how the computer science people won't go near computer services stuff.

Re: Apple laptops. It depends on your faculty. E.g in computer science half the staff have apple macs, so they're really operating system neutral there. I'd heard about someone being told they couldn't use a mac on the network. I'm well suprised about that. Those people are clearly muppets.

You can use apple laptops fine in UCD, the only hassle is printing. You have to physical connect your laptop to the printer, as opposed to doing it over the network.

Red Alert

i'm sure once we all go over to IPP that'll be less of an issue.

Donald-Duck

For computer science will I need to get a laptop?Would most people doing it have one?(In the first year...)

If so,would it be better to go with something with window,or a macbook?

mloc

irlrobins wrote:

AVG is better imo

I went and bought AVG SoHo about a month back, its really good, just about all you could ask for from a antivir.

I found a nice little HP laptop on the HP website, marketed as an entertainment laptop but all the same would suit me fine, weighs around 5lbs most importantly. Unfortunately, can't find anywhere to buy it in Ireland.

irlrobins

Donald-Duck wrote:

For computer science will I need to get a laptop?Would most people doing it have one?(In the first year...)

If so,would it be better to go with something with window,or a macbook?

I wouldn't get a laptop for first year. You wouldn't need it tbh. But certainly in 2nd or third year you'd find it very handy.

How does this compare to the top Spec Dell?

I know that i would need to have office put on it, but we already have the student edition at home.

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Hewlett_Packard_Student_Bundle_3_BUN-STUDENT-HP3/version.asp


And is this laptop only marginally less impressive than the latitude D620.. For a decent bit lower..
http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Acer_Aspire_5602WLMi_LX.AB105.094/version.asp

irlrobins

Performance wise it's definitely better than the most expensive dell that is listed in the link I gave at the start of the thread. And it's cheaper too. SO not a bad buy. In fact I think it would make an ideal student laptop. It's very well spec'd.

Blowfish

Donald-Duck wrote:

For computer science will I need to get a laptop?Would most people doing it have one?(In the first year...)

If so,would it be better to go with something with window,or a macbook?

I'd probably agree with irlrobins that a laptop isn't essential in first year. The one thing to note though is that the comp. sci. labs close at 6.30 for 1st-3rd years, and are the only labs that have the software that you need.

If you have a pc at home thats fine, but if not, a laptop may be a good idea.

I'm strongly considering that HP laptop bundle, it works out at roughly €1200 and is very well specced. The only thing it is beaten on is Hard Drive speed of 5400rpm. it is also a bit bigger than the similarly priced Dell.

It has a longer battery life, and when you buy it in the "studnt bundle" you also get an extended (3yr) warranty and a mouse for a tenner extra...

Sounds good to me/

Stepherunie

Chakar wrote:

Don't forget to get it registered by UCD's Computing Services in the Daedulus Building its crucial for example printing documents from your laptop on a internet connection.

You don't actually need to be registered to use that - all you need is your UCD Connect login details - and yes I'm sure - my laptop isn't registered - it's simply wireless enabled and I can print in UCD no hassle

fish-head

A MacBook is the only game in town..

irlrobins

Someone has money to burn ^

tywy

I'm considering a macbook, they start at €1052 with the student discount. 1.83Ghz Core Duo, 512MB RAM, 13.3" Screen, 60GB HD and it only weighs 2.36kg. I'll probably upgrade the RAM.

As long as a mac will work on the wireless in UCD I'm happy. Dell can't seem to offer anything that light for a similar price.

Red Alert

The Dell X1 is a very light laptop. My mum's got one to replace a real brick and you can hold it on one hand no problem.

irlrobins

I'd go with a windows based laptop myself. And I know you can put windows on a mac these days but you need to buy a copy of XP for that and that adds to the price. Have a look at the sony vaio's they have nice small models. And Dell do ultralights, but they can be expensive.

tywy

they are both relatively expensive. also we have a copy of XP that my dad got for another laptop that went belly up about a week after he bought it, so that'll do for the mac. I like mac os x...think I'm gonna take the plunge.

GAH just looked and the X1 starts at over €1500!!! I'm a student!!!

Blush_01

Anyone buying software should buy the student versions. They're vastly cheaper, and all they require (at most) is a stamped form.

fish-head

irlrobins wrote:

Someone has money to burn ^

I don't really think the way I spend money is any of your business.
I prefer the Mac because I can process pictures, record my band, make films and still use Word etc.

Blush_01

Woah, he wasn't getting personal about your cash - either abundance or lack thereof. He was merely commenting on the fact that there's cheaper out there, if you want it. Chill!

fish-head

He could have said it in a more curteous manner, I reckon. Not getting angry or anything I just didn't think it was very nice.

irlrobins

My comment was based on the fact that a windows based PC would be significantly cheaper than a same spec mac. My comment was purely nerd based. As anyone on boards will tell you I'm an uber nerd.

It was not a insult, never intended to be and I'm sorry you took it to be one.

fish-head

That's alright. Sorry I took it the wrong way.

irlrobins

No problem. Carry on, nothing to see here!

stepheno

My comment was based on the fact that a windows based PC would be significantly cheaper than a same spec mac.

Sorry, but this is simply a common myth at the present time.

Input the specs of the Macbook, Macbook Pro, or Mac Pro into Dells pricing (same processors, ram, hd etc) and you'll find that the Macs come up cheaper. And this of course doesnt count the value of the built in video cameras, remote controls, industrial design, and far more secure OS X.

Put that myth to bed now chappy

disclaimer: this was tested about two weeks ago by me, so things could have changed