Page 16 • Thursday, November 6, 2003
Features
The Pendulum
New technology gadgets released for the holiday season
KRT Campus
ELon has created a solution for every student that is easier and
cheaper. Elon University has partnered with Dell, Gateway and
Apple to allow students to purchase computers through these
companies’ Web sites for a discount.
Laura Cunningham
Columnist
Editors note: This elite column
will he the first of four discussing
product purchasing for students.
With the holiday season just
around the comer, it’s time to
begin making
that list of
desired holiday
gifts. As a col
lege student,
you may find it
difficult to think of items outside
the boring old clothes and cash.
The truth is there are tons of useful
technology toys out there perfect
for every college student. There
sky is the limit when it comes to
options, so how will you know
which one to ask for? Over the
next few weeks, the elite column
will introduce you to some of these
toys, such as computers, digital
cameras and Personal Digital
Assistance.
These gadgets may be exactly
what you want under your tree
come Dec. 25. This series of arti
cles will help you answer those
questions.
One of the largest purchases
students make is the purchase of
their personal computer and soft
ware. What seems like limitless
options makes purchasing seem
chaotic. What size hard drive do I
need? What drives should I get ?
CD-RW, DVD, Zip?
What are the benefits and chal
lenges of laptops or desktops?
What programs do I really need?
And, what are all these other spec
ifications that no one outside the
computer world can comprehend
on their own?
The questions can stop. Elon
has created a solution for every
student that is easier (and cheaper)
than you expected. Tlie key is to
take advantage of these offers
while you are still a student.
Elon University has partnered
with Dell, Gateway and Apple to
allow students to purchase com
puters through these companies’
Web sites for a discount.
According to Darryl McIntyre, stu
dent computer support specialist,
students can visit
www.elon.edu/tcchnology/pur-
chases.hlinl and click on the corre
sponding computer company links
to view computer systems with
discounts of up to 10 percent off.
Each company features Elon-rec-
ommended systems.
The following computer sys
tems are listed on the correspon
ding company Web site under
“Elon Recommended Systems.”
These sys
tems were
selected
based on
the comput
er needs of
students and criteria established by
Student Computing Services.
Dell features the Latitude X200
Notebook (currently priced at
$1,955.20). Apple features the
PowerBook G4 12”, 15” and 17”
monitor (currently priced at
$1,489.00, $2,069.00, $2,699.00,
respectively) and the iBook 12”
and 14” monitor (currently priced
at $999.00 and $1,444.00).
Gateway features the 200 Series
and 450 Series laptops (currently
priced at $1709.00 and $1794.00
respectively).
Elon recommends a laptop-
based computer over a desktop, as
clearly shown in the “Elon
Recommended Systems” list.
“You can’t really lug around a
desktop to class,” said Mclntrye,
Student Computer Support
Specialist. “It’s the versatility of
laptops.” According to university
records, more than 50 percent of
students have a laptop. For those
students interested in creating a
computer to their own style and
requirements, Elon has a few
guidelines to help in the process. It
is important to keep them in mind
when purchasing your next com
puter. These requirements are
available online at
www.elon.edu/technology/pur-
chases.html.
It is important to understand the
computer specifications so the
computer you purchase provides
you with what you need and only
what you need. It’s pointless to pay
for hardware'or software you will
never use, but you also don’t want
to be left behind by purchasing
something that is not up to speed.
Proceyyor. This is your
computer’s “brain.” The faster the
processor, the faster the computer
can work. For example, a 1.8 GHz
(gigahertz) computer is better than
an 800 MHz (megahertz). A
Pentium processor offers the
fastest processor and best features.
M e 0 r V • ram
(Random Access Memory) is the
workhorse behind the performance
of your system. RAM is measured
in megabytes (MB), and the more
RAM you have, the more pro
grams you can run smoothly and
simultaneously. According to
Dell’s Web site, average systems
have 128 MB recommended, but
at least 256 MB for those who will
use their computers for digital
video editing.
The hard drive,
measured in gigabyte (GB), is
where your computer stores your
startup files, operating system,
data and software programs. As
with previous components, the
larger the hard drive the better it
will operate. It is recommended
that the computer you purchase
has a Zip disk. Zip disks are more
reliable than floppy disks, and they
can hold much more data.
Compact drives allow your com
puter to read, write, and record
data to blank CDs. The speeds of a
CD-RW drive are listed in three
numbers (e.g. 16X/10X/40X). The
first number is the write speed to
CD-R discs which can only be
burned once. The second number
is the write speed to CD-RW discs
which can be burned multiple
times. The third speed is how fast
the CD can be read.
Software*The oper
ating system runs basic functions
and enhances user interaction.
Microsoft Windows XP
Professional Edition is the latest
Windows operating system, offer
ing powerful and professional fea
tures. While Microsoft Windows
XP Home Edition is available,
Elon does not recommend this
operating system because it does
not support domain login which is
used on campus.
According to Student
Computing Services, Elon has a
site license for Microsoft Office.
Students to have a copy of the lat
est office software for their cam
pus computers. The Microsoft
Office XP Professional CDs are
available for check-out (or sale) to
current students at Student
Computing Services located at 108
Williamson Avenue. Microsoft
Office for OSX and Office 2001
for OS9 are available for Mac
users as well. Microsoft Office
includes Word, Excel, Outlook,
PowerPoint and Access. Microsoft
Frontpage and Publisher are also
available on a separate CD.
If you are thinking about pur
chasing a computer, do your
research first.
Ask your professors within
your field of study to find out what
hardware and software you will be
using throughout your studies. For
more information on purchasing a
computer, please contact Student
Computing Services at ext. 5100,
visit them at 108 Williamson
Avenue or view their information
online at www.elon.edu/technolo-
gy/purchases.html.
Contact Laura Cunningham at
pendulwnd^lon.edu or 27S-7247.
Recorv^rvien/ecl Corvi^oter
Windows Apple
Processor Pentium IV l.SGigHz or faster Powerbook G4, iBook
500 MHz or faster
Memory (RAM) 256 megabytes or more 256 megabytes or more
Hard Drive Size 30 gigabyte or more 20 gigabyte free or more
Operating System Windows 2000 or XP Pro Apple OS X
Ethernet Card Any 10/100 card with twisted pair interface
Included...
Optional Wireless Capabilities 28 bit encryption Wifi Certified 128
bit encryption Wifi Certified
Note: Windows XP Home Edition does not support domain login. Our net
work works best with operating systems that include Windows 95, 98, ME, NT
4.0, 2000, and XP Professional.