Notebook vs. Desktop Purchases
Recognizing the need for portability and the decreased cost of
notebooks, computing services provides the following guidelines for
purchasing either a desktop or notebook.
- Faculty, senior administrative staff and librarians may opt for a notebook rather than a desktop.
- Support staff
with a substantial need for portability may opt for a notebook.
Support staff must obtain the approval of their immediate supervisor in order to request a notebook rather than a desktop.
- Absent
exigent
circumstances and approval by the Dean, each faculty and staff member
will receive only one computer - either a notebook or a desktop.
Faculty or staff may choose to purchase a second computer – either a
notebook or desktop - if faculty or staff have a funding source other
than the regular computing services budget such as a grant,
restricted account, faculty research allocation or other private funds that permit expenditures for
such purposes.
Faculty and staff who choose notebooks should take into consideration the following factors:
- Notebooks provide less computing power than desktops.
- Notebooks are more vulnerable to theft and accidental damage.
- Notebooks can
rarely be repaired in-house. Generally, a notebook must be
returned to the manufacturer for repair. While computing
services maintains a pool of laptops for short-term checkout, a
notebook user may be substantially inconvenienced if their laptop is in
need of repair.
- Notebooks will
include a 4 year limited warranty. Due to budget constraints, notebooks
will generally be replaced on a 4 year cycle. Desktop
computers are replaced on a 3 year cycle.
- Notebooks purchased with law school funds are not a substitute for a home personal computer. Notebooks are provided
for work purposes only. In accordance with UGA's computer use policy
(see item 12 specifically), hardware and software purchased by
the law school should not be reconfigured by faculty and staff.
Faculty and staff who wish to modify hardware or software on law school
notebooks should consult with Law School Computing Services Help Desk
Manager.
- Faculty and staff opting for a notebook to replace their desktop computer will also receive a docking station for their campus office including a full-sized keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
The choice for either a desktop or notebook can be made:
- Upon the arrival of a new faculty member
- At the time of replacement or upgrade of a faculty or staff desktop computer.
- If a faculty or staff member requests a notebook before their desktop computer is in need of replacement or upgrade, the request will be held until the end of the budget year and purchased as yearend funds permit.
Note: all technology purchases are subject to the availability of funds in the computing services budget.
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