We encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Burke Library - 3rd Floor
helpdesk@hamilton.edu

859-4181
859-4185 - fax

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Buying

Having to do with purchasing computers or software.

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Antivirus
  • Getting Started With Information Technology Antivirus Getting Started With Information Technology NOTE: The information on this page is fully up-to-date and accurate for the 2011-12 academic year. This page connects new and returning members of the Hamilton College community to the most up-to-date information on networking, personal computer systems and standards. Whether you've never been to Hamilton, or you've just been away for a semester or two, this is the place to find out about the information technology environment. Why Bring a Laptop Computer to Campus? The campus has universally distributed connectivity via ethernet and wireless. This will make it easy for you to use your computer anywhere on campus (e.g., in the library), even bring it to class or the place you most prefer to study; You will want to continue to use your computer when you go home for breaks; Laptops take up less space in your room; If you have a problem, laptops can be easily transported to our Help Desk. What do I Need to Know About Bringing a Computer to Campus? Have a computer you need connected to the Hamilton network? Want to purchase your own computer, and be sure it can be connected to the network? Follow this link for information on minimum and recommended system requirements and network connectivity. Virus Protection Virus Protection Information Policy Note Hamilton College requires all existing and all incoming students to install Anti-Virus software on their personal computers by the end of the second week of classes each semester. Failure to do so can result in the loss of connectivity to the Hamilton College network until up-to-date Anti-virus software is installed. Anti-virus software (AVG for Windows and Sophos &  iAntivirus for Macintosh) is provided free to all students. Other anti-virus products may be substituted for Hamilton supported Anti-Virus as long as they are kept current. Student Phone and Voice Mail Overview Cable Television Information Contact Us E-mail us at: helpdesk@hamilton.edu Or, if you just want to hear a friendly voice, phone 315-859-4181. We'll be sure that someone gets back to you within one business day.
Buying
  • Getting Started With Information Technology Buying Getting Started With Information Technology NOTE: The information on this page is fully up-to-date and accurate for the 2011-12 academic year. This page connects new and returning members of the Hamilton College community to the most up-to-date information on networking, personal computer systems and standards. Whether you've never been to Hamilton, or you've just been away for a semester or two, this is the place to find out about the information technology environment. Why Bring a Laptop Computer to Campus? The campus has universally distributed connectivity via ethernet and wireless. This will make it easy for you to use your computer anywhere on campus (e.g., in the library), even bring it to class or the place you most prefer to study; You will want to continue to use your computer when you go home for breaks; Laptops take up less space in your room; If you have a problem, laptops can be easily transported to our Help Desk. What do I Need to Know About Bringing a Computer to Campus? Have a computer you need connected to the Hamilton network? Want to purchase your own computer, and be sure it can be connected to the network? Follow this link for information on minimum and recommended system requirements and network connectivity. Virus Protection Virus Protection Information Policy Note Hamilton College requires all existing and all incoming students to install Anti-Virus software on their personal computers by the end of the second week of classes each semester. Failure to do so can result in the loss of connectivity to the Hamilton College network until up-to-date Anti-virus software is installed. Anti-virus software (AVG for Windows and Sophos &  iAntivirus for Macintosh) is provided free to all students. Other anti-virus products may be substituted for Hamilton supported Anti-Virus as long as they are kept current. Student Phone and Voice Mail Overview Cable Television Information Contact Us E-mail us at: helpdesk@hamilton.edu Or, if you just want to hear a friendly voice, phone 315-859-4181. We'll be sure that someone gets back to you within one business day.
  • Purchasing Computers Buying Purchasing Computers This page provides resources and guidelines for computer purchases by students and employees of Hamilton College. If you are interested in purchasing a new computer, Hamilton College works with both Apple and Dell to offer computer configurations guaranteed to work in our campus network environment at discounted prices. Online Computer Stores With Academic Pricing For Hamilton College Apple Dell Apple For Hamilton Online Telephone: 315-859-4242 Dell For Hamilton Online Telephone: 1-888-987-3355 Current computer configurations provided by these vendors will meet or exceed our recommended NEW system requirements.   Table of Contents General Recommendations for Students Microsoft Office for Employees Recommended NEW computer specifications Recommendations for PRE-OWNED computers General Recommendations For Students Word Processing Many academic programs require the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) for course work. It is therefore highly recommended that you purchase this software with your new computer, or that you purchase and install it on your existing computer. Please note that this software is not provided by Hamilton College. It can be purchased at the College Bookstore, from computer vendors, from many retail stores, and web sites.  Be sure to ask for an academic discount when purchasing this software. The software product to choose is Microsoft Office Professional (Academic) 2010 (Windows) or Microsoft Office Mac 2011 (Academic)  (Macintosh). Virus Protection All computers on the Hamilton College network are required to have up-to-date anti-virus software installed.  New computers will typically come with a preinstalled trial version of anti-virus software.  We recommend you either purchase the full version of that software, other anti-virus software of your choice,  or install the free anti-virus products we fully support.  Please contact the Help Desk if you have any questions or need assistance (315-859-4181). Backup Drive Hamilton College provides students with a modest amount of server storage.   While the space provided is usually sufficient for storing documents, it is not sufficient for storing backup copies of music, video, photos or exceptionally large project files.  Students may request additional space for academic purposes.  For backing up all your critical files (academic and personal) we recommend purchasing an external hard drive. When selecting a drive, please be certain to confirm it is compatible with the operating system on your computer (Windows or Macintosh).  Some external drives are designed for rugged use (they come with a protective rubberized bumper).  If the drive you are considering does not come with this level of protection, it is wise to purchase a neoprene sleeve or similar protective pouch for the drive.  Lastly, some new computers come with USB 3 and/or Firewire 800 ports.  You may want to purchase a drive that can take advantage of the faster file transfer rates these ports can deliver. Printers Printers are available for student use  in public computing labs located on both sides of campus.  Most are located in academic buildings that are open to students until late at night or, in some cases, all night.  There are no public printers available in any of the residence halls.  Approximately half of our students elect to bring their own printer.  Networking Hamilton College has secure wireless network access available in all campus buildings and most outdoor areas. Connectivity to the wireless network is supported by 802.11b or 802.11g wireless cards, which are available in most new Windows and Macintosh laptops. Please note that the installation of a personal wireless access point (Apple Airport Station, wireless router, etc.), is strictly prohibited on campus. Network jacks are included in all the residence hall rooms for those who want to use a network (Ethernet) cable.  The College does not provide cables. Back to Top   Microsoft Office for Employees Through the College's license agreement with Microsoft,  employees can purchase a license for Microsoft Office at a special discounted rate. For more information, contact ITS at 315-859-4169 or by e-mail at its@hamilton.edu. Hamilton College provides Sophos Anti-Virus free of charge to employees and their households for use on their personal computers. Back to Top Recommended NEW System Requirements ITS recommends that new computers be configured to match or exceed the recommendations listed below. PLEASE NOTE: The minimum system requirements in the last column represent the bare minimum to connect to our network and support our standard software. Platform Recommended Minimum Windows Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, 2 GHz or faster Dedicated 256 MB graphics card Windows 7 Home Premium At least 3 GB DDR3 RAM 250 GB Hard Drive or greater DVD/CD-RW optical disk drive Built-in Gigabit Ethernet Card 802.11n Wireless Card 1.5 GHz Dual Core Processor or faster. Integrated HD video card Windows 7 Home Premium At least 2 GB DDR2 or DDR3 RAM 120 GB Hard Drive or greater CD-ROM/DVD Drive 10/100 Ethernet card 802.11 g/n Wireless Network card Macintosh Intel Core i5 or i7 Processor, 2 GHz or faster. Dedicated 256 MB graphics card Mac OS X 10.6 At least 3 GB RAM 250 GB Hard Drive or greater Superdrive Built-in Gigabit Ethernet card 802.11n Airport Wireless Card. Intel Core 2 Duo Processor or newer Mac OS X 10.5 or newer At least 2 GB RAM Integrated HD graphics card 120 GB Hard Drive or greater Combo CD-ROM/DVD-Drive 10/100 Ethernet Card 802.11 g/n Airport Wireless Ca Back to Top Recommendations for PRE-OWNED computers If your computer is less than four years old, it should work in our network environment and support our standard software (e.g. Web browsing, document authoring.) Please keep in mind that most computers have a four-year lifespan, after which major components (e.g. hard drive, optical drive) are more likely to fail.  These components can sometimes be replaced, though they may be expensive and difficult to come by, especially in much older computers.  Also note that computers older than one year are not typically covered under warranty, making accidental damage costly to repair. If you choose to bring a pre-owned computer to campus, please ensure the computer meets or exceeds the specifications listed below.  It is important to note that a computer that meets these specifications should not be expected to meet a student's needs for all four years. Platform Specifications Windows 1.5 GHz Intel Core Duo or AMD Athlon 64 Processor or newer At least 2 GB of RAM Windows XP, Vista Home Premium, or 7 Home Premium 120 GB Hard Drive or greater Built-in ethernet card Wireless card (optional but recommended) Mac 1.8 GHz Intel Core Duo processor or newer At least 2 GB of RAM OS X 10.5 or newer 100 GB Hard Drive or greater Built-in ethernet card Wireless card (optional but recommended) Back to Top If you have further questions about a personal computer purchase, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 315-859-4181 or by e-mail.
Laptop
  • Getting Started With Information Technology Laptop Getting Started With Information Technology NOTE: The information on this page is fully up-to-date and accurate for the 2011-12 academic year. This page connects new and returning members of the Hamilton College community to the most up-to-date information on networking, personal computer systems and standards. Whether you've never been to Hamilton, or you've just been away for a semester or two, this is the place to find out about the information technology environment. Why Bring a Laptop Computer to Campus? The campus has universally distributed connectivity via ethernet and wireless. This will make it easy for you to use your computer anywhere on campus (e.g., in the library), even bring it to class or the place you most prefer to study; You will want to continue to use your computer when you go home for breaks; Laptops take up less space in your room; If you have a problem, laptops can be easily transported to our Help Desk. What do I Need to Know About Bringing a Computer to Campus? Have a computer you need connected to the Hamilton network? Want to purchase your own computer, and be sure it can be connected to the network? Follow this link for information on minimum and recommended system requirements and network connectivity. Virus Protection Virus Protection Information Policy Note Hamilton College requires all existing and all incoming students to install Anti-Virus software on their personal computers by the end of the second week of classes each semester. Failure to do so can result in the loss of connectivity to the Hamilton College network until up-to-date Anti-virus software is installed. Anti-virus software (AVG for Windows and Sophos &  iAntivirus for Macintosh) is provided free to all students. Other anti-virus products may be substituted for Hamilton supported Anti-Virus as long as they are kept current. Student Phone and Voice Mail Overview Cable Television Information Contact Us E-mail us at: helpdesk@hamilton.edu Or, if you just want to hear a friendly voice, phone 315-859-4181. We'll be sure that someone gets back to you within one business day.
Telephone
  • Getting Started With Information Technology Telephone Getting Started With Information Technology NOTE: The information on this page is fully up-to-date and accurate for the 2011-12 academic year. This page connects new and returning members of the Hamilton College community to the most up-to-date information on networking, personal computer systems and standards. Whether you've never been to Hamilton, or you've just been away for a semester or two, this is the place to find out about the information technology environment. Why Bring a Laptop Computer to Campus? The campus has universally distributed connectivity via ethernet and wireless. This will make it easy for you to use your computer anywhere on campus (e.g., in the library), even bring it to class or the place you most prefer to study; You will want to continue to use your computer when you go home for breaks; Laptops take up less space in your room; If you have a problem, laptops can be easily transported to our Help Desk. What do I Need to Know About Bringing a Computer to Campus? Have a computer you need connected to the Hamilton network? Want to purchase your own computer, and be sure it can be connected to the network? Follow this link for information on minimum and recommended system requirements and network connectivity. Virus Protection Virus Protection Information Policy Note Hamilton College requires all existing and all incoming students to install Anti-Virus software on their personal computers by the end of the second week of classes each semester. Failure to do so can result in the loss of connectivity to the Hamilton College network until up-to-date Anti-virus software is installed. Anti-virus software (AVG for Windows and Sophos &  iAntivirus for Macintosh) is provided free to all students. Other anti-virus products may be substituted for Hamilton supported Anti-Virus as long as they are kept current. Student Phone and Voice Mail Overview Cable Television Information Contact Us E-mail us at: helpdesk@hamilton.edu Or, if you just want to hear a friendly voice, phone 315-859-4181. We'll be sure that someone gets back to you within one business day.
Voicemail
  • Getting Started With Information Technology Voicemail Getting Started With Information Technology NOTE: The information on this page is fully up-to-date and accurate for the 2011-12 academic year. This page connects new and returning members of the Hamilton College community to the most up-to-date information on networking, personal computer systems and standards. Whether you've never been to Hamilton, or you've just been away for a semester or two, this is the place to find out about the information technology environment. Why Bring a Laptop Computer to Campus? The campus has universally distributed connectivity via ethernet and wireless. This will make it easy for you to use your computer anywhere on campus (e.g., in the library), even bring it to class or the place you most prefer to study; You will want to continue to use your computer when you go home for breaks; Laptops take up less space in your room; If you have a problem, laptops can be easily transported to our Help Desk. What do I Need to Know About Bringing a Computer to Campus? Have a computer you need connected to the Hamilton network? Want to purchase your own computer, and be sure it can be connected to the network? Follow this link for information on minimum and recommended system requirements and network connectivity. Virus Protection Virus Protection Information Policy Note Hamilton College requires all existing and all incoming students to install Anti-Virus software on their personal computers by the end of the second week of classes each semester. Failure to do so can result in the loss of connectivity to the Hamilton College network until up-to-date Anti-virus software is installed. Anti-virus software (AVG for Windows and Sophos &  iAntivirus for Macintosh) is provided free to all students. Other anti-virus products may be substituted for Hamilton supported Anti-Virus as long as they are kept current. Student Phone and Voice Mail Overview Cable Television Information Contact Us E-mail us at: helpdesk@hamilton.edu Or, if you just want to hear a friendly voice, phone 315-859-4181. We'll be sure that someone gets back to you within one business day.
Cupola