Ohio University has announced Lenovo and Apple as its vendors for the Go Mobile laptop purchasing program, which will provide laptops at discounted prices to OU students.
These are brand-new
state-of-the-art models said Sean O'Malley, Communication Network Services public relations coordinator.
Lenovo will provide students with a new ThinkPad line of computers at a discounted rate, which will not be available to the public until May 16, and Apple will offer their iBook and MacBook Pro, which can be purchased via Apple's Web site, O'Malley said.
The product models range from good better and best and will include PCs and Macs, according to the program's pamphlet. Upgrading to a better model will include more memory, a DVD burner and, for the best model
a larger display.
The ThinkPads will range in price from $1,074 to $1,369, and the Apple models between $1,265 and $2,576, according to the pamphlet. This will result in about a 40 percent discount on the ThinkPads, O'Malley said. Discounts range from about $30 to $200 on Apple models.
Orders can be placed through the companies' Web sites beginning May 19, and the computers will be delivered to the purchaser's doorstep in about 10 business days, he said.
In addition to the laptops, both Lenovo and Apple will offer more discounts on accessories, according to the pamphlet. Lenovo will offer an extended warranty, backpacks, USB 2.0 jump drives, and optical mouses and speakers, and Apple will include special deals on iPod MP3 players.
As part of the partnership with Apple, John Couch, vice president of education for Apple, will visit OU today to announce a partnership with OU, according to a Communications and Marketing news release.
A three-year warranty will be included with the ThinkPad, with an option for a $55 optional warranty. With the accidental-damage warranty, students will have to pay a deductible of $100, O'Malley said, adding that Apple does not offer an accidental-damage warranty.
Anything you do to your computer that wasn't malicious
intentional damage to take advantage of this is covered
he said.
Under the warranty, CNS is authorized to work on the machines, O'Malley said.
We are fully authorized to do repairs on both the Apples and Lenovos
he said.
Although some schools include a price markup in programs such as Go Mobile, OU will not make a profit from the program, he said.
We are selling these at exactly the price we negotiated
O'Malley said.
When the initial announcement of the program was made, rumors surfaced that the program could result in the removal of computers from residence halls. However, the university will keep the computers for students who want one.
One difference in the request this year, though, will be that students can opt to keep a university printer ' with unlimited toner ' rather than the whole machine, he said.
Near the last couple weeks of the quarter
we're going to send an e-mail out to the current and incoming students asking them whether they need a computer in their room or not
he said
