Free laptops for MSc students entering Sept 2007
Tuesday 12 September 2006
In the academic year 2007/08, the Department of Computing will be providing brand new laptop computers containing essential course software to all students newly enrolled on its Masters courses in Information Systems, in Security Technologies and Applications, and in Internet Computing, for free. This is the second year such laptops are provided.
Our aim is for our students to be able to make use of the widest range of facilities in the most flexible ways possible, and by promoting mobile computing we hope to achieve that aim.
Broadband networking is now widely available in student residences. The campus-wide roll-out of wireless infrastructure, based on a scheme piloted in the Department back in 2001, continues. As a student in Computing you will increasingly make use of such infrastructural provisions alongside technologically-advanced learning resources, such as Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), for personal study. This provides for more comfortable, convenient, and increasingly self-paced study, than has traditionally been the case. This scheme intends to further encourage and enable flexibility within your personal studies: providing laptop computers is one component of a longer-term programme of investment by the Department focussed on expanding and improving the student experience.
As a Department whose research activities involve the latest high-technology systems and software, these laptop computers will offer our Masters students improved access to a variety of course-related systems and software: we will be providing degree-ready, and network-ready, systems with a majority of software pre-installed when you begin one of our courses. A wide-range of software, including Microsoft Visual Studio, the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN), and technologies from the IBM Academic Initiative will be ready-to-use within this configuration. With increased ownership of mobile phones, we are keen to support mobile computing ownership, and to assist our students in understanding and managing their own systems.
System specification:
Toshiba laptop supplied by Getech
Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor T2080 (1.73)
Genuine Windows XP Professional
1GB RAM
80GB Hard Disk
DVD Super Multi Drive DL
15.4'' WXGA TFT Display (1280 x 800)
Mobile Intel 943GML Express Chipset
TV-out (s-video)
4 x USB 2.0 Ports
IEEE 1394
6-in-1 Bridge Media Slot
WiFi 802.11b/g
2.72kg
1 Year Warranty