FAQ for New Students

1. What are the specifications of the laptop and when will I get it?
   You will receive a new Apple MacBook laptop at orientation when you arrive at Deerfield in September.  The white 13-inch MacBook includes the following features:

• a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 4 GB RAM
• 250 GB hard drive
• SuperDrive (DVD-RW/CD-RW)
• iSight camera
• 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless card & Gigabit Ethernet port
• Bluetooth
• Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe power, and USB ports

1. Who owns the laptop and how much does it cost?
   Deerfield Academy purchases all new student laptops and families are responsible for a yearly technology fee which is designed to cover the cost of the laptop, software licenses, warranties and other related equipment. The yearly technology fee for 2010-2011 is $675.  This fee is included in financial aid calculations and will be part of your tuition bill.
2. What are my responsibilities for the laptop?
   Your responsibilities are described in the Computer Use Standards document.
3. Can I install my own programs on the computer?
   You can install programs you have purchased as long as they don’t interfere with the proper functioning of the laptop.  Occasionally, software may cause problems that our technicians cannot resolve and we would have to reimage the laptop (restore it to its original configuration) so that it is available for your academic use.  In that case, you would have to reinstall any non-Deerfield software. 

    

4. What else is included with the laptop?
   The Academy provides a standard set of software including Mac OSX Snow Leopard, Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac^©, iLife ’09 and iWork ’09,  Sophos^© virus protection, and various discipline-specific applications.  Additionally, each student will be provided with an external hard drive — students are responsible for backing up personal files to the external hard drive and academic files to their network drive.

    

5. Will I get instructions on how to operate my new laptop?
   All new students will attend a technology orientation soon after they arrive at Deerfield.  A schedule and details will be posted on our Back to School site before the start of school.  We will also offer workshops throughout the year on various topics.

    

6. Can I bring a different computer to school?
   You will be expected to use your Deerfield laptop in class and for school work.  You may bring a second computer, but it will have to go through a registration process and have our standard virus protection installed.  ITS cannot provide any technical support for non-standard computers and all computers must conform to the required specifications listed below in order to connect to our network and the Internet.  However, ITS will make documentation available with instructions for connecting to the Deerfield network and accessing the Academy’s public printers.

REQUIRED Specifications for Non-Standard Computers

Windows XP Professional, Vista Business, 7 Professional or higher
Mac OS X Leopard or higher

All computers connecting to our network will be scanned to verify that they meet these required specifications.

 

1. Do I need a personal printer?
   Some students find it convenient to bring their own personal printer, but we also encourage students to take advantage of public networked printers which are available in a number of convenient locations around the school, including the Help Desk and the Library.

    

2. What if the software on my computer needs upgrading?
   Periodically, we will ask you to bring your laptop to the Help Desk for refreshing.  This service will include installation of the latest versions of our standard software applications.

    

3. Who takes care of my DA laptop if it isn’t working properly?
   The staff at the ITS Help Desk is available for any technology-related question or problem with your DA-provided laptop.  If your laptop is having any problems it should be brought to the Help Desk as soon as possible. 

    

4. What if my laptop is stolen, lost, or damaged?
   Your laptop is covered by a 3 year AppleCare warranty which only covers manufacturer’s defects.  A secondary insurance policy through Student Insurance Partners (www.studentinsurancepartners.com) has been purchased for your laptop which covers accidental damage (e.g., spills, drops), theft, and loss of use due to fire, flood, or other natural disasters.  If an insurance claim is filed, you and your parents will be responsible for paying a deductible in the amount of $200.  In the rare instance where the insurance does not cover the damage or loss (e.g., wear and tear, purposeful damage), you and your parents will be responsible for the repair and/or replacement of the laptop.

   If your laptop is damaged, please bring it to the ITS Help Desk to be repaired.  If it is stolen, please file a police report and report the incident to the ITS Help Desk so that we can facilitate the insurance claim.

    

5. What about telephone service in my dorm?
   Phone service is not available in dorm rooms but a public phone is provided in each dorm. For questions contact the Help Desk at 413-774-1444 (x1444) or send us an e-mail (helpdesk@deerfield.edu). 

    

6. How do I get help from Information Technology Services?
   The ITS Help Desk is located in the Koch Center for Science, Math, and Technology.  Our hours of operation will be posted in the orientation schedule available when you arrive at school in September.  They will also be posted online on the Daily Bulletin, our school website (deerfield.edu/daily).  Stop by or call us at 413-774-1444 (x1444 on campus) or send us e-mail (helpdesk@deerfield.edu).