Purchasing Computer Hardware & Software for Faculty/Staff

Computer Hardware Standards

Kellogg maintains standards on computer hardware equipment in order to provide effective, cost-efficient computing services, and to ensure hardware compatibility and network connectivity. Please contact KIS whenever making a new computer purchase. For faculty and staff purchasing new equipment, KIS recommends the following hardware:

Desktop and Laptop Computers

The faculty and staff desktop and laptop computer options are all custom built Lenovo systems for the Kellogg community.

 

The desktop is a Lenovo ThinkCentre m55, configured to maximum specification

 

There are three laptop models available to faculty and staff:

·         The Standard KLP ThinkPad T60s

·         The Ultra-portable, travel-focused x61s

·         The Presentation-focused x61 Tablet

 

Details about the configuration of each machine as well as ordering can be found through the FaStCATS CDWG portal@

 

http://www.cdwg.com/FaStCATS

 

After you receive your new desktop KIS will install the Kellogg image, a custom software package that contains standard Kellogg software.

Printers

The Hewlett-Packard line is Kellogg’s computer printer standard.  Information on current HP printer models is available through the Hewlett-Packard web site. If you would like a recommendation, please enter a Service Request or email facstaffcomputing@kellogg.northwestern.edu..

Research Workstations

The Dell Precision computer workstation is Kellogg's Windows workstation standard but please contact KIS before purchasing a workstation.

The SUN line is Kellogg’s UNIX workstation standard.  Information on current SUN UNIX workstation models is available through the SUN web site.  If you are considering purchasing a SUN UNIX workstation, please email researchcomputing-help@kellogg.northwestern.edu for assistance.

Ordering Computer Hardware

To request an equipment quote and/or related advice, please enter a Service Request or email facstaffcomputing@kellogg.northwestern.edu and someone will get in touch with you to outline the general nature of your request. KIS will investigate your needs and review the available options with you.

After you make a selection, KIS will send a quote to your department assistant. It is your Department Assistant's responsibility to intiate the PO into the system and enter your order. If there are questions about purchasing contact KIS.

Dell computers must be ordered directly from Dell.  The Dell customer service rep for Northwestern University quotes is Brenfy O'Rorke , 1-800-274-7799 ext.72-64274 or email Brenfy_O'Rorke@dell.com

The Lenovo ThinkPad T60 laptops must be ordered from our distributor, CDW.  Please contact a KIS Full-Time Staff member if you would like to order a small and light Thinkpad X60.

Other hardware and software may be ordered from any source.

Below are some useful computer vendor web sites.  Caveat: It is useful to use the web to research purchases. But remember that you can often get an educational discount or a lower price through other means if you call the vendor for a specific quote.

Employee Photo

http://img.cdw.com/global/pixels/none.gif

Kelly Penney -
Account Manager 
(866) 723-2006
kellpen@cdwg.com

Employee Photo

http://img.cdw.com/global/pixels/none.gif

Angie Bania -
Account Manager 
(877) 826-1289
angiban@cdwg.com

Ordering Computer Software

Kellogg has a Microsoft Campus Agreement site license for the Kellogg School. It provides for the use of current, future, and past versions of Office Standard, Office Professional.  We must renew this agreement each year in order to continue using the installed software.  Under our agreement, we have the right to provide this software on all Kellogg-owned PCs.  Faculty/staff also have the right to run one copy of the software for school-related activities on a computer that they own personally.  There is no need to purchase software for Kellogg through the NU Microsoft Select Program, but you may purchase CD media through it if necessary.  See NU Microsoft Select Program for details on media purchases.

Kellogg has a volume discount on Macromedia Dreamweaver software for web authoring.  It can be installed by your technical support rep and charged back to your account internally.

Much Internet and utility software, including all components of the NUNET applications, is free for faculty and staff based on University site licenses, so it can be installed by your technical support rep without any purchase.  You may also download much of it yourself from the KIS Software Download page.

Several other software applications are available at a discounted price through the NU IT licensed software website including:

Instructions for purchasing other research related software can be found on the research computing website:

Northwestern has discontinued site licensing of Adobe products which include Acrobat Professional and Photoshop. Ordering for these applications is now done through a vendor called TRC

Transferring Data

KIS will transfer your existing data from your old computer to your new computer.  Data files such as your email mailboxes and bookmarks are easy for us to locate and transfer. Other data files, such as those from Microsoft Office, Dreamweaver, and specialized software applications, require additional information from the end user to determine where all files are stored. KIS will sit down with you to help locate and compile a list of the data files that need to be transferred to your new computer.

KIS will make a complete backup of every file on your computer and retain it for at least two weeks, usually longer. Assuming the discarded computer meets KIS minimum specifications for hardware, professors are free to pass their old computers down to who they would like. If the professor has no interest in what happens to her/his old computer, then it will be passed down within the department. If the department does not need the computer, it is given to KIS who deploys it as needed.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please enter a Service Request or email facstaffcomputing@kellogg.northwestern.edu..

kelloggwebmaster@kellogg.northwestern.edu
Updated: 06/23/2006