You can purchase the COB laptop from the Campus Computer Store. The laptop should be purchased far enough in advance so that you have the laptop when classes begin for the semester. If the laptop is purchased when you are enrolled in a COB required course, you do not have to pay sales tax or purchase software since the laptop is part of your required course materials. If you are purchasing the laptop as a freshman and are not enrolled in a COB required course, you will have to pay sales tax and purchase Microsoft Office (if desired). Whenever you purchase, please remember to ask specifically for the COB laptop when placing your order.
Some key features offered by the COB laptop are: 1) students do not pay sales tax since it is part of their required materials for courses (if enrolled in a COB course), 2) an on-site complete care three-year warranty is included that covers any type of accidental damage, 3) Windows 7 and the COB required application software is installed for you before you pick up your laptop. Upgrade choices are available beyond the minimum COB laptop specifications for students who want expanded features.
The COB Laptop Program is designed to provide students with industry applications of information technology, making students better prepared and more marketable to prospective employers. Students have the convenience of 24-hour access to worldwide information services, from any location at any time, not just from computer labs. In some courses, laptops are used extensively in class to demonstrate practical business applications, research current issues and companies, complete team projects, give student presentations, and/or take exams or quizzes and access learning materials through an online classroom management system. In other classes, the laptops are used more extensively outside of class time to complete online homework, collaborate with other students via online discussion groups, complete library research, and for a variety of other learning activities. Students can access the Internet wirelessly from anywhere on campus, and print using the on-campus wireless printers. With the laptops, students are not limited to information contained in textbooks, but instead have access to current information on a daily basis.
Students should not expect their laptop computer to be used the same way in each class. The common thread throughout the curriculum is that students have the appropriate technology to meet the challenges of an increasingly wireless, real-time work environment.
Any student enrolling in a COB course (200 level or above) is required to participate in the Laptop Program. A rental program is available for students not wishing to purchase a laptop.
The COB laptop pricing is negotiated each semester. Please check with the Campus Computer Store for the current model and price. Students may upgrade the laptop if desired. The COB laptop comes with all the necessary hardware and software and includes a 3-year (or optional 4-year) warranty package.
Due to licensing agreements with Microsoft and state sales tax regulations, students who are not enrolled in a laptop required class when they purchase the laptop will be required to pay sales tax and purchase the Microsoft Office Professional software. Students purchasing the laptop who are enrolled in a COB course do not pay the sales tax and do not have to purchase the Microsoft Office Professional software, because they are covered by the COB license agreement. When students enroll in 200 level business classes, they will begin paying a $125 program fee per semester. This fee covers the license agreements for all software products used in the COB.
The laptop must be paid for, in full, at the time of purchase either by check or credit card.
The cost of your laptop purchase may qualify for additional financial aid eligibility; to apply for a review of your financial aid awards, please refer to the Budget Adjustment Request process provided by Student Financial Services.
If you wish to register for a laptop class, you must fill out and submit the COB Laptop Program Fee Form on the COB webpage prior to registration. If you do not yet have your COB laptop, you must either purchase it from the Campus Computer Store or rent one before the start of the semester. If you already have a laptop that is not a COB laptop, you must have it approved by the COB Help Desk to be assured that it meets minimum specifications.
Here is the complete list of benefits from the program fee.
Distribution sessions are held daily on the 3rd floor of the Memorial Library in the ITS HelpDesk area. These sessions take approximately ¾ to 1 hour. Warranty information is discussed, as is COB printing, and other information to make your computer use on the MSU campus as smooth as possible.
Yes, but to an increasingly smaller extent. Many courses offer course materials online through the classroom management system in addition to or as an alternative to textbooks. Many publishers also offer electronic book options at a reduced cost compared to printed texts.
No. Printers are available in a number of locations on campus. In addition, many instructors make use of online submissions of course assignments. If you want to print at home or for personal use, you may wish to buy a printer, but it is not required.
No. When students participate in in-class activities, each student will be required to have his/her own laptop. Not all activities are collaborative efforts (tests and quizzes, for example).
Laptops make students’ lives easier than using the computer labs because students can use their laptops for projects or papers in all courses from the convenience of any place at any time. Students relying on computer labs are limited to the labs’ open hours and can face waiting lines at peak times.
Students who purchase a COB laptop from the Campus Computer Store are required to attend a distribution session on the use and care of their laptop, and accessibility to MSU networks and printers. In addition, COB majors are required to complete ISYS 101, Introduction to Microcomputers, to ensure a base level of skill before taking other COB courses. The laptop program gives students the opportunity to further develop the skills learned in this course throughout their coursework. For problems using the various software packages required in courses, student software consultants are available during selected hours in the Morris Hall first floor commons area.
If you have the COB laptop, the ITS COB HelpDesk will assist you with required software installs, reimaging, and/or hardware warranty repair. If you do not have the COB laptop, limited assistance is available from the helpdesk.
The goal is to have 100 percent of the students in every class with a working laptop at all times. We want to keep classroom experiences high-quality and keep expenses and waiting time low. Students can get their COB laptops fixed typically within a day, on campus. We are a Dell certified repair facility. We have components on hand for all the COB models students buy. If a COB computer is damaged, (e.g. broken screens, dropped laptops, drinks spilled on keyboards, etc.), students are given a laptop loaner on the spot and their laptop is repaired quickly. One of the reasons this system works so effectively is the standardization. The software configuration is standard and the parts are standard. This means repairs and software installation are faster and, therefore, less expensive. We simply do not have the resources to troubleshoot, repair and stock parts for an unlimited number of brands or models.
Can I get special features? Yes! The laptop we offer is an extremely good value. However, students may also opt to purchase additional features. Please discuss available options with representatives in the Campus Computer Store.
You must have a laptop that meets the COB requirements in order to enroll in a COB course. As an alternative to buying, a limited rental pool is available. If you already own a non-COB laptop, you must have it approved as meeting the minimum specifications. COB Licensed software will be installed for you at the COB Help Desk once your laptop has been approved for use (SPSS and Microsoft Office, Project, OneNote, SharePoint Designer, Symantec EndPoint Anti-Virus and SmartBoard). In addition, you will be responsible for maintaining your own laptop and obtaining a substitute laptop, at your cost, if yours is inoperable at any point during the semester. Repair service will be available on campus for some models for a fee, or you can utilize any off-campus service of your choice.
The warranty on the COB laptop is good for three years from the date the laptop is shipped for all parts except the battery. The battery warranty is one year. The laptop warranty covers accidental damage in addition to the normal warranty for defective parts. This would cover damage from things like accidentally dropping the laptop or spilling something on it, so that you would not have out of pocket repair or replacement charges when these types of unfortunate events occur. The warranty does not cover natural disasters or theft—you are encouraged to have renters or homeowners insurance to cover loss from natural disaster or theft.
