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For support: call extension 5-Help (212-305-4357), email us, or instantly connect to a technician with CUMC IT eSupport

Computer Purchasing

CUMC IT has partnered with Dell Computer to allow departments on the CUMC campus to lease desktop and laptop computers. This program provides individual departments the ability to spread the cost of technology over a period of three years. Please visit our Dell Lease page for details.

For work or personal use, Columbia students, faculty and staff are eligible to receive discounts on a variety of computer related purchases. Please see the Computer Sales @ Columbia page at: http://www.columbia.edu/acis/sales.

  • This site will show you discounted pricing available through Apple, Dell, J&R Computer World, and other vendors.
  • You can also select the link for the Columbia Preferred Vendors List next to the p icon to look through a complete list. Select the Preferred Vendor List under the Quick Links heading, then the Computers, Peripherals & Workstations link. Those vendors with a red p by their name also offer personal use discounts.
  • Sprint also provides discounts on PDA Smart Phones and cellular plans via: http://www.pcsorders.com/columbia.
  • To take advantage of the Columbia discounts you will be prompted to log on with your UNI and password.
  • Columbia has site licenses for many software programs including Microsoft Office, allowing faculty, staff and students to download and install Office free of cost. Please see our list of Software Downloads for more information.
Windows Vista Compatibility Issues
  • Faculty and Staff
    Some Medical Center applications are still not fully compatible with Microsoft’s latest operating system, Vista. This currently includes IDXWeb and WebCIS.
    IMPORTANT: Faculty and staff that use any of these programs should not purchase a Windows Vista system.
  • Upgrades
    Columbia has a Microsoft site license which includes upgrades to Vista. Due to this we highly recommend that you request Windows XP Service Pack 3 for your new computer's operating system, until compatibility with all University and Medical Center programs has been fully approved.
  • You may need to call the vendor to request Windows XP instead of Vista; Columbia discounts should still apply.

Windows 64-bit Compatibility Issues

Windows 64-bit systems are not compatible with VPN or the Rome wireless network. The Athens wireless network can be used instead, it requires that the system's drivers are configured for TTLS/PAP authentication. Please see our Wireless page for configuration instructions.

Unix and Linux Compatibility Issues

Linux and Unix computers are not fully supported by CUMC IT or Columbia. Encryption used to connect to the CUMC secured wireless network may not be compatible for these systems and support cannot be provided.

Suggested Hardware Specifications
Systems purchased recently (within the past year or two) will typically be equipped with recommended features including a 10/100 Fast Ethernet network card, CD or DVD burner, and for laptops a WiFi compliant 802.11b wireless card. Other configuration choices such as hard drive size, amount of memory and CPU speed should at least meet the minimum needs for the operating system and programs you plan to use and can therefore vary. To assist, we've listed suggested hardware configurations here.

Desktop Windows XP Service Pack 3 Macintosh OS 10.5
Processor Intel 1.8Ghz Core Duo or AMD Athalon Intel 1.83Ghz Core Duo
RAM 2 GB 2 GB
Hard Disk Drive 80 GB SATA 80 GB SATA
Removable Media Storage Drive 16x DVD+/-RW 8x SuperDrive
Network Interface Card (cabled) Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet or equivalent Intel 1.8Ghz Core Duo or AMD Athalon
Monitor 17" Flat Panel 1280 x 1024 17” Flat Panel 1440 x 900
Video Adapter 128 MB RAM 128 MB RAM
Warranty 3 year onsite next business day and complete damage recovery AppleCare Protection Plan
Recommended make/model Dell Optiplex 755 Apple iMac


Laptop Windows XP Service Pack 3 Macintosh OS 10.5
Processor Intel 1.6Ghz Core Duo Intel 1.83Ghz Core Duo
Memory/RAM 2 GB 2 GB
Hard Disk Drive 80GB 80GB SATA
Removable Media Storage Drive 8x DVD+/-RW 6x SuperDrive
Network Interface Card (cabled) Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet
or equivalent		 Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet
or equivalent
Network Interface Card (wireless) Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet
or equivalent		 Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet
or equivalent
Video Adapter 128 MB RAM 128 MB RAM
Warranty 3 year onsite next business day and complete damage recovery AppleCare Protection Plan
Recommended make/model Dell Latitude D630 or D430 Apple MacBook Pro


Last updated 7/7/2009

 
 
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