Bringing or Buying a Computer
Albright College IT Services does not recommend any specific computer manufacturer or brand. Any of the major brands (Dell, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo, Sony, Apple, Acer and others) produce models which should meet the needs of the modern undergraduate student. First-time computer purchasers should pick from one of the major brands with names easily recognizable from the news media and advertising. This will ensure that, for the length of his or her undergraduate career, support and repair service are available and may be covered under an available warranty.
Residence hall Internet access at Albright College is wireless (“Wi-Fi”) only. When choosing a new computer, please choose a wireless solution: a laptop or a desktop with a wireless card installed. We strongly recommend a laptop, as they provide students with much more freedom to collaborate with their classmates and professors, and to find the ideal spot to work.
The following are our recommended computer specifications:
- Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, or XP, or Mac OS 10.5 (“Leopard”), or 10.6 (“Snow Leopard”)
- Wireless network card supporting the 802.11 a, b, g or n standards
- Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Athlon 2, AMD Phenom II processors or better
- 2 GB of Memory (RAM) or higher
Albright College recommends each student bring a USB flash drive to save their data. With flash drives, students will be able to move their data easily from their personal computer to a lab computer, and vice-versa. Recommended USB flash drives:
2 GB or more storage – Corsair, SanDisk, PNY, HP or Kingston
Students enrolled in the Digital Media or Fashion programs frequently work with much larger files than other students. In addition to a USB flash drive, we recommend a USB or Fire-Wire portable hard drive at least 500 GB in size.
Albright College requires all students living in the residence halls to use an up-to-date Anti-Virus program. Mac and Linux users are currently exempt from using an Anti-Virus product. We recommend the following products:
*Most new computers come with a “free trial” of one of these products, but you should be aware that it will almost always expire within a few months if you do not purchase a full subscription. Your Internet service at Albright will be interrupted while your computer is unprotected. Pay close attention to the specific software included with your computer purchase, if any.
Optional recommended software to help students complete their assignments:
- Microsoft Office 2007 (2008 for Mac users)
- Includes Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and more
- Adobe Reader 9 or higher
On-Campus Support and Services
IT Services technicians (contact information to the right) can assist you by phone or in person if your computer is not connecting to the Albright Wireless Network. If your computer is having issues other than Internet access, we advise you to take the following steps:
- Call your computer manufacturer (Dell, Apple, HP, etc.) at the support number from their web site.
- Often, these companies will provide some level of phone support or advice even if your warranty period has expired
- Contact a local repair shop*.
| Amazing Computers: |
610-621-2915 |
| Best Buy (“Geek Squad”): |
610-375-3340 |
| D & S Systems: |
610-374-1501 |
Double Click Computers:
Double Click is an authorized Apple warranty repair shop |
610-374-3355 |
| Stereo Hospital: |
610-929-8999 |
* This list of companies has been made available to you at your request to help you locate companies that provide services that you need for your personal computer. Albright College exercises no control over any of these businesses. They have been placed on the list because the company has expressed an interest in being on this list or because they are a company that represents themselves as having the ability to repair personal computers. Albright College makes no warranty, representation, or guarantee as to the ability of any company on this list to repair your computer. Albright College assumes no responsibility for any of the services that any of these companies performs for you. Albright College disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy/completeness of the repair, or reliability/operability of your personal computer after any of these companies has made any repairs, whether software or hardware related. Albright College disclaims any responsibility or liability for any damage resulting from services provided by any of the companies on this list.
