Computer Hardware Purchases

Buying for Personal Use | Buying for UB Office Use | Printers | Printer Support

Buying Hardware for Personal Use

UB students, faculty, and staff can take advantage of special pricing through Dell and Apple when purchasing personal computers. Dell also offers alumni discounts. Using the links below, you can select, configure, and order your hardware.

Dell University

Apple Store
  1. From the Apple Store page,choose Education Store.
  2. Click Select Your College
  3. Follow the instructions to find the University of Baltimore.

Buying Hardware for UB Office Use

OTS uses standard computer images configured specifically for Dell hardware. Standard images allow OTS to efficiently deploy, maintain and troubleshoot computers. The current computer image runs Microsoft Windows XP Professional.The business-class Dell Optiplex and Latitude systems recommended are designed for our environment, from the availability of warranty parts to the integration of docking ports on laptops. When choosing a computer for your office, you are encouraged to select from one of the Dell computers listed. If you buy a different model or brand, you may experience a delay with installation and support.

OTS encourages departments to purchase:

Models
  • Dell Optiplex 745 and 755 models (Desktops come in different shapes and sizes: From largest to smallest there are the Mini-Tower, Desktop, Small Form Factor and Ultra Small Form Factor)
  • Dell Latitude D430, D630 and D830 models (laptops) –ranging from small and portable to larger with a wide screen.
Minimum Hardware Specifications
  • Intel dual core processors
  • 2 gigabytes of memory
  • 80 gigabytes hard drive

When ordering one of the models listed above, you can adjust the amount of memory, hard drive space, and processor speed to accommodate the purpose of the computer.

Also, we recommended a three to four year replacement cycle for your department’s computer. By replacing your computers every three to four years, you ensure everyone is using a computer capable of supporting standard business applications.

Printers for Office Use

Hewlett Packard is a common and reliable printer found on campus and is OTS’ brand choice. Before buying printer determine what type/model fits your needs. Consider the following questions to help you identify what type of printer to purchase:

  • Will more than one person need to print to it? This determines if you get a networked printer.
  • Do you need to print color? Color printers and the toner cost more.
  • What is the volume of printing expected? A small printer is not ideal for large volume or fast printing.
  • Do you need to print to both sides of the page automatically? A printer with duplexing provides this feature.
  • Will you need to scan? Multifunction devices provide scanning and faxing capability.

Printer Support

OTS provides basic support for the setup and use of campus networked and non-networked printers. It is the responsibility of each department to contact their vendor of choice for repair.