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If I'm starting at MIT in the fall, should I get a computer before I arrive?

Yes, you should purchase it before arriving on campus. As soon as you receive your Kerberos identity registration card in the mail, you can obtain a personal digital certificate and make a purchase from one of MIT's preferred vendors at MIT pricing. At any time you can browse the list of bundles on IS&T web site and call us (617 253-1101) if you have any questions.

While you can purchase a laptop and have it sent directly to your dorm prior to arrival, we recommend that you have it shipped to your home before you leave. This gives you a chance to start it up and make sure it's running properly and make any needed configurations and installations. If you purchase a laptop, this gives you time to go to a store and buy a bag in which it will fit and be comfortable to carry around.

All of our vendor partners (Apple, Dell, and GovConnection [Lenovo]) should have the models available and the student pricing set before you need to begin the purchasing process. When you place an order, the vendor will give a estimated shipping time. If you buy one of the preconfigured bundles, it usually ships within a few days to a couple of weeks. If you want to make customizations to a bundle, that will slow down the shipping process.

What should I take into consideration when choosing a computer?

All of the recommended laptops are configured to work on the MIT campus network and let you use MIT supported applications and services. They are also compatible with MIT academic courseware applications. If you're an incoming freshmen, any of the items in the bundles list should be suitabe for your needs and it's matter of finding one that fits your price range, screen size, weight, hard drive storage size, etc. If you're an incoming graduate student, you may want to check with your department to find out if there are any special computing requirements that would affect your choice.

You offer both Dell and Lenovo laptops. Which vendor do you recommend?

From the standpoint of hardware, both vendors are equal and we recommend either one. We want to offer a variety of laptops that will meet the needs of students' preferences, both in functionality and style.