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Student Laptop Support

Voluntary Laptop Program 2010-2011

New England Law | Boston has partnered with GovConnection to offer our students a very competitively priced Laptop Purchase Program. Ordering could not be easier.

Ordering information
Voluntary Laptop Program 2010-2011 flier (PDF)

Recommended System Configuration

If you are considering buying a new or replacement laptop, please consult the following suggested specifications. It is highly recommended that you always purchase a three-year extended warranty (AppleCare Plan if it is a MAC). Replacing hard drives, motherboards, LCD screens, etc., is expensive when not covered by a warranty. Make the investment now; you may be glad later!

Hardware Minimum Requirements

 

  • Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo is preferred at a minimum. For new laptops, a faster processor such as Core i3, Core i5, or Core i7 may be needed, depending on whether you plan to use your laptop for gaming or other demanding applications.  Otherwise, one of the less expensive processors will be fine.

  • Memory – 2GB minimum

  • Wireless Card – 802.11 b/g integrated wireless card

  • Hard Drive – 250GB minimum

  • Backup Drive – highly recommended

Operating System - Windows

Windows 7 or Vista (Enterprise or Ultimate editions) and XP Professional are the recommended Windows operating systems. If you are thinking of upgrading your current laptop to Windows 7, a fresh full install is always preferable to an upgrade.

Operating System - Macintosh

MAC OS X (Tiger – 10.4, Leopard – 10.5, and Snow Leopard – 10.6) are recommended; older Macintosh operating systems are not.

Software

A good word processing application is essential for law school. PowerPoint is also widely used for presentations. Your laptop may come with a Student/Teacher version of Microsoft Office, which includes MS Word and PowerPoint. If not, a copy can be purchased from Microsoft.com for about $60. Just do a search for “student” on the Microsoft homepage. Apple also provides a version of Office for MAC for $129 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Recommended browsers include Internet Explorer 7 (or later) and Firefox 3.5 (or later). The latest versions of Adobe Reader, Flash and Shockwave, Microsoft Silverlight, and RealPlayer are also recommended.

Virus/Malware Protection

Virus and Malware/Spyware infections are one of the biggest problems encountered by students who seek Helpdesk assistance. It is highly recommended that students using Windows Laptops or NetBooks install and keep up to date a reputable antivirus program. Most Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) now provide a market-recognized antivirus program such as McAfee or Norton Symantec as part of a standard plan. This is part of your service so take advantage of it. There are also some good free programs available. One of the most reliable and consistent ones is AVG Free. You should also install a good malware/spyware program. There are some good free ones available for download such as SuperAntispyware and Malwarebytes. Also make sure that you keep up to date with Microsoft Updates (Mac updates if using a Mac), Adobe Updates, and Java Updates.

Support for Student Laptops

The IT Helpdesk is here to help with laptop issues whenever we can. Unfortunately, there are limits to what we can do.

What we can assist with:

 

  • Virus/Malware/Spyware Removal

  • Data Backups

  • Sluggish Performance Issues

  • Installing Student Printers

  • Wireless Connectivity Issues

What we cannot assist with:

 

  • Hardware Issues – Complete hardware failure, hard drive crashes, broken/damaged/replacement of keyboard keys or keyboards, damaged LCD screens, faulty power adaptors, or provision of loaner power adaptors

  • Software Issues – Reload of Operating Systems and other software

  • Phone Support – You must stop by in person for all laptop support (hardware or software). We only provide phone support for e-mail or NECIN logon problems; all other issues must be presented in person.


If you do require assistance we are located in the library basement, beside the Computer Lab. Our regular hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 am-10 pm; Fridays, 8 am-5 pm; and noon-4 pm on weekends. These hours change slightly during the summer months. You can also call us at 617-422-7404 or e-mail helpdesk@nesl.edu.