Academic Discounts

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Academic Discounts

One of the benefits of being associated with an academic organization is that you are eligible for discounts on computer hardware and software. The discounts vary from manufacturer to manufacturer (and in a few cases, it is better to pay the non-academic street price. Regardless, this web page should be of great benefit to students, faculty and staff.

Hardware

If you are buying a new computer, keep in mind that you don't have to buy the most expensive computer in the showroom. Most computer salespeople work on commission and they will probably try and sell you every whistle and bell under the sun. It is our experience that most of the added features aren't necessary. Even the most basic computers from most of the major manufacturers (Dell, eMachines, Gateway, HP, IBM, Toshiba and Sony) meet or exceed Otterbein's minimum computing standards.

To be honest, the discounts on hardware are not all that great. Some vendors lock their prices on certain models for an entire year. It is not uncommon for a $800.00 "discounted" model to drop to $500 over the course of a year. When shopping for a computer, be sure to compare the discounted price against the price you can get without the "discount."

Otterbein University does not endorse any vendor. We offer information about discounts that we are aware of only as a resource to you. Two that we are currently aware of are:

http://store.apple.com/us_edu_5001359

http://www.dell.com/Otterbein

Manufacturers offering discounts on desktop computers include:

Manufacturers offering discounts on notebook (laptop) computers:

If you click on a manufacturer's logo, you will be directed to their web site.

Recycling

If you need to dispose of a computer or other hardware, click here for information about technology recycling.

Software

The products for which you can enjoy the greatest discount is software. Some software is discounted as much as 90% - although most discounts fall in the 25% to 50% range. If you are interested in purchasing software, consider buying through one of the academic discounters shown below. There are conditions and restrictions when buying at academic discounts, so be sure to check with each vendor to make sure your purchase qualifies.

A current discount is from Microsoft for Office 2010. It is called the Ultimate Steal. If you have an Otterbein email address, you can download Office 2010 for $79.95.

Please note that you may not qualify for academic discounts until you are officially enrolled and have your Cardinal Card (student ID).

Work-At-Home Rights

Full-time Otterbein faculty and staff should be aware of the work-at-home rights provided by some software manufacturers. Under our license agreement, you may be eligible to install on you home computer certain software that is installed on your work computer - free of charge! Click here for more information on work-at-home rights.

Otterbein University does not in any way endorse these companies, products or services. These listings are provided as a resource only.