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Issue 35, Winter 2006
by Fred Robson and Larry Gilbert
ATUS is often asked whether employees and students can buy university-quality computers at the discounted prices paid by Western. Following a great deal of collaborative work between the AS Bookstore, Student Affairs, Purchasing, and ATUS, the answer is now a resounding “yes!”
To provide up-to-date information at your fingertips, we have worked with the Purchasing Department to create a web site that groups together all the recommended vendors and their Western-branded web sites. You can go to the Dell, Gateway, Apple, or HP site, select the standard equipment you want, or configure a computer to your personal specifications. Simply go to www.wwu.edu/buyhomecomputer and follow the link at the bottom of the page to Personal Purchases for connections to Western-branded websites for purchase of Dell, Gateway, and Apple personal computers. 
The FAQs below will answer many of your questions about personal purchases of computers.
What will I find at the personal computer purchase sites?
First of all, you’ll find direct links to desktop and laptop computers that are matched to the same standard computers most often purchased for university use. For example, you’ll be able to buy a desktop computer that’s identical to the computers typically found in Western’s computer labs or a laptop that’s identical to those in our laptop loan program. Second, you’ll also be able to customize computers to your own needs and still get discounted prices.
Why should I purchase computers from Western’s sites
instead of going directly to vendor sites?
Only the Western-branded sites have links to pre-configured systems that match Western’s standards. You’ll be assured of a computer with enough memory, processor speed, and disk space to handle most student/staff personal needs. Western’s sites also have direct links to purchase of discounted Microsoft Office software ñ unavailable on vendor sites. Finally, the vendors provide a small rebate to the campus for purchases from the Western branded sites, with all proceeds going toward scholarships to help needy students purchase computers.
Will I pay more for a computer from Western’s purchase sites?
No. In most cases, you’ll pay substantially less than for a comparable computer at vendor sites. Western has negotiated special educational pricing based on the quantity discounts the university receives for buying hundreds of computers from these vendors each year. These discounts are usually far deeper than any discounts offered on vendor sites. Keep in mind that the standard computers on Western’s site are the same institutional quality computers used by the university. This means that you’ll likely get a very high quality computer for less than you’d typically pay for a consumer grade machine with the same features.
Don’t I have to pay more for institutional quality computers?
Typically, no. ATUS ran many examples comparing the personal price of a university-standard computer with heavily discounted consumer models from Dell, Gateway and Apple. In nearly all cases, the price of a comparably equipped computer from the vendors cost more than the university standard computer. For example, you might start with a much lower $399 special price advertised on TV by a vendor. However, by the time you add in the added cost of memory, disk space, flat screen monitor, etc., to make the “value” computer comparably equipped, the vendor computer had a higher cost.
How does this relate to purchase of computers for university use?
At www.wwu.edu/buywwucomputers you’ll find information on how to easily purchase WWU-standard desktop and laptop computers for your department from the same vendors. These standard configurations have special pricing that is the lowest available to WWU and are configured with the WWU standard software image loaded at the factory for Dell and Gateway Desktops purchases (e.g. MS Office is included at no cost). You should find that the standard configurations will work for most everyone. You will also be able to change the size of the memory, hard drives, optical drives, and monitors to suit your specific application. In fact, the full catalog of models is available for selection of other models.
At the university purchase site, there is also a link to a document called Guidelines for Acquisition of Computer Equipment and Software. This document explains the benefits of standardization and the overall process for purchasing computer equipment. If you find that the equipment available under contract does not meet your needs, there is an exception form available. This will help Purchasing and ATUS review your needs and discuss alternatives.
The WWU computer standards are reviewed quarterly. The university community is encouraged to provide ATUS with input regarding the standard hardware and software recommendations. Please send any comments to Fred Robson at fred.robson@wwu.edu or call Fred at 650-7737.
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