All computing equipment paid for with University funds should be approved by our office before any hardware purchases are made. We check to make sure any equipment you are considering will work within the limits of the campus network and that it will effectively meet your needs. In some cases we have access to better equipment at a lesser price. If you are planning on purchasing new computer equipment, please email Computing Services at se.computing@uci.edu with specific details about what you would like to buy, and we will advise and/or prepare an equote. All Computing Support equotes include warranties. Keep in mind all hardware purchases, must include a 4 year warranty (PC) or AppleCare+ for Education (Mac).
Dell Computing Equipment:
The university currently has an agreement with Dell. Our prices are not posted through Dell.com since they are specific to UCI. Equipment purchased from Dell are from the professional series line, which includes professional grade components and parts. This means you will receive the "latest and greatest" at a discount. Our warranty with Dell is a 4 year next day onsite service. In some cases, for laptops, it does cover accidental damage such as drops and spills. You will receive a copy of the warranty agreement and we highly recommend reading through the terms of the service. Please remember that Microsoft Office Suite, anti-virus, Zoom, (Campus supported) Adobe Reader (Pro covered by SE for Faculty & Staff) and Crashplan (SE Faculty and research equipment) are installed by SE Computing and do not need to be purchased. Prices may vary on equipment due to the time of purchase and special pricing from Dell.
*Prices may vary on equipment and parts due to the time of purchase and availability.
Apple Computing Equipment:
Apple has educational pricing and requires purchases from one certified reseller. Apple Care is required on all Apple desktops, laptops, and tablets. Please read the Apple Care service agreement for the terms and conditions. Please remember that Microsoft Office Suite, anti-virus, Zoom, Crashplan (SE Faculty and research equipment) and Adobe Reader Pro are installed by SE Computing and do not need to be purchased.
Other "Brands" of Computing Equipment:
We understand that there are other "brands" of computers that might fit your needs. We recommend contacting SE Computing for help or questions. Other computer "brands" will still need a 4 yr warranty. Unfortunately, since we do not have agreements with other "brands", pricing and the type of service will vary from company to company. SE Computing will help diagnose any issues if possible, but will not cover ANY fees occurred (shipping, etc.). ALL warranty disputes will be handled/addressed by the purchaser/user of the computer. Every company is different in the way they handle warranty issues, we HIGHLY recommend reading the terms and conditions of the warranty agreement before purchasing.
***Computing equipment that has been purchased without a warranty is not covered by SE Computing.
Please note: For computers that are on campus and plugged into to the Social Ecology network, we highly encourage you to use on a non-administrative account to do your daily work. If you need special privileges please reach out.
Also, keep in mind, Computing Services does not have access to your funding therefore we cannot place orders. We will happily send quotes to your department contact once you have decided what to buy.