Specials for CCSF
For Apple computers and many software packages, the bookstore is the
best bet. For PC systems, CCSF has a special arrangement with
OmniPro, the
vendor supplying the new PCs in the Desktop Upgrade that has been going on
for the last few months.
For background on these companies, see
Buying: local vs.
national below.
Don't ignore the fact that at CCSF our ITS department has negotiated special Microsoft and other
special software buys (this
includes Word and the other MS Office applications for home use).
National brands like Dell, Compaq, HP, and IBM (and Apple, of course)
get reviewed constantly in national media. they are held up to scrutiny
for reliability, quality, speed, frequency of repair, even the time you
can expect to wait on hold on their help lines.
PC Magazine,
PC World,
MacWorld and others review their
mail-order performance and policies. OmniPro, the vendor we have a
contract with, does not receive national reviews, but at CCSF we have had
consistently good service and support. Of the national vendors Dell (even
though their ratings have dropped lately) consistently rates in the top two for quality and reliability of
products and services.
The same is not true for local shops. If you want to buy from a local
vendor, get several references from satisfied customers before you do. And
don't expect the lowest prices. A really good small operation may be able
to give personal service, but severely cut prices are not a good sign.
When the Information Technology Services Department at CCSF, in
conjunction with the purchasing department, chose a local vendor for
faculty and staff, they tested systems from many local stores. Only one
stood out in quality, consistency and price.
The CCSF bookstore has decent prices for students, faculty, and staff.
Unfortunately, Apple's academic discounts are not what they used to be—not
the bookstore's fault. The staff is helpful, and knowledgeable about Apple
Macintosh systems. Check here when you are ready to buy a Mac.
They also provide a range of printers and other peripherals, and have, or
can order, software at academic prices. Never go impulse shopping for Mac
stuff—check the bookstore first.
CCSF no longer has a special contract with Dell
computers. However, this vendor has very good everyday prices available to
Higher Education Faculty, Staff and Students. Instructions below apply to
ordering a computer for home use.
For ordering a computer for your CCSF office using either option, see the how-to pages on Cathy Hennig's helpful (and pretty!) Web site at
http://www.ccsf.cc.ca.us/Services/Purchasing/How_to___/Order_a_Computer/order_a_computer.html.
(Cathy is CCSF's Purchasing Manager).
Faculty and staff (students are not included) can view
products and prices—and buy—on-line. For personal ordering just sign on to
Dell's site as a higher education user. Here's the procedure:
- Open your browser and, in the location or address
box, type
http://www.dell.com/html/us/segments/fss/loginmid.htm.
- Click Higher Education Faculty, Students, and
Staff
- Pick a model
- Select the options for your machine.
- Don't forget to click the Update Price button at the
bottom of the page each time you change options on your machine
- Print out the final configuration and keep it.
- Save your configuration as an equote and note the
number.
(This saves time if there are any hassles down the line.)
- Pay online with Visa or MasterCard.
Faculty and staff can view
products and prices on-line. A Help link on the CCSF page gives you access
to other information.
Here's the procedure for personal ordering:
- On the internet, go to
http://www.omnipro.us/ccsf/
- Select Desktop or Laptop model
- Limited additional configuration is available
Microsoft Deals
The big news is that CCSF now participates in the
Foundation for California Community Colleges' Microsoft software
agreement, which includes the latest versions of Office for Mac and PC 2002 (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). This
participation means that:
 | Departments can get the listed software FREE for CCSF computers.
|
| For home use, CCSF faculty and staff (but not, currently,
students) can get the listed software for what amounts to a service
charge of about $50. |
|
To get the details and an order form for ordering your
personal copy of the Microsoft products, go to the Foundation for
California Community College's forms page at
http://collegebuys.org/msca/1x5ccc-a.htm
or to the ITS department's Help Desk Forms page, at (http://www.ccsf.edu/Services/Help_Desk/html/forms.html).
Academic Discounts
In case you don't know, faculty, staff and students of
CCSF are entitled to academic prices on software from cooperating
companies. These are significantly lower than retail. Those expensive
Adobe products (PhotoShop, In Design, GoLive, Illustrator, PageMill, etc.)
are on the list.
| The CCSF Bookstore has a computer department that sells
software at academic prices. They have a good selection, knowledgeable
staff, and a convenient location. Call to see if they have, or can order,
what you want: (415) 452-5210. |
| Never presume that something isn't available: check with
the Bookstore before you buy somewhere else. |
| Some mail order sources also list academic pricing in
their catalogs, and even have academic departments. It's worth asking when
you call. |
|
|
Other Sources
Software One
If you want very knowledgeable help as well as academic
pricing, call Scott Fuhrmann (888) 217-9231 at Software One.
H Scott s reliable, charming, conscientious and knowledgeable. e is up on
the latest versions, and is especially good at sorting out questions in
the difficult area of multimedia. And Software One also has a lot of
vendors on tap.
|
