Quick Fact Sheet

Q: What is the Apple Back-to-school special this year?
A: If you buy an Apple laptop, you receive a rebate check from Apple for a free 8GB Ipod Touch. Please see the next question as to how it works.  If you’d rather have an Ipod Nano 8 or 16, or a 4GB Shuffle, you can apply your rebate and get one free. If you’d rather upgrade to a Ipod Touch 16 or 32, or an Ipod Classic, you can apply your rebate and get $229 off of the retail price.

Q: How do I get my iPod rebate?
A: You buy the laptop and Ipod together at full price from us. Instructions on how to claim the rebate from the Apple website will be stapled to your invoice. Basically, you go to the Apple website, fill out a form and print it out, and send the form along with the UPCs from your new laptop and Ipod to Apple. So DON’T THROW YOUR PACKAGING AWAY. They’ll send you a check in 6-8 weeks. The promotion begins on May 27, and ends on September 8, 2009. You have until October 6 to get your rebate form and UPCs postmarked and in the mail to Apple.   Apple’s FAQ is available here.

Q: When will you be accepting orders?
A: Orders are being accepted and shipped now, and we’ll ship orders to your home until August 25.  After August 25, we’ll hold laptops here, and you can pick them up on September 6 in Reamer Campus Center Room 203 or by appointment. 

Q: Is there a good reason to wait to order?
A: Not at this point.

Q: Do I have to pay New York State sales tax?
A: Yes, if you plan to receive your laptop upon arrival.  New York State sales tax is charge on merchandise picked up in New York state.  Customers who buy laptop online and have it shipped out of state pay no sales tax.

Q: Will the entire bundle be shipped?
A: Everything but printers, speakers, external hard drives and Adobe Software.  Pick-ups for anything not shipped, including printers and external hard drives, will be on September 6 in Reamer Campus Center Room 203 or by appointment.

Q: Why won’t you ship my Adobe software?
A: Our licensing agreement with Adobe requires students to show a Union ID and sign their names before receiving any of the Adobe student license software.

Q: Where are my disks?
A: With the exception of MS Mac:Office 2008, the bundled software is sold with a “no media” software license.  If the software needs to be re-installed, it will be done at the bookstore.  System restore disks are available from Lenovo.

Q:  What is covered by the Lenovo warranty?
A:  The 4-year Lenovo warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship, as well as most damage due to drops, spills, and such.  Final determination is up to IBM/Lenovo, and details can be found online here.

Q:  What is NOT covered by the Lenovo warranty?
A:   Theft, loss, fire and weather damage, and purposefully-inflicted damage.  Also data corruption or loss, software damage caused by spyware, viruses, malware, misconfiguration or incompatibilities.  The Bookstore will recover/backup data, when possible for a discounted fee.  Virus/malware removal is also available for a discounted fee.  Software reloads not dictated by hardware failure will be assessed a discounted fee after the first instance.

Q:  What is covered by the Apple warranty, provided by CBE Technologies?
A:  The 3-year CBE Technologies warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for 1 year, and damage due to drops, spills and such for 3 years, up to the cost of the laptop.  Final determination is up to CBE Technologies.  Details can be found here.

Q: What is NOT covered by the Apple warranty, provided by CBE Technologies?
A: Theft, loss, fire and weather damage, and purposefully-inflicted damage, as well as any damage greater than the cost of the laptop or hardware defects over the cost of the laptop after the first year. Also data corruption or loss, software damage caused by spyware, viruses, malware, misconfiguration or incompatibilities.  The Bookstore will recover/backup data, when possible for a discounted fee.  Virus/malware removal is also available for a discounted fee.  Software reloads not dictated by hardware failure will be assessed a discounted fee after the first instance.

Q: Are Apple computers supported as strongly as Windows computers on campus?
A: Yes.  In fact, within the next couple of years, I would guess more faculty and students will be using Apples than Windows computers.

Q: Does the loaner program come with any caveats?
A: A few. Loaners are in extremely high demand the first week of school and the first week back from winter break.  While we haven’t run out yet, it’s possible we may not have a loaner available.  If you have a problem with your computer over winter break or before school begins, we recommend you call us so we can get it resolved before you get here.  Loaners are only available to students who are currently enrolled and on-campus.  Students are responsible for loaner laptops until they’re returned to the bookstore, including for any damage incurred, loss, or theft.

Q: The Lenovo T400 looks like a good computer, but isn’t it light on RAM?
A: It’s got enough RAM to start out with, but if you’re an engineering student or a gamer, you’ll need more.  We’re selling it with 2GB to keep the price down, but if you come in to the bookstore after the first 2 weeks of school, we’ll upgrade you for a very reasonable price.

Q: Which laptop is right for me?
A: If you’re an engineering student or a gamer, go with either the T400 or the Macbook Pro.  If you choose the Macbook Pro, wait for Windows 7 to arrive before installing Boot Camp.  You won’t need any Windows-only programs for your first few semesters.  If you’re into editing movies, music, or pictures, the Macbook Pro’s for you.  If you want a good all-around laptop that will last you for 4 years, stick with the T400 or the aluminum Macbook.  And if you just want a laptop to type your papers and check your email on, the white Macbook is just about perfect.

Q: Which printer do you recommend, the HP or the Canon?
A: This one’s a personal decision. We chose these two printers because their cost and value are about equal and HP and Canon are the two most popular printer brands today.

Q: I’d like to buy my laptop somewhere else, but buy the service through you. Can I do that?
A: I’m sorry, no.  We would have to perform a physical inspection of every laptop, and we’re only two people.  We provide the exceptional service that we do by keeping things fairly standardized.

Q: We’re going to be visiting Union this summer, can we stop by?
A: Absolutely!  The bookstore is open during the school year Monday to Friday, 8:45 to 4:30, and Saturdays from 11:00 to 3:00.  After graduation on June 14, we’ll be open 8:15 to 4:00, Monday – Friday.  Come on up to the 2^nd floor of the bookstore, in the Reamer Campus Center, to check out the laptops in person and our other accessories.