To make the search for a computer easier, Marquette has introduced a university-specific laptop this summer through a partnership with MPC Computers, formerly Omni-Tech Computers of Pewaukee, Wis.

For $1,399, students can purchase the lightweight laptop featuring a Marquette background and screensaver already configured for wireless and PrintWise. The model also includes a 40GB hard drive, DVD/CD-RW drive, and Windows XP Professional.

Marquette started looking into providing this service because parents and students were asking for a recommendation on what kind of computer to buy, according to Kathy Lang, chief information officer of Information Technology Services.

Lang said Marquette approached MPC because it already has a relationship with the company that provides computers for the university. MPC computers can be found at the library, computer labs and faculty offices.

"Our business relationship and service history provided comfortable ground to recommend their systems to our students," Lang said.

According to John Puffer, the MPC sales representative for Marquette, between 150 and 200 laptops have been purchased.

"I love it," said Rachel Muck, a College of Arts & Sciences freshman who bought one of the computers.

Muck said she first heard about the laptop deal from her mom, who works at Marquette, then became excited when she saw a presentation.

"I'm really glad I got it," she said. "I've seen some other kids who paid more for their laptops and I like mine better."

When first setting up and using her laptop on campus, Muck said she had no problems.

"Having the wireless already set up made it a lot easier," she said.

Since the laptop was first introduced to incoming freshmen at Preview, a weekend in the summer when freshman get a taste of Marquette before classes start, Puffer said he has been thinking about ways to market the technology to upperclassmen.

"We don't want to be annoying and seem like a spammer," he said. "However, the biggest advantage (for upperclassmen) is the warranty."

Puffer said MPC worked hard to offer a warranty for students that would last through their four years in college.

"It's a unique warranty, and from what I know, no one else does it," he said.

Per the warranty plan, if something goes wrong with the laptop, MPC will ship overnight a new laptop "shell" without the hard drive. The student switches the hard drive into the new laptop and sends back the damaged one.

"That way, the student can be up and running with their data in less than 24 hours," Puffer said.

Yorm Ackuaku, a junior in the College of Business Administration, said if she were to buy a new laptop, she would base her decision solely on where she could get the best deal.

"It wouldn't really matter to me to have a Marquette one," she said.

Lang said there should be no trouble using the laptop after graduation because the student actually owns the computer. The only caveat is the virus protection software preloaded onto the laptop.

"According to the university's licensing agreement with McAfee (a computer security software distributor), students must uninstall the virus software as soon as they are no longer associated with Marquette University as a student," Lang said.

Puffer stressed that MPC will continue to offer services to Marquette students, including the addition of a new, ultra-light laptop next month.

"This is an ongoing partnership — we're not going to disappear. We're going to continue to add more notebooks so students have more options and choices," he said.

For more information about buying a personal computer for school, visit www.marquette.edu/pages/home/its/help/computer/buyingpcs/studentpc.

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 6, 2005.