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Automatic
replacements Preferred
configurations Expectations and caveats FAQ
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Automatic Replacements: Preferred Equipment to Meet Continuing NeedsOur goal is to automatically replace eligible College-owned computers that are four years old or older, and eligible College-owned workgroup laserprinters that are six years old or older, depending on funding levels. All College-owned computers are inventoried and tagged with a Macalester identification number - look for a red-and-white tag reading "Property of Macalester College" that includes a five-digit number. This number allows us to query our inventory database and determine when the equipment was purchased, what funding source was used, etc. For Micro Fund-eligible equipment, we will contact you via e-mail during the year of eligibility to notify you and offer you choices for the replacement. These choices include several preferred configurations of frequently-ordered computers. You may also describe any needs you may have for equipment that exceeds these configurations. "How can I tell how old my computer is?" Look for the Macalester ID sticker on your computer. These are typically red, placed in a prominent position on the CPU (not the monitor), and have a five-digit number. Compare the ID number of your device with the ranges given below:
Not all College-owned computers are replaceable through the Micro Fund. ITS inventories all College-owned computers, but the Micro Fund replaces only a subset of these. Please feel free to call and inquire whether a particular computer is eligible for Micro Fund replacement - we'll need to know the ID number. The process shown above is based on the four-year life cycle of a Macalester computer. To calculate replacement targets for a workgroup laserprinter, on a six-year cycle, add two fiscal years to the result in the table above. For example, a computer with ID number 21400 will be automatically replaced in fiscal 2008-2009; a workgroup laserprinter with that same ID number would be automatically replaced in fiscal 2010-2011. Replacements take place throughout the year, in ascending order by ID number - higher numbers will be replaced later in the fiscal year. "What constitutes 'preferred equipment'?" See the next section, Preferred Configurations. Process. We will search our inventory of College-owned computers and identify those that are four years old or older. We will work to determine which ones are eligible for replacement through the Micro Fund. If your computer is eligible for automatic replacement, you will be contacted via e-mail and directed to a Web form listing your options. Most people will simply want the current version of whatever computer they're already using. In these cases, choose the regular automatic replacement. For example, a four-year-old laptop Windows PC would be replaced with a new laptop Windows PC. Regular automatic replacement is the default choice, and the appropriate one unless you wish to make a change. (Due to substantially higher costs, we will not purchase laptops for use by student employees.) If you do want to change from your current computer to another supported preferred configuration, there are multiple options to choose from. If you have special needs that exceed these configurations, there is an option to request a customized replacement computer. If you select this option, it is critical that you explicitly state what you need and why you need it. Special needs applications are carefully reviewed, and are not automatic. Deadline for response. The e-mail message notifying you of the impending replacement will contain a deadline for your reply. If you do not respond by that time, you will receive the current preferred version of your current equipment, as if you had checked "Automatic Replacement" on the Web form. In some cases it may be necessary to remove existing computers from service without replacement. If insufficient dollars remain in the Micro Fund to replace all eligible computers, we will strive first to replace computers in public and departmental labs, then individual faculty/staff workstations, and finally shared-use/student employee workstations. Early Replacement RequestsIf you wish to replace an existing computer or workgroup printer before the equipment has reached its standard end-of-life point (four years for computers, six years for workgroup printers), please complete and submit the form below. Early replacement is justified only in cases where existing equipment is not meeting your actual needs, and cannot be made to do so with upgraded RAM, repairs or troubleshooting. Because early replacement is a last resort, you should first discuss your needs with the appropriate ITS staff member. This form assumes that you are familiar with the information
outlined in the left column;
if you are not, please review it. If you are a staff member
and have questions about this page or any other aspect of the
Micro Fund, please contact David Sisk (sisk@macalester.edu,
H 307-A, x.6745). If you are a faculty member
and have questions, please contact your your divisional Academic
Information Associate: All fields are required.
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Macalester College · 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105 USA · 651-696-6000 |