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Last month, ITS and the Contracting and Purchasing Services
Department issued joint advice to wait until May or June on computer
purchases based on the expected expiration of our Dell contract. That
situation has changed. NAU is now extending its Windows computing
contract with Dell for another year. This means that, with one exception
below, campus departments can now comfortably proceed with intended
computer purchases as soon as they are ready.
Thin Client Exception: ITS is in the
process of determining and recommending a thin client solution for very
basic, standard computing applications at NAU. Thin clients might be
suitable for labs, counter systems, and basic administrative systems
that do not need to run any unique software and that are fine with the
standard NAU image. That image provides a standard Windows computing
environment including web browsing and Microsoft Office.
ITS will have the thin client recommendation ready by
May. Departments that wish to save money by purchasing thin clients
where applicable should still wait on that portion of their purchase
until then.
Bulk Buys: Our current contract with
Dell allows for further discounts on bulk buys of similarly configured
systems in amounts of 30 or more. ITS has proposed a mainstream and a
budget configuration that many campus departments can use so that they
might qualify for further discounts. Those configurations have been
entered on the Dell Premier ordering site available through the Purchasing Department’s computer buying web page.
Additionally, custom-configured systems may be purchased in
bulk as well in quantities of 30 or more similarly configured systems.
Those purchases need to be coordinated with Dell in advance. If you
have any questions concerning this advice, or would like consultation
regarding computer purchases, or would like to coordinate a bulk buy
including by combining smaller groups of computers into a larger order,
please contact Ricky Roberts at (928) 523-6950 or through e-mail.