Texas Tech Laptop Requirements

[chemgirl78]

Hi guys,

Ok so, i have heard and read that Texas tech requires students to buy or have dell laptops in order to have access to the school's network. It also says that Macintosh are not allowed and acceptable.
I personally have a Macbook, and do not want to have to buy a new computer when i just recently got my Mac. I think this policy is a bit restrictive and not considering of students at all.
My question is, is there any current Texas Tech Pharm Student out there who can shed some light onto this topic? Also, do you know anyone who uses a Macbook and found a way to by-pass this problem?

Thanks in advance.🙂

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[Dezixn]

They went over a lot of this at my interview.

You don't have to buy a new dell... it's just recommended, take a look at the PDF for laptop requirements. Somewhere in the bootcamp section or academics section on their website.

They said they require a certain operating system because you take tests on your laptop in class with some sort of "lockdown" program activated.
So by all means, use your mac, but you have to take tests on you windows machine.

 

[ShadowRX]

I'll confirm with Dezixn that this is true - after the techs told us that they "highly recommend" getting one of their custom Dells, the Q & A with the pharmacy students later that day confirmed that we don't need to buy Dell, and that the techs don't really do much for you.

Of course, if you know what you're doing with computers (and I mean, you know how to code or you know IT), you can get whatever laptop you want and service it yourself (which I plan on doing if accepted to TTUHSC). However, your stating that you have a Macbook says other things, and I don't feel like insulting you or the majority of today's Macbook owners (quieted, reserved lol).

But, for the love of God, DO NOT INSTALL MCAFEE! That thing just pretty much holds viruses like catching a oiled-up pig in a muddy pigpen - ain't gonna hold it for long at all.

 

[themulya]

Yea you do not need to buy the laptop they suggest that you buy, and the IT people pretty much know how to reformat your computer and thats about it.

You can use a Mac to take notes, listen to lectures and pretty much do everything you need to do on a day to day basis.

However heres the problem with a Mac. We take tests using a browser called Lockdown browser. This program will not allow you to open any other program on your computer. When I entered the school last year they told us that Macs have the ability to subvert the lockdown and be able to access their notes or other programs that might enable them to cheat. Thus meaning that the professors would ban us from using Macs on tests. However talking to some P2's, I've been told that they can use Macs and that that story was made up or you had to be some type of super programmer to get through lockdown. We also have this program called RX30 which we use our spring semester in lab. This will not work on a Mac (unless again you have some sort of knowledge on how to make the program believe its running on windows but really its running on a Mac, sorry I'm not that computer savvy. ) I've also been told that Macs crash a lot while running Lockdown, so it may be best to have a PC to take your tests.

There's talk that the school is trying to get more PC oriented and in the future may require PCs. I cannot confidently say that your Mac will satisfy every task that the school requires. Do you have an old PC laptop that you can send in? All it would need to run is lockdown and rx30 and both are pretty simple programs. If you don't, the school gives you a discount to the dell website that you are supposed to enter when you buy the computer that they want you to buy, but you can use it for any computer on the dell website. So you can get a cheap Dell that way, or you could just go to Wal-Mart and buy some cheap basic PC.

 

[ShadowRX]

I'd just steer clear from Dell altogether. Lousy customer service, I heard.

HP's quality and customer service are on the up and up. Toshiba has always been a great option for both quality, customer service, and innovation.

For cheap laptops, Acer or MSI are your best bet.

 

[Dezixn]

Actually they said that Macafee has to be installed to connect to their school network.
As in the network checks to make sure you have macafee... Pretty lame.

And I don't know why you think you have to know how to code or be in IT to service your own laptop. I know neither and can take care of my laptop just fine.

 

[ShadowRX]

A lot of people don't know how to service their own. Seemed like a lot of people that I interviewed with did not know how.

I covered a bit deeper when it came to expertise, sorry. Just to be on the safe side.

 

[Dezixn]

A lot of people don't know how to service their own. Seemed like a lot of people that I interviewed with did not know how.

I covered a bit deeper when it came to expertise, sorry. Just to be on the safe side.

I just thought it was weird you mentioned coding lol...

 

[ShadowRX]

Well, most of the time if you know coding, it'll help to deal with "/system" issues. No need to eff up if you know coding.