Computers, Software and Phones

Your Main Computer

The University has a contract with Hewlett Packard for the supply of standard Desktop PCs. There is one standard specification - see current HP standard PC specification for details.

Purchasing

PCs should be purchased from Hewlett Packard through IT Services.

Please email the Service Desk – servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk – for guidance before placing an order for a new computer. In your email, you should provide the following information:

• If the new PC is to replace an existing one, please tell us the number – eg CLSM-001234 – of the existing PC
• Please tell us if the new PC is for a new member of staff/PhD student
• If the new PC is for a new member of staff/PhD student, are they being allocated a desk that already has a PC on it?
  • If yes, please supply the number – eg CLSM-001234 – of the existing PC

The reason we ask you for this information is so that we can determine whether or not your new PC is to be funded by the University’s Technology Renewal Program (TRP). If it is, there will be no cost to you.

Setting up

Once you have submitted a purchase order for your new PC, our team will contact you to discuss any additional software and hardware requirements you may have. We will contact you to arrange a suitable time for delivery and installation of your new PC, deliver it to your office on the agreed date, and unpack, connect and test it for you.

Re-builds

If your existing PC needs to be rebuilt - eg to reinstall or upgrade your operating system, or version of MS Office - please email the Service Desk - servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk.

Non-Standard Desktop Computers

Requests for non-standard desktop PCs, eg additional RAM or a bigger hard drive, will be subject to a business case evaluation prior to purchase in order to identify support and compatibility issues. Our hardware purchasing team can provide advice and guidance - email servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk.

Departmental Laptops

University laptop purchases are made within the framework agreement of the National Desktop and Notebook Agreement (NDNA). Details of recommended and supported Toshiba laptop models are available on the Getech website. Getech offers a 3 year collect and return warranty in the UK on Toshiba laptops supplied under the NDNA Agreement. For further information or queries regarding orders and purchasing, contact servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk.

Netbooks

Netbooks do not feature at the core of the University technology strategy and are regarded as a complimentary tool to a desktop computer as Laptops are already deemed to meet a user’s mobile computing requirements. Please see the Netbook Policy for further guidance.

Macs

The proposed purchase of an Apple computer should be raised with IT Services in advance and must be justified on a business needs basis. Please see the University Mac Policy for further guidance.

Computer Replacement and Disposal

All main computers, are usually replaced at the end of the machine’s warrant period (ie PCs and Macs every 4 years, laptops every 3 years). You will be contacted when your computer is due to be replaced. We will uplift your old PC, remove files and arrange for disposal.

Purchasing Hardware

Your main staff computer is supplied via a central IT budget – see above. If you require additional resources for work, you can purchase these though our Service Desk - contact servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk.

The University does not support the purchasing of personal resources.

Standard Software Installations

We will setup your UoA PC with standard software, including email & calendaring, drivers for multi functional devices, and anti-virus software. The software provided will depend upon your college or admin unit. See University standard software installations for details.

Purchasing Non-Standard Software for Departmental Use

The CHEST Microsoft Select 6 agreement covers most items of Microsoft software. To view the main products covered by the agreement, see Current software portfolio. Many other products are available - contact servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk for a current list.

Purchasing Software for Use on Home PCs/Personal Laptops

A wide range of software is available to purchase for personal use (ie on home PC or personal laptop) by staff and students at educational discount prices. However, you must make such purchases yourself as we do not deal with the purchasing of software for personal devices. For full information on all the products available, check www.pugh.co.uk for current prices, contact servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk in the first instance.

Microsoft Office for personal use

Microsoft has changed its distribution policy for Office Work at Home Media. We are currently negotiating a new service that will distribute the software electronically to staff upon request via direct download. You will be able to access the software securely using you university username and password.

We hope to announce the new service soon.

If you require MS Office installed on a University domain PC, Mac or networked laptop, please contact servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk.

Software Download Service

The Software Download Service allows you to download and install some of the software packages for which the University holds a site licence onto your personal computer.

Always check the license terms for each package to see if you are eligible to use it.

Analogue Phones

Staff are provided with an analogue telephone and line on request. Lines are normally provided with Direct Dial-in (DDI) unless the telephone is to be restricted to internal calls. The department requesting the service is responsible for all associated costs - see current charges.

Telephone user guides are available to download from our fact sheets page on the IT Services website.

To report faults or for directory enquiries:

• On campus: for fault report, queries or internal directory enquiries, dial 0 to contact the operators
• Off campus: The University switchboard can be contacted on +44 (0) 1224 272000

Corporate Mobile Devices

Corporate mobile devices and services must be purchased through IT Services. To request a mobile device, please download and complete a request form and return it to Lynne Kirton, IT Services, Edward Wright Building. Devices are purchased on contract for a period of 24 months.

Services include:

• Connection to the mobile provider’s network, currently Orange
• Supply of devices. The following devices are available as part of our Orange corporate contract. Please note that prices are exclusive of VAT:
  • HTC Radar, £250
  • Nokia C1-02, £40
  • Orange Atlanta, £40
  • Samsung Solid Xcover, £60
  • Apple iPhone 4 8GB, £370
  • Applie iPhone 4S 16GB, £450
• Configuration of University supplied devices to connect to the University wireless network and for email, calendaring and contacts access via Microsoft Exchange - see our fact sheets web pagefor details
• Arranging for device repairs, upgrades and replacements
• Managing billing, ensuring call charges are attributed to the appropriate ledger code current tariffs

University mobile guides are available to download from our fact sheets page on the IT Services website.

Note: The University will not reimburse you for hiring, leasing or purchasing such equipment of your own.

Costs for occasional ‘work’ calls (but not line rental or equipment costs) made on personal mobile devices may be claimed back on expenses (these must be supported by an itemised bill, with the relevant calls highlighted); however, overuse of this facility will be deemed as a deliberate attempt to circumvent the above requirements. See the Mobile Telephones Section of the University Expenses and Benefits Policy.

Privately Owned Devices and MS Exchange

You can use privately owned iPhones, Androids, and Windows Mobiles to connect to Microsoft Exchange for Outlook email, calendaring and contacts. See our fact sheets on the IT Services website for guidance on configuring your device.

Blackberry

We do not currently support Blackberries - beyond our usual best efforts policy - as they do not interface directly with the Exchange server. This means that it is not possible to offer the same level of service (eg push email, calendaring etc) as with devices such as Windows mobiles, iPhones and Androids.

It may be possible to interface the device with the user’s PC so that they can update their calendar and contacts via a USB cable, and to obtain email via the web interface or a secure IMAP link. If neither of these options work, we can set up mail forwarding to an external account readable via the device.

Please note: We can only offer this additional service at our discretion, and timescale to complete will depend on competing priorities within scope of roles and responsibilities.