Laptop Requirements Academic Year 2008-2009

The University of Houston Law Center has a mandatory laptop requirement for incoming first-year J.D. students. (LL.M students are not required to purchase, but are encouraged to have a laptop.) We strongly recommend that you purchase the Dell or Apple computers listed below. We have worked with Dell and Apple computer to provide our students with laptops that will meet the demands of three years of law school and integrate with our network here at the Law Center. Dell and Apple have provided the best, most comprehensive warranty programs that meet our requirements, in addition our staff members are certified Dell technicians so that they can provide warranty service to students in the most expeditious manner possible. Below is our support policy regarding laptops.

1. For students purchasing a Dell or Apple laptop that is available through our web site, we will offer the full range of technical support.

2. If you purchase a laptop other than the Dell or Apple models available through our web site, due to the variety of software and hardware configurations, we cannot guarantee that your laptop will work on the network. Our staff will not be providing support for the configuration of the laptop. "Not providing support" includes but is not limited to: installing a wireless card and configuring your laptop for the network or installing any software necessary to connect. You will have to configure your laptop yourself; instructions and details of what is involved are available online at http://www.law.uh.edu/lit. Some combinations of wireless cards, software, and laptops may not connect to or may not perform well on the Law Center's wireless network.

3. The Dell and Apple laptops purchased through our web site have 3-year warranty. If you do not have a similar warranty on your laptop, you are strongly urged to consider purchasing one.

4. Please be aware that manufacturer warranties, including Dell's and Apple’s, do not protect against theft of the laptop. Although theft may be covered under some homeowner/renter's policies, depending on the circumstances, we understand that such policies may be difficult for Texas students to acquire. Students should thus be aware that there is at least one company (Travelers) who, we believe, is still writing laptop insurance. This insurance plan provides coverage against damage to the laptop as well as theft. We have been informed that the insurance might cost about $310 to insure a $2,000 laptop for two years. It is important to note that much of the cost of this policy goes to paying for the risk of damage as opposed to the risk of theft and thus, for students worried mostly about damage, this policy is overkill and duplicative. It is also important to note that this policy, like all insurance policies, contains important exclusions and limitations. You are urged to study the policy and understand its coverage before paying for it and relying on it. The Law Center takes no position on whether acquisition of laptop insurance is a good idea. Interested students may wish to contact Janet Morin, at RC Knox & Company, 800-619-0083 to learn more about the policy.

5. The Dell and Apple laptops purchased through our web site are configured to get a student through three years of law school. A less powerful or less reliable machine may not be useful three years from now. Each year we examine the changes in technology hardware, software and pricing, and configure laptops that will meet the needs of the majority of students now and also in three years. We work to find a balance between price and features to meet the computer needs of the majority of law students.

The University of Houston has negotiated with Dell and Apple Computer to provide high quality machines at deeply discounted prices. These machines are now available for order by any University of Houston law student. In addition, any add-ons or upgrades can be purchased on the Dell or Apple UH Law Center purchasing site. If you have any additional questions about any of the above, please contact us at http://www.law.uh.edu/helpform.

*Please note that you will want to purchase the floppy disk as an option so you can take your exams on your laptop.

You are also eligible to purchase Microsoft Office at the Cougarbyte, the campus computing store, for $7 a cd (total 3 cd's), a substantial saving from retail, Cougarbyte is located at the University Center and online at http://www.cougarbyte.com/

Microsoft XP Home, Vista Home Basic and Home Premium will NOT work on our network. You will need to purchase XP Professional, Vista Bushiness, or Vista Ultimate, all of which are available to students at a discounted rate at the Cougarbyte.

If you have any additional questions about any of the above, please contact us here.

Financial Aid Information: 1-L law students who qualify for financial aid will have their budget automatically increased by $2150 to finance the laptop purchase. This increase to the aid package may be used only ONCE in the student's law school career.

LL.M's who qualify for financial aid may also use the option of increasing the financial aid package by $2150.

More information on financial aid is available from the Financial Aid office at lawfinaid@uh.edu.