In order to establish a core foundation for the laptop required program, the Carl H. Lindner College of Business (LCB) has partnered with Lenovo, Apple, the University of Cincinnati Bookstore and CDW-G to offer every student the opportunity to purchase a prepackaged, fully configured Lenovo or Apple laptop. For more information on the program, please see our Lindner Laptop Purchase Program web page.

The Lindner College of Business (LCB) offers as a service to our students, complete pre-configured laptops that take advantage of the best academic pricing available. However, students are not required to purchase a laptop through our program as long as the equipment the student brings meets or exceeds the requirements the College has set. Any equipment purchased outside of the Lindner Laptop Purchase Program will be supported but may not fall under our repair agreement with the vendors; hence, preventing the LCB Service Desk from authorized repair of a student’s laptop and allowing for a loaner laptop to be checked out.

Students can use their existing laptop or mobile workstation as long as it meets the minimum specifications set by the College and is able to run any software required by the program. The key benefit of purchasing a recommended model through the program is the support structure. The LCB Service Desk and the University Bookstore will be able to help facilitate a depot return for repair if the laptop was purchased through the program. This will eliminate the students need to go off campus to a costly repair center or sending their hardware back to the manufacturer for repair.

The Lindner College of Business does not support the use of an iPad in place of a laptop. While we feel the iPad is an excellent device to use complimentary to your laptop, it has large disadvantages if being used as your only device.

• iPads do not have the processing power of a traditional machine.
  
• The iPad doesn't give you direct access to its file system making it sometimes impossible to access your files when network access isn't available.
  
• The iPad has a limitation on software compatibility. While apps are available through Apple's App Store, many required business applications are not. This leaves you at a huge disadvantage when daily course work requires these applications.
  
• There is no USB port, making it difficult to transfer materials from one device to another.
• iPads lack a keyboard which make it very difficult to write long research papers.
  

Faculty, Staff and Students at the University of Cincinnati (UC) can purchase software from the UC Bookstore at a discounted rate. The bookstore's computer department is located on the 3rd level of the Tangeman University Center on UC's west campus. Please use the following links to determine the discounts offered:

• Adobe Software
• Microsoft Software and Operating Systems
• Statistical Software

Also, please visit our Software page for a more comprehensive list of software and means for aquiring some of those special pieces that may be needed for your classes.

Since a laptop is required by the Lindner College of Business, students may be able to include this cost in their financial aid needs. For system costs, we recommend consulting the Lindner Laptop Purchase Program which provides purchase options that meet the college requirements. For more information about the financial aid process, please view the Student Financial Aid website, or call 513-556-1000. The only financial aid application needed at the University of Cincinnati is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Lindner College of Business (LCB) Service Desk offers full hardware depot support to students that take part in Lindner Laptop Purchase Program that purchase as long as the machine is under warranty. As part of the program, when a student's machine needs to be sent in for repair, the student may be offered a loaner laptop during the repair period.

Any equipment purchased outside of the Lindner Laptop Purchase Program will be supported with respect to connecting to the network, printing to the labs and software assistance but may not fall under our repair agreement with the vendors. Hence, this would prevent the LCB Service Desk from facilitating an authorized repair of a student’s laptop and allowing for a loaner laptop to be checked out.

Please see our Support Page for more information about your support options.

Under no circumstance will the LCB Service Desk be responsible for backing up any data on a student laptop. The backup process will remain the responsibility of each individual student. The LCB Service Desk does provide documentation and will offer advice to help students understand the steps that need to be taken for secure and complete data backup of their device. Additional backup information may be found here.