Laptop Specifications

All Maine Maritime Academy students are required to have a Windows compatible laptop computer and printer.

The Maine Maritime Academy, Information Technology Department, now offers an optional Laptop Purchasing Program, which is provided by Lenovo.

This year there will be four choices of Lenovo laptops.

There will be a T410 model (which has a 14.1" screen) and a T510 model (which has a 15" screen). Each of these models will be come in either a basic or high end configuration.

All of the laptops will be bundled with a four year warranty, which includes Accidental Damage Protection, is serviceable on-site at MMA, is pre-configured with the Windows 7, has all of MMA's software packages pre-installed, and will be shipped directly to you.

You can purchase a laptop directly through Lenovo by clicking on the link below.

Maine Maritime Academy laptop ordering site - created and maintained by Lenovo.

Once at the Lenovo site you should first click on the 'New Users' link and create an account with Lenovo. From there you can click on the link under products, and either add our pre-configured model directly to your cart, or you can customize your purchase. Alternatively, you can call or email our Lenovo Sales Representative, Rovetta Edwards, directly at 919-804-6897, or 866-426-8334, ext. 2966896 or email Rovetta at Redwards@Lenovo.com

If you have any questions about the MMA Laptop Purchasing Program, or our current laptop purchasing guidelines and recommendations, please contact the MMA IT Helpdesk at 207-326-2240.

If you choose not to participate in the MMA Laptop Purchasing Program please use the following information to help you with your purchase.

Laptop guidelines and requirements:

SOFTWARE

It must be capable of running the latest version of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Power Point and Access.
Maine Maritime Academy's agreement with Microsoft allows us to provide MS Office Professional, Project and Visio for all students at no additional cost. Version upgrades to enrolled students are included as they become available. Upon graduation, the student retains the license to the software.

OPERATING SYSTEM

Windows 7 (any version)

HARD DRIVE

At least a 250 Gigabyte (GB) hard drive.

RAM

A minimum of 2 Gigabyte (GB) of RAM, but more is always better.

NETWORK HARDWARE

Both a wireless and wired Ethernet network connection are required. Make sure to bring an Ethernet cable.
Wired connection -- 10/100-BaseT-compatible interface with an Ethernet cable.
Wireless connection -- 802.11b/g-compatible wireless interface.

Most new laptops are now bundled with both wired and wireless interfaces.

CD-ROM DRIVE

A CD/DVD-ROM drive is required. A CD/DVD-RW drive (capable of reading and writing) is a good option for backing up laptop files and transferring large amounts of data.

Many new laptops offer a CD/DVD-RW upgrade at an affordable cost.

JUMP/THUMB/FLASH USB DRIVE

Some type of removable storage media is strongly recommended. These drives are available at virtually every computer box store as well as office supply store and are used for saving and transferring data from school computers to the student's laptop and back. These drives cost between $15 and $90, depending on the amount of storage purchased.

PRINTER

Inexpensive inkjet printers can be purchased for as little as $50. Consider the cost of consumables (ink cartridges, toner) when choosing a printer. Limited page per page printing is available in the Library and in the Curtis Hall Computer Lounge.

WARRANTY SERVICES

We strongly recommend the purchase of warranty service (up to four years if available) from the laptop manufacturer.

LAPTOP FAQ's :

General: Students should view their laptops as more of a tool than a toy. While Maine Maritime Academy does provide student technicians who are available in the IT Shop in Leavitt Hall, professional hardware technicians are not provided. We urge you to choose a reputable vendor, purchase a four year warranty, and use your laptop in a responsible manner.

Ethernet Card: We use standard Ethernet 10/100/1000 cabling. If you are purchasing a new laptop it may be more economical to purchase an internal (built in) Ethernet adaptor. If you have an older laptop without an Ethernet adapter, a PCM-CIA adapter can be purchased. This is a thin PC Card that slides into one of the slots on the side of the laptop. Internal (built in) versions allow for the network cable to be plugged directly into the laptop. PCM-CIA cards frequently require the network cable be plugged in to a "dongle". The "dongle" plugs into the card, and the network cable plugs into the "dongle". While both styles work well, we find that dongles are frequently lost or broken and recommend the direct plug-in style when at all possible.

Warrantees: Many people overlook the warranty support provided by their laptop’s manufacturer, often because of the cost involved (which can be up to another $300 for four years). Often laptops come with a one year warranty. After that, if the machine has any kind of a failure you must pay to repair it. We strongly recommend the purchase of a four year warranty, which includes Accidental Damage Coverage, with a new laptop. The money you spend on the warranty is much less than what you may have to spend on common repairs, like a new LCD display or new motherboard.

Service: MMA's technical services for student computers is limited to student technicians who are trained to troubleshoot basic software problems and assist students in setting up service calls for hardware repair. Some vendors require that laptops be shipped back to the factory, while others require that laptops be taken to the nearest authorized service center. The closest authorized service center for most vendors is in Bangor or Portland.

Choose your vendor and service level carefully for the best experience in case of trouble.

Many vendors offer on site service for their products - here is how it works.

Student calls vendor with a description of their problem, if required - vendor arranges for on site service. Vendor ships needed parts to their contracted service personnel.
Contracted service personnel receives part and contacts student to make arrangements to service computer at MMA.

Backups: Protecting your data is important. The purchase of a CD/DVD-RW drive or Flash/Jump/Thumb USB drive can make backing up your data much easier.