New CCI laptop models are ready for order

All Carolina Computing Initiative laptops are now in stock, after the release of the new Apple MacBook Pro models caused a delay.

The distribution of the new MacBooks to incoming students began at this week’s New Student Orientation.

Incoming students whose computers had not arrived when they attended orientation must pick them up at a later date, said David Eckert, CCI program manager.

In years past, all laptops would have been handed out to new students at their orientation. This year, the late introduction of the newest models of both Lenovo ThinkPads and MacBooks forced changes in the schedule.

“These babies are less than a week old,” said John Gorsuch, director of UNC Student Stores, about the new MacBooks.

The new models of MacBooks, which were introduced by Apple on June 11, are faster and offer more processing power than the previous models.

Students ordering their laptops through CCI will receive the standard 13 or 15-inch MacBook Pro, rather than the more advanced 15-inch model. The more advanced model is slimmer and features a high-resolution retina display.

Intel introduced new processors that give the new models from Apple and Lenovo greater processing power and use less energy.

The cheapest laptop available through the program is the $1,303 ThinkPad T430, which can be paid for entirely by a CCI grant, according to Gorsuch.

CCI is also offering two other types of Lenovo laptops and a tablet.

The cheapest MacBook available, the 13-inch MacBook Pro, costs $339 more than the T430.

The University began requiring all undergraduates to purchase laptops in 2000, and CCI has offered laptop packages to all incoming students since then. The package includes software and a four-year warranty.

Gorsuch said students should get their laptops through the CCI program; citing cost, special four-year insurance and warranty offered by the program, access to loaner computers and the full services of 24-hour on-campus tech support.

Incoming freshman Alexis Petteway bought her laptop through CCI because of this support.

“Knowing that I had a backup if the computer was broken or stolen or anything — that was really reassuring,” she said.

Some incoming students prefer to buy their laptops independently due to limited selection.

Last year was the first year the program offered Apple laptops and Eckert said students bought the same number of MacBooks as Lenovos.

The data on sales for this year’s models is not yet available because not all computers have been ordered yet. Many laptops are ordered in August before the start of classes.

Many students said they choose Lenovo or Apple based on their familiarity with the software.

“I didn’t want to come to college and switch over,” said incoming freshman Jack Harrison, who purchased a Lenovo.

Petteway instead chose a MacBook Pro because of its convenience and popularity.

“I felt it was easier to use, and a lot of people are getting them now,” she said.

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