The laptop store is now open. You can find specific Hardware, Software and pricing info here:
http://computerstore.psu.edu/arch/archrecommend.htm
The Department of Architecture will be requiring second-year students to purchase their own laptops of a specified configuration starting fall of 2006. While this requirement is new to Penn State's Department of Architecture, it is quite common across other Architecture programs in the United States and Canada. Requiring students to supply the means for their basic computing allows the department to invest its resources into higher-end devices and capabilities. Click here to view the letter sent this spring to all incoming first year students.
The laptop requirement will be necessary for effective participation in the department's digital-based design and fabrication studio program. Projects across the curriculum will assume that all students have access to computer-based tools (laptops) in their studio workspace. Additionally, the pervasive wireless environment of the new Stuckeman Building will enable mobility between classes, studio space, the lawn, workgroup areas, and model shop with digital fabrication facilities in the future.
As a result of the requirement, architecture computing facilities will be focusing on providing services and capabilities that students do not have available at their individual computers (scanners, printers, plotters, laser cutters, CNC and digital fabrication machines, rendering farms, advanced visualization environments, etc.). Centralized systems will be maintained for computationally intensive tasks such as video and rendering.
The department has carefully reviewed computing options and has recommended Apple MacBooks to provide the most appropriate computer system that will integrate with both departmental and University systems. Criteria included price/value, support, value-added features, ease of use, and upgrade options. Click here to view the specifications.
Students who bring other laptop brands and models of comparable performance to the recommended MacBooks can participate in the laptop initiative. If you bring a Windows laptop, expect to be more self-taught than your classmates, and be ready to find alternatives if your laptop does not work with departmental resources. In other words, the department cannot guarantee the same level of connectivity and service with Windows laptops as we can with Macs.
All orientation, documentation and training for use of Architecture systems will take place for the specified laptop model.
Initiative Details
Neither the Department of Architecture nor the College of Arts and Architecture receive any financial benefit from this initiative. Rather, the Department hopes that a laptop requirement will provide a better environment for learning within the new building as well as allow it to refocus efforts from providing basic computing to providing higher end computing.
The laptop initiative is a cooperation between the Department of Architecture, Information Technology Services at Penn State (ITS), Apple, and Arts & Architecture Information Technology.
Software
Although we are in negotiations with vendors to allow the distribution of software to participants in the laptop program, FormZ is the only application we are legally allowed to distribute today. FormZ will be made available at no cost to students. Students are required to purchase other software they will use. Here is a list of the recommended applications to purchase:
-Creative Suite 3 Design Standard or Design Premium
-Microsoft Office 2008
It is recommended that you purchase the software packages from the computer store to receive the educational discount. The prices of these software packages can be found at http://computerstore.psu.edu
The Apple agreement with Penn State allows for free upgrades to Students for the Apple OS (ex 10.4 to 10.5) up through graduation. However, you can only obtain this through purchasing installation disks that are available at the Computer Store for a small fee.
In addition to the software recommened above here is a list of free sofware you can download :
- Ani-Virus Software, Web browers, etc: http://downloads.its.psu.edu
-Archicad: http://www.graphisoft.com/community/education/downloads/
-Sketchup: http://sketchup.google.com/download.html
-AutoDesk/Revit: http://students6.autodesk.com/
-Blender: http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/
-NeoOffice(Microsoft Office Substitute): http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php
-Nvu(web page editor): http://www.nvu.com/index.php
-Audacity(sound editor): http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
-Avid Free DV(video editor): http://www.avid.com/products/freedv/index.asp
-LiquidCD(burning software): http://www.maconnect.ch/index.php?page=liquidcd&lang=en
-iBackup(backup utility for those with external drives): http://www.grapefruit.ch/iBackup/
-CoconutBattery(battery life utility): http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/
-Flip4Mac(WMV player): http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv_download.htm
-Stuffit Expander: http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/exp-downloadv.html
-DivX(DivX player): http://www.divx.com/
-TextWrangler(text editor): http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/download.shtml
-MorphX(transforms one image to another): http://www.norrkross.com/software/morphx/download.php
-Google Earth: http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html
Pervasive Computing Environment
The entire Stuckeman Building and part of the surrounding area will, as of Fall 2006, be tied into the Penn State wireless system in the near future, and will be available to all Penn State users with 802.11b or 802.11g wireless cards. There will also be a large number of wired ports specifically for registered Penn State Students with computers. These are available throughout the studio areas and throughout rest of the building for those times when wireless is just not fast enough. These cables are marked with red tape.
Apple Student Representative
Apple has committed to funding an Apple student representative within the College of Arts & Architecture. This person will provide leadership towards the success of the initiative from a student perspective. Given that Architecture has the only laptop initiative in the college, the student rep will be housed within Architecture at least for the first few years.
Orientation
An orientation session will be held for new laptop users at the beginning of fall semester. Coverage will include how to install Penn State software, how to access departmental resources, how to print, troubleshooting laptop problems, and other topics of interest. Documentation will be available based on the use of the required laptop model.
Printing
Access to large format and specialty printers will be available on a cost-recovery basis, which means that the Architecture Department does not profit from the fees students will pay for printing using Department-owned printing.
Loaner Laptops
Laptops will be available for check out in case of emergencies.
Special Pricing
Special pricing and a bundled package are available for the recommended laptop models through the Penn State Computer Store.
Help Avenues
Arts & Architecture IT has dedicated a staff member half time to help with the laptop initiative. Documentation and training seminars will also be available throughout the year. Please remember that this staff member will provide only limited service for students who choose to purchase Windows machines or those that choose to run Windows on their Intel Mac's.
For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Question Page.
The laptop initiative is a cooperation between the Department of Architecture, and Information Technology Services at Penn State (ITS), Apple, and the College of Arts and Architecture. Neither the Departments of Architecture, ITS, nor the College of Arts and Architecture is receiving any financial benefit from the initiative.
