Stanford has taken a big step toward streamlining its computer- support demands by entering into an agreement with Dell Computers, campus networking officials say.
"This entire effort really came out of a drive to find ways to make Stanford's computing environment more manageable," says Tony Navarrete, information systems project manager for Information Technology Systems and Services (ITSS). "We found we could reduce technical support costs by reducing the number of laptop and desktop configurations in use on campus."
The Stanford-Dell Computer Purchase Program, which offers substantial savings to members of the university for their office and home needs and eliminates Stanford as a middleman, was launched recently.
Through a Campus Wide Agreement (CWA) coordinated through the Procurement Department and ITSS, various Dell bundles (or pre-configured computers that contain various applications) are available. Normally when computers are purchased, the procurement office staff review the order and sometimes recommend other brands at better prices.
With a CWA, the red tape is scaled back, since in a sense Dell items and prices have been pre-approved. University staff can learn more about the program by visiting www.stanford.edu/home/computing/purchasing_a_computer.html and clicking on the link to the Stanford-Dell Computer Purchase Program.
And cost breaks are significant. Normally higher education discounts run about 2 percent of retail. Stanford's agreement with Dell provides for "several times" that amount in savings, Navarrete says.
Bids came in from several computer companies, and Dell was settled on as the choice for Stanford because of cost, service, maintenance and support, says Jan Cicero, director of ITSS's Computer Resource Center.
"We will continually evaluate the bundles and we'll tweak and change bundles as new equipment comes in," Cicero says.
The program is not an effort to phase out Apple computers at Stanford, Navarrete and Cicero say. Of the 30,000 computers at the university, about 35 percent are Macs and 65 percent are PCs.
"We are trying to make life simpler for folks buying computers on campus," says Navarrete. "This is the start of an ongoing program it's not a one-month sale or anything like that,"
At a Dell computer demonstration day
held at Tresidder Union on May 23, about 250 members of the
Stanford community were able to preview the three laptop and three
desktop bundles that can be ordered. Of the 11 models on the floor,
five were sold. SR