How to get Software

Now that you have a computer, you're going to need software.  Contrary to what many people assume, no computer purchased through Microcomputer Services comes with Microsoft Office or any other business application suite preinstalled.

Our IT Annual Purchase program adds to this confusion because we go to great lengths to make sure that those computers arrive in as "Ready To Go" a state as possible including software.  We have Microcomputer Services preinstall Microsoft Office and the UVM Internet Software Suite on all our machines to save us the trouble of having to do it ourselves.

Please follow these general guidelines in purchasing software:

• Get Educational Pricing
  As in purchasing hardware and accessories, you should NEVER pay full price for anything because we are a large public institution.  The Bookstore has many popular software titles in stock and can special order from thousands more.  All are at educational pricing.  Many times it is cheaper to purchase a new copy of a given package at educational pricing than it is to buy the upgrade to that product at regular retail prices.
• Research existing license agreements
  UVM has existing license agreements for many popular applications.  Most are set up on a "pay as you go" basis.  This means that although the software is not free, it is available at a very reasonable cost.
• Have realistic support expectations
  Computing Services and UVM cannot support every software application in existance.  If a particular package is necessary for your area of research or teaching, and is not on the CIT list of supported software,  then the onus of learning and using the software falls on your shoulders.  We would be happy to assist you in deciding if you have the minimum requirements for a given package, or in getting the software installed and running.  However, we simply cannot afford to go beyond this level.  Expect to establish your own contacts with the developer's technical support staff.

Last modified September 12 2012 03:30 PM