Laptops Just a Checkout Away!
Due to the wonderful generosity of the Students Services Committee, Office of Student Affairs in collaboration with the McMaster Students Union, Mills, Innis and Thode libraries are now offering laptops for 3 hour loans. These state-of-the-art laptops are fully loaded with Microsoft Office, VPN for wireless access as well as specialized adaptive technology like ZoomText, JAWS, Kurzweil and Inspiration. For complete details on this new and exciting program, check out our web page

Drop by any of the three libraries' circulation desks to sign out a laptop for in-library use. We will ask you to sign a one-time loan agreement and you'll be on your way.

Very interesting program! And thanks to everyone that donated money to buy the laptops. I think this is a great idea for those who can't afford a laptop, or dont want to carry one around.

3 hours isn't bad either

ya i heard abt that! thats sick! but the only problem is ... i dont think many ppl would be able to get the rented laptop, cuz SOMEone is bound to be using it.

btw, how much do u have pay to rent it??

I think it's free, since you're only borrowing it for 3 hours and can't sign it out.

Laptops can be borrowed for a period of 3 hours and cannot be removed from the library from which it is signed out. All laptops must be returned by the time due or 30 minutes before Library closing time, whichever is sooner (NO exceptions).

So my guess is that they make you sign a 'contract', then you sign it out for a few hours and cannot remove the laptop from the building. If you check the website, listed in the OT it also states the fines if you don't return it on time or if you damage it, etc.

I've invited one of the mac librarians to join the site and possibly tell us more about how it works

Originally Posted by Chad

I've invited one of the mac librarians to join the site and possibly tell us more about how it works

The new laptop lending program is free to all Mac students! You just need to use your MacID/library card to sign it out and you're good to go! As the posting stated, you will have to sign a user agreement and it is limited to in-library use, but it's a great alternative if there are no computers free or you want to scope out a quiet spot on another floor.

Hello! About how many laptops are there to lend out? Since the program started, have you noticed there being more demand than supply? I'd like to try it out but I dont want to rely on getting one and there being none left

There will be 22 eventually at Mills (the rest are being programmed). Presently, there are 6 at Mills, 4 at Innis, 9 (soon to be 10) at Thode. Feel free to test them out. Please remember that this is the first phase, so there may be a few bugs to work out. You can always ask to borrow one and if there aren't any or you have problems, you can use one of the computers in the Reference or Learning Commons areas. All of the computers now have Microsoft Word, so feel free to use it!

All of the computers in the reference area now have Word? Not just a select few?

That in itself is a great improvement

Thats a pretty good number of laptops to start out with. Im going to try and get one tomorrow

Just found out the programs that are on the laptops, its a good list man! got everything i need anyways

System Software

* Microsoft Windows XP

Internet Software and Plug-ins

* Internet Explorer
* Adobe Acrobat Reader
* QuickTime
* RealPlayer Basic
* Windows Media Player
* VPN client
* Adaptive Technology software:
o ZoomText, JAWS, Kurzweil 3000 Pro, Inspiration



Utilities

* antivirus software

Hardware

* DVD/CD-ROM player
* network card
* wireless network card

Productivity Software

* Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint