The staff at Tufts OnLine would like to welcome the incoming class of 2016. We look forward to providing with quality service and support throughout your academic career at Tufts. If you are purchasing a new computer over the summer please take a moment to look at the Tufts OnLine website for information about system requirements and recommendations. Visit us on the web at:

http://student.support.tufts.edu

You will also find links to vendor discounts available to Tufts students from Dell, Apple, CDWG as well as information about purchasing Microsoft products through the university's campus agreement. Please note that students can use any of the vendor discounts, with the exception of Microsoft, before coming to campus.
ng to campus.

Listed below you'll find the answers to some frequently asked questions about computing on campus. If you have any other questions or would like assistance in making a purchase, Tufts OnLine staff are available to assist you Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm in our walk in help center located at 35 Lower Campus Road. We can be reached at 617-627-4TOL or via email at tolhelp@tufts.edu.

I use a Mac at home, do I need to buy a Windows machine?
You should buy whatever you are comfortable using. Tufts will support either platform provided that themachine meets our minimum system requirements.

Are there any public computer labs on campus?
Yes, there are two public labs on campus open at convenient hours for all Tufts students. The computer labs offer an assortment of PC and Macintosh computers for student use. For more information about the computer labs at Tufts visit the Information Technology Services website at: http://ase.tufts.edu/its/

What virus protection do you recommend?
If you do not have virus protection you do not need to purchase it. Tufts provides all of its students with Authentium/Command Anti-Malware free of charge. This software is available for download through the Tufts OnLine website.

What is Grab A Geek?
Tufts OnLine is based on a "students helping students" model. On move-in day the Tufts OnLine staff will be in Houston, Hill, Tilton and Haskell halls to assist you with setup of your technology, as you move in. If you're moving into another location and need help please head over to the nearest help station and we'd be happy to send a staff member back to your room with you to assist. During Grab A Geek our staff can help with basic setup (email, network configuration/registration), installation of Anti Malware software and can triage minor computer issues to get you up and running. The staff can also assist with television and campus phone setup.

Do I need a printer?
Space in residence hall rooms is limited so roommates may wish to share a printer. There are also printers available in the computer labs on campus where a student can purchase "print cards" as needed.

I have a wireless access point, can I bring it to use in the residence halls?
No, Tufts has wireless available in common areas of all of our residence halls on campus, personal wireless access points can interfere with these and cause service disruptions for other students. If a personally owned device is discovered on the network our networking staff will disable it.

I hear a lot about Digital Copyright lately. I use file sharing at home to get and share music, is this legal?
It is in violation of federal copyright law for anyone to distribute music or movies unless they are the copyright holder or a licensed distributor of the media. There are some legal download services such as iTunes and Napster, but others such as BitTorrent and other torrent based P2P programs share music illegally and by default set your computer up as a file server. We recommend not using applications of this type and encourage our students to use legal services. Your internet connection will be restricted if you are reported by a copyright holder to be filesharing music or movies. This behavior can lead to disciplinary action through the Dean of Students Office. Please refer to the Student Judicial Handbook for more information on this topic.

How do I protect my laptop?
The Department of Public Safety will have laptop security devices on sale for $25.00 when you come in for your Tufts ID card in September. In addition, Engravers will be available to assist you in marking your laptop as a deterrent against theft. Visit the Tufts University Public Safety department in Dowling Hall when you arrive on campus for more information, or call the Tufts Police Community Policing Unit at 617-627-3839. See information on personal property security from the Department of Public Safety.