MacBook Info For TA Students

Welcome to your MacBook.

While the computer is in your care we have to establish some ground rules about use on the TA Campus.

1)      Install a good free anti-virus program – Sophos is getting good reviews!

2)      Do not load Mackeeper on your computer. It is not to be trusted.

3)      Do not load any software for illegal downloads (Bear Share, Blubster, Kaazaa, LimeWire, Frostwire, Vuse (Azureus), uTorrent, Torch, Bittorent, Shareaza, MP3Rocket, etc). If you aren’t paying the studio, artist or record label or their authorized representatives, you may be stealing the music and movies. Bad!

PLUS: They can give you VIRUSES!

4)      Skype is popular but should NOT be used while on campus. It eats up Internet bandwidth.

5)      ITunes and any other pay for music program should be okay.

6)      I strongly suggest to NEVER PUT REAL PERSONAL INFO on the Web. Bad guys are everywhere!

7)      TA and your parents ALWAYS reserve the right to grab this computer and check it for “stuff”. That includes inappropriate material (indecent, ultra-violent, illegal, etc.). If you have a question about whether something is good or not, ASK!

Let’s be clear:

This fancy calculator is a tool to be used for your school work. Entertainment and connecting to your friends are secondary functions and should NEVER get in the way of doing your work.

You must ALWAYS come to school with a fully charged battery.

Your MacBook comes with an AppleCare warranty. I am not authorized to work on it so if you have a major problem, YOU must take it to:

The University of Alabama Supply Store

751 Campus Drive West

Ferguson Center

Tuscaloosa AL, 35487

(205) 348-6168

NOTE: We have only just learned about this option. We DO NOT know how well they treat non-university students. Be sure to ask questions about how long and how much!

Apple Store

The Summit

217 Summit Boulevard

Birmingham, AL 35243

(205) 909-2570

Or any authorized Apple store. The Core does NOT do repairs.

You may also call 1-800-AplCare for mail-in service

If you drop it or break it, IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY!

If you want insurance against breakage, buy an extended warranty from SquareTrade or SafeWare.

DO NOT try to “go around” our school web filter. If you are caught, we will block you from the network, seize your computer and have a meeting between you, your parents and the administration.

Students have been expelled for making bad computer decisions.

REMEMBER: We are not responsible for your Internet access at your home. That is between your ISP provider (Comcast, Charter, BellSouth, etc.) and you. If the computer talks to our wireless network at school, but not at your home, then any problems that you have are probably on that end and you must take it up with your ISP or the person who installed your wireless network.

ALSO: Be sure to close out programs when you are finished with them. Hold down COMMAND and TAB keys to see what is running. I have seen students with over a dozen programs running at the same time and that WILL slow your computer down.