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Laptop Procurement and Setup

What is This Service?

Through this service, laptops set up with a Linux operating system can be bought.

This is primarily offered to students in conjunction with the Computer Science courses that I run, however anyone is able to use this service to buy a laptop pre-installed with Linux as a one-off client.

In the former case however, students have the option of selling the device back to me at the original cost minus £50, so that it may be economical for the purpose of doing the course alone.

What Hardware is Offered?

In order to make the selling price as low as possible, only refurbished laptops are sourced. Furthermore, these refurbished laptops are only enterprise-grade models in order to ensure their longevity and performance.

These models are primarily:

  • Lenovo ThinkPads (model T480)
  • Dell Latitudes (model 5400)

The preference of the client will be taken into account of course, however the precise models available may depend on the time of the request.

What Operating Systems Are Offered:

As previously said, these laptops will be set up with Linux operating systems, primarily for the purpose of programming (as Linux offers unbeatable system accessibility and transparency to this end).

However, for general desktop usage, Linux offers an alternative to the declining reasonableness of Microsoft Windows, and the price tag of Apple Mac.

At the user's request these Linux distributions are offered (at their latest released stable versions):

  • Fedora (any Fedora edition or spin)
  • Debian (with any available desktop environment)
  • Ubuntu (any flavour)
  • Linux Mint (any edition)
  • OpenSUSE (with any available desktop environment)
  • Arch (only the base system installation is offered alongside an optional single desktop environment, but no more)

All but the last option (Arch) are recommended for beginners, but the recommended distribution of Linux for those without a preference would be the Fedora KDE Plasma edition due to its default desktop environment (for those starting out with Linux), stability, and healthy repositories.

Where there is no preference for a desktop environment, KDE Plasma will be chosen.

Customisations

At the request of the client, or the guardian of the same, hardware customisations can be made such that performance is increased (e.g. RAM size increased or storage drive capacity improved), or that safeguarding is implemented (e.g. removal of the WiFi module to disable internet connectivity).

Pricing

For the procurement of the hardware itself these costs are given for each available model:

  • Lenovo ThinkPad T480:
    • Rough specs: 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
    • Cost: £250
  • Dell Latitude 5400:
    • Rough specs: 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
    • Cost: £250

For the additional installation of a Linux operating system, an extra £50 service cost is charged.

This means that a refurbished Lenovo/Dell laptop (with the above specifications) with a fresh Linux install will cost in total £300 (£250 + £50).

Aftercare

For Students on a JLSP Tutoring Computer Science Course

Technical support is offered for the duration of the course. This includes software issues as well as hardware issues, however in the case of hardware issues, any required parts will incur an extra cost.

The device can be

For One-off Clients

There is no aftercare provided besides advice via email/phone. However, no actual intervention to remedy any issue is able to be offered.

This is due to the complex nature of issues

Collection

Due to wanting to ensure the safe delivery of hardware, collection is only available from any London Underground station in the case of one-off clients (first-hand testing of the device before purchasing in the client's presence is mandatory at the nearest convenient location).

A differing collection procedure can be arranged at the client's request.

Refunds and Returns

Refunds and Returns can be made in accordance to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Please note however, that any software-based faults after usage (dependency issues etc.) of a purchased device will not be classed as a fault of the product.

A mandatory usage test of the product in the presence of the client will be carried out before purchasing, and serve as proof that the product is adequately functioning.

Other Service Considerations

At the client's request, further considerations can be taken into account such as: - Installing Linux on an already-obtained laptop/desktop - Sourcing hardware only to make some hardware customisations, but not installing Linux