2013 Tablet PC

Tablet PC information for Fall 2013

Students are required to purchase a tablet PC from a vendor of their choice, based on specified requirements and recommendations. Convertible tablets allow the student to take notes directly on the computer screen, must run full Windows Professional 7 or 8 and have enough processor power and enough memory to run required software.

The recommended tablet for Fall 2013 is the Lenovo ThinkPad X230T. The recommended tablet fulfills all hardware specifications set by Speed School.

GovConnection has partnered with UofL to offer two recommended configurations for Speed School students at a significant discount. The Standard Model Lenovo ThinkPad X230T is available at a cost of $1,116 plus tax.  The Select Model ThinkPad X230T contains more memory, a faster processor, Accidental Damage Protection and costs $1,467 plus tax. The ThinkPad models run the Windows 7 Professional operating system. The Speed IT Help Desk maintains software images for recommended tablets which allow reasonably rapid replacement of damaged software in the event the operating system develops errors during the semester. Hardware failures are covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Order your tablet for Fall 2013 Now. You must order through the GovConnection UofL portal in order to receive the discount. Tablets must be ordered by July 12 to be delivered by August 12, which is one week before the start of classes. You need to have and bring a tablet PC on the first day of classes. 

In addition to basic standard and select models, each can be ordered with certain configuration changes. Here are some common preconfigured options available to students:

Standard Lenovo X230T Model

• Standard Model ThinkPad X230 with three year warranty, 4 GB RAM, Intel Core i5 processor, $1,116.
• Standard Model plus WebCam and Bluetooth, $1,148.
• Standard Model plus RAM upgrade to 8 GB, WebCam and Bluetooth, $1,191.

Select Lenovo X230T Model

• Select Model ThinkPad X230T with three year warranty, Accidental Damage Protection, 8 GB RAM, Intel Core i7 processor, $1,467.
• Select Model plus WebCam and Bluetooth, $1,496.

Instead of the two recommended tablets, some students might wish to purchase the Lenovo Helix. The Helix, which isn’t recommended because of its higher cost, has 4 GB of memory, features a solid state drive and a removable screen that can be used independently as a tablet. The Helix costs more at $1,589. Students could expect some software advice and support for the Helix.

Two preconfigured Helix tablets are available:

Lenovo Helix

• Lenovo ThinkPad Helix with an Intel Core i5-3337U processor, 4 GB RAM, a 180 GB solid state drive and three-year warranty, $1,589.
• Lenovo ThinkPad Helix with slightly faster Intel Core i5-3427U processor, $1,675.  

Students who choose to make different configuration choices than those listed above might experience longer delivery times.

Other options are available, although they receive absolutely no software or hardware support at the university. For example, a student might recently have purchased a high-end laptop, which is not recommended by Speed. If, and only if, the laptop exceeds certain requirements, rather than purchasing a convertible tablet, it might be acceptable to purchase a smaller “slate type” inking device. Although unsupported, students could have the following configuration:

• A previously purchased laptop computer running Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8 Professional containing an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, a minimum of 4 GB of memory and a hard disk drive of 320 GB or better.
• An “inking device” such as the Lenovo Tablet 2 running a full install of Windows 8 Professional with a minimum 64 GB of storage and an Intel Atom processor or better.

Android and Apple devices are not suitable and cannot be used with Speed school software. For those wishing to supplement their current PC with a smaller stand-alone inking device, the suggested model is the Lenovo Tablet 2. The Tablet 2 costs $798.

However, using a Tablet 2 or other slate and a laptop is not a recommended option. If a student brings their own laptop supplemented with the recommended inking device, they are completely responsible for supporting their own software and hardware. Students should be aware that broken hardware or software is not an excuse for missing class assignments. Speed staff will be unable to help students who bring their own laptop and so this is not a recommended option.

Tablets must be ordered by July 12 to be delivered by August 12, which is one week before the start of classes. You need to have and bring a tablet PC on the first day of classes. Choosing a configuration not listed above will result in longer delivery times. Orders placed after July 13 may not be delivered until after the start of school. This would be a problem since tablets are used in Speed School classes from the very beginning. Tablets will be delivered to the address you provide when ordering.

Although all incoming students must have a tablet PC, it is not required that it be purchased through iTech Xpress. Students may choose another vendor or model, but it must be a "tablet" meeting requirements. Tablets purchased elsewhere will also need to be serviced elsewhere, and are not eligible for a loaner tablet while under repair.  Be mindful that models purchased through retail outlets may have only a one-year standard warranty with no accident protection. Also, some tablets may also have only a touchscreen and not be equipped with the more desirable active digitizer.

Required software is available to all Speed School students via a $25 technology fee, assessed each semester to all enrolled Speed School students. Software for the fall semester 2013 will be available by August 1 for downloading. This software includes Microsoft Office, Windows 7 operating system upgrades, and other technical software.

Details on the specific requirements and software are presented on this website and can be accessed from the menu links.  However, they are not necessary unless plans are to purchase a tablet different from the one recommended. Questions concerning the program may be addressed to Associate Dean Mike Day and Frequently Asked Questions will be answered at FAQ.